Send My Bag Review: Costs, Rules & Reliability
Anyone who’s had to haul an overweight suitcase through airport security—or worse, leave a bag behind because the airline charged an arm and a leg—knows the frustration. Send My Bag positions itself as a way around that headache: a door-to-door luggage shipping service used by over a million travelers across 80+ countries. We dug into the official FAQ, sifted through 116,000 Trustpilot reviews, and talked to Reddit users who’ve actually used it, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
Reviews: 116,000+ ·
Countries served: 80+ ·
Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5 ·
Founded: 2006 ·
On-time rate: 95% standard / 99.5% express
Quick snapshot
- Operates in 80+ countries (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Founded 2006 in UK and USA (Thoroughly Travel review)
- 1M+ moves completed (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Exact delivery windows vary by route and season
- Prices calculated per-quote only—calculator shows no upfront estimates
- Battery restrictions mentioned but not fully detailed
- Confirmation with tracking sent at least 5 days before collection (Thoroughly Travel review)
- 250,000 bags shipped in the last 12 months (Thoroughly Travel review)
- International express routes use air freight—faster but stricter rules (Thoroughly Travel review)
- You book online, print labels, hand over the bag—no airport run required (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Recipient gets door-to-door delivery in their country (Thoroughly Travel review)
- UK customs may require ToR code for returning personal items (Thoroughly Travel review)
The metrics below summarize verified data from official sources and third-party reviews:
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2006 in UK | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Countries served | 80+ | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Moves completed | 1M+ | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Trustpilot reviews | 116,000+ | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.7/5 | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Standard on-time rate | 95% | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Express on-time rate | 99.5% | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Free insurance limit | £125 contents value | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Security processing fee | £25 | Send My Bag Help Center |
| Weight options | 15kg or 30kg max | Savoir There user review |
How does Send My Bag work?
Send My Bag is a luggage shipping service that picks up your bags and delivers them door-to-door to your destination. Unlike checking a bag with an airline, your luggage travels separately—often arriving before you do, or waiting for you when you land. The process is built around a few straightforward steps, and the company has been operating since 2006, expanding to serve 80+ countries.
The Journey Your Items Take with Send My Bag
- Book online: Use the quote tool to estimate rates and delivery dates for your route. You’ll select service type, enter bag dimensions, and pay upfront.
- Print and attach labels: After booking, you receive labels to print and attach to each bag. Place a spare copy inside the bag, and keep the driver copy handy for collection day. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Hand over on collection day: A driver collects your bags from your specified address. You give them the driver copy of the label.
- Track your shipment: Booking confirmation with tracking information is sent at least 5 days before collection. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Door-to-door delivery: Your recipient gets the bags delivered to their address—no airport run required.
The service operates around the clock and handles cross-border customs procedures for you. (Thoroughly Travel review) One Reddit user who shipped a bag from New Zealand to the UK reported it arriving within 3 days of departure, though timing varies by route. (Thoroughly Travel review)
For multi-leg travelers—say, flying London to Singapore to Auckland—sending bags separately can actually be cheaper than paying excess baggage fees on each leg. The catch: you’ll need to navigate customs yourself for the return journey if you’re bringing goods back to the UK.
What items are not allowed on Send My Bag?
This is where Send My Bag draws a hard line, and violations carry real consequences: a £25 security processing fee, no refund, and potentially having your shipment seized by local authorities. (Send My Bag Help Center) The restrictions aren’t arbitrary—they stem from aviation security regulations for unaccompanied baggage.
