Shipping Gear

[scubacat80]

I am heading to FL to see family in a few weeks and I am debating on shipping my BC, reg, snorkel gear in advance vs. taking it on the plane. Has anyone done this before? What was shipping?

Any pros/cons that you can see?

[Straegen]

Shipping is going to be expensive most likely and I doubt any safer. I would pack my reg, computer and gauges in a carry on and put the rest in the sturdy case then check it.

[CamaroChick]

I would agree - just bring it on the plane. You should be able to fit most of your gear in your carry-on if it is a good size, then just pay the $15 or so fee to check a bag with everything else. And don't forget the "personal item" to get yourself more room for carry-on stuff - I bring a large tote bag as my "purse".

[emt]

Flat Rate Boxes are Free at the post office........ Free........
No weight limit, only box size dimensional limits. You pay at the post office once you bring the box back to them for shipping. So, just go get a few boxs and go back home & see which it will fit in. Then you will know what your price to ship will be.
We ship a lot of heavy items to one of the kids at school in Maryland. We usually ship the $10 - $14 box sizes.
I bought some weights off ebay some time ago and the guy shipped 27 lbs for $10. He used the same flat rate box that I would have used.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by emt

Flat Rate Boxes are Free at the post office........ Free........
No weight limit, only box size dimensional limits. You pay at the post office once you bring the box back to them for shipping. So, just go get a few boxs and go back home & see which it will fit in. Then you will know what your price to ship will be.
We ship a lot of heavy items to one of the kids at school in Maryland. We usually ship the $10 - $14 box sizes.
I bought some weights off ebay some time ago and the guy shipped 27 lbs for $10. He used the same flat rate box that I would have used.

The only issues with the flat rate boxes for this purposes are (a) tracking (or lack thereof), (b) insurance (or lack thereof), and (c) relatively long ship times.

So great for eBay, not so much for sending gear before a trip, unless it's gear you don't care that much about and you have lots of time for it to arrive before you do.

Shipping via a tracked, timely courier like FedEx or UPS (2nd day or better) is likely to equal or exceed the cost of extra baggage fees, unfortunately (this depends on the exact amount under discussion, obviously). Arguably less likely to be lost, perhaps, but it's rarely going to save much money.

[mike_s]

UPS Ground or FedEx ground is a good comparison.... UPS ground might take 5 days, but chances are you don't need your gear in NY this time of the year anyway and can be without it for 5 days.

weigh your gear (in a box) and compute shipping costs to location on the above carriers websites. you can get a specific cost.

Then check your airline and see what the "2nd checked bag fee" is. I think a lot of them are at $50 each now days.

Then, you be the judge.

I think both will run about the same, plus or minus $10 bucks. Either way it could be lost.

[scubacat80]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

The only issues with the flat rate boxes for this purposes are (a) tracking (or lack thereof), (b) insurance (or lack thereof), and (c) relatively long ship times.

So great for eBay, not so much for sending gear before a trip, unless it's gear you don't care that much about and you have lots of time for it to arrive before you do.

Shipping via a tracked, timely courier like FedEx or UPS (2nd day or better) is likely to equal or exceed the cost of extra baggage fees, unfortunately (this depends on the exact amount under discussion, obviously). Arguably less likely to be lost, perhaps, but it's rarely going to save much money.

Insurance was my big reason for shipping it on the plane. Lost luggage gets you a decent allowance for new purchases.

[Straegen]

A single checked bag is usually $0-$15, a second is rarely over $25. Now if it is oversized or a third bag, then you are talking about spending some money. If your bag is oversized, it will cost probably the same or more to ship with insurance. If this is your third bag, might be cheaper to send it via UPS or FedEx.

You can also upgrade to business class on some airlines and they will give you a free checked bag.

[acamato]

Here is Continentals policy:
$15 for 1st checked bag
$25 for 2nd checked bag.

Exemptions:
OnePass Elite members
First Class and BusinessFirst customers
Continental Airlines Chase primary credit and debit cardmembers
Any customer traveling on full fare economy class (Y) ticket
Active military personnel traveling on orders

Oversized bag (over 62 in)- $100 / piece
Overweight (over 50 lbs) - $50 / piece

Then they have this:
Scuba Equipment

Continental does accept one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport as checked baggage. Scuba equipment in addition to the baggage allowance will be assessed at the excess baggage charge applicable in the market for a single piece.
Dive bags weighing over 50lbs (23kg) that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate dive equipment will be subject to the applicable overweight fee.
Dive bags measuring over 62 linear inches (157 cm) that contain other items in addition to or in place of dive equipment will be subject to the applicable oversize charge.
If applicable, the first ($15) or second bag fee ($25) applies to scuba equipment.
An empty dive tank will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a $100 service charge (each way).
An empty dive tank or up to 3 rebreather tanks will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of $100. The empty dive/rebreather tank must have the regulator valve completely disconnected form the tank. The tank must not be sealed (i.e. the tank has an open end). The tank must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection by a TSA Security Screener.
Note: for Rebreather Equipment: Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide or less will be accepted in checked baggage. Soda lime that is 4.1% Sodium Hydroxide will not be accepted in checked baggage.
An item of SCUBA equipment consists of one empty SCUBA tank, up to 3 rebreather tanks or one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport. The empty scuba/rebreather tank and a separate dive bag containing SCUBA equipment will be charged as two separate pieces.
Continental is not liable for damage to Scuba diving equipment.
Excess Valuation may not be purchased for Scuba diving equipment.