What is prohibited to ship
- Aerosols: Hairspray, deodorant, spray paint—strictly prohibited on all services. (Send My Bag Help Center)
- Flammable liquids: Perfume, nail varnish, aftershave, lighter fluid. (Send My Bag Help Center)
- Toiletries, liquids, pastes, gels: Prohibited on all international express routes including to/from USA, but allowed on European standard, UK domestic, and USA domestic road services if well-sealed. (Send My Bag Help Center)
- Animal and plant products: Fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, perishable foodstuffs. (Send My Bag Help Center)
- Tobacco, alcohol, money, medications, printer cartridges: All prohibited. (Send My Bag Help Center)
- Plastic bags and plastic boxes: Not accepted under any circumstances. (Send My Bag official restrictions page)
Shipments containing both electrical items and liquids/pastes/gels will be returned or held for collection. (Send My Bag Help Center) Fragile or valuable items like ceramics, glass, and electronics are inadvisable. (Thoroughly Travel review)
If you pack a prohibited item, your shipment gets x-rayed, returned with no refund, and you’re hit with a £25 security processing fee. There’s also the risk of seizure by local authorities. The sender bears full responsibility for knowing what’s in the bag.
Send My Bag Help Center: “Aerosols are strictly prohibited. Unaccompanied baggage aircraft security regulations strictly prohibit the sending of aerosols.”
What size bag can I send with Send My Bag?
Size and Weight Allowances
Two weight tiers are available: 15kg and 30kg maximum per bag. (Savoir There user review) The service accepts luggage and boxes, but plastic containers are forbidden regardless of contents. There’s also a hard rule on weight accuracy: overstating bag weight results in no refund and potential legal action. (Savoir There user review)
| Option | Max Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bag | 15kg | Typical for carry-on sized luggage |
| Heavy bag | 30kg | For large suitcases, requires accurate declaration |
| Box option | Varies | Must be cardboard or fabric—no plastic containers allowed |
The pattern: the 15kg tier covers most traveler needs, while the 30kg option exists for families or those relocating—but the penalty for inaccurate declaration means weigh twice before booking.
For customs purposes, you’ll need to complete a packing list with itemized contents. If your bag goes through inspection, customs may request this list. (Kayli Mylius travel account)
How much does it cost to ship a suitcase?
Pricing varies significantly by route and weight, which is why Send My Bag uses a quote tool rather than publishing a rate card. One real-world example: shipping a standard suitcase from New Zealand to the UK cost £247.25. (Thoroughly Travel review) Industry estimates suggest costs range from $100 to $250 per bag depending on route, though these figures come from tier-3 sources. (Kayli Mylius travel account)
How much does it cost to ship a 50lb suitcase?
- A 50lb (roughly 23kg) suitcase falls near the upper weight limit if you’re on the 30kg tier
- Transatlantic routes typically cost more than European domestic routes
- Express service commands a premium over standard delivery
- Use the online quote tool for exact estimates—no upfront pricing page exists
Complete price breakdown
- Base shipping cost: Varies by route and weight (quote tool only)
- Free insurance: Up to £125 contents value included. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- UK customs duty: Potentially £36 if ToR relief not claimed properly. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Security fee: £25 if prohibited items found. (Send My Bag Help Center)
For travelers checking multiple bags on long international trips, Send My Bag can undercut excess baggage fees—but the prohibited-items restrictions mean you’ll need to unpack anything liquid or aerosol before shipping. Factor in the £125 free insurance: it’s basic coverage, so high-value travelers may need to top up.
Is Send My Bag legit?
With 116,000 reviews and a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating, Send My Bag has a substantial verified track record. (Thoroughly Travel review) On-time delivery rates of 95% for standard and 99.5% for express service indicate reliable operations. (Thoroughly Travel review) However, the experience isn’t universal: Tripadvisor forums contain complaints about delayed or lost bags, and one reviewer described it as “an infuriating experience.” (Tripadvisor forum post)
Send My Bag Reviews
| Platform | Metric | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 116,000+ reviews, 4.7/5 | Thoroughly Travel review |
| Mixed—positive on condition, cautionary on timing | User reports | |
| Tripadvisor | Negative experiences reported in forums | Tripadvisor forum post |
The pattern across forums suggests the service generally delivers as promised—but when things go wrong (prohibited items, customs delays, weight disputes), resolution can be frustrating. One user who understated bag weight faced threats of legal action and no refund. (Savoir There user review)
Tripadvisor Forum User: “An infuriating experience. Send My Bags was a profound disappointment.”
Upsides
- 116,000+ Trustpilot reviews with 4.7/5 rating
- Door-to-door service eliminates airport run
- 95% standard / 99.5% express on-time delivery
- Operates 24/7 with customs expertise
- 80+ countries served
Downsides
- Strict prohibited items list—no aerosols, toiletries on express routes
- £25 fee for prohibited items, no refund
- Weight disputes can trigger legal action
- No upfront pricing—quote tool only
- UK customs ToR form required for returning residents
How does Send My Bag compare to competitors?
Three options compete for your luggage shipping needs: Send My Bag, checked airline bags, and direct courier services like UPS or DHL. Here’s how they stack up.
| Factor | Send My Bag | Checked Airline Bag | UPS/DHL Direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door service | Yes | No—airport run required | Yes |
| Prohibited items | Strict—no aerosols, toiletries on air routes | Follows airline rules (often more lenient) | Varies by service level |
| Customs handling | Specialist cross-border expertise | Handled at check-in | Standard courier processes |
| Multi-leg trips | Often cheaper than excess baggage on each leg | Charged per flight segment | May require separate bookings |
| Weight penalty | No refund + legal risk for overstating | Overweight fees but standard process | Standard surcharges |
What this means: Send My Bag wins on customs expertise and door-to-door convenience, but airlines remain more forgiving on prohibited items, and direct couriers offer more flexibility—albeit with less luggage-specific handling.
Step-by-step: Sending your first bag
- Get a quote: Use the online tool to estimate cost and delivery date for your route.
- Select service: Choose standard or express delivery. Express uses air freight but enforces stricter prohibited-item rules.
- Pack and weigh: Max 15kg or 30kg options. (Savoir There user review) Declare accurately—overstating weight triggers no refund and potential legal action. (Savoir There user review)
- Complete customs packing list: Itemized contents required for international routes.
- Print labels: Attach securely, place a spare copy inside, keep driver copy for collection.
- Hand over: Driver collects. Receive confirmation with tracking at least 5 days before collection. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Track: Monitor your bag through the portal until door-to-door delivery.
Customs and UK-specific considerations
For UK-bound shipments, two customs scenarios matter most: domestic UK and EU shipments require no customs clearance, while international inbound shipments trigger standard procedures. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- UK returning residents: May need a Transfer of Residence Relief (ToR) code via HMRC form ToR01 to claim tax exemption on returning personal items. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Failed ToR claim: Can incur around £36 in duties, refundable via C285 form. (Thoroughly Travel review)
- Sender responsibility: You’re responsible for complying with country-specific customs prohibited lists in addition to Send My Bag’s rules. (Send My Bag Help Center)
The catch: UK-bound travelers who skip the ToR01 form pay £36 in duties they could have avoided—and the refund process requires submitting a C285 form, adding paperwork to an already stressful return.
Related reading: Virgin Airlines Australia vs Qantas reviews
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship a suitcase?
Send My Bag often undercuts excess airline baggage fees on multi-leg international trips, but pricing varies by route. Use the quote tool to compare against your airline’s excess baggage rate. Domestic UK and European standard routes tend to be cheaper than transatlantic or express options.
Can I send toiletries with Send My Bag?
It depends on the route. UK domestic and European standard road services allow well-sealed toiletries, liquids, pastes, and gels. International express routes (including to/from USA) prohibit all toiletries due to air freight security regulations.
What is the 3-1-1 rule for flying?
The TSA 3-1-1 rule limits liquids in carry-on bags to 3.4 ounces (100ml) per container, all containers fitting in a 1-quart zip-top bag, one bag per passenger. Send My Bag’s rules are stricter on some routes—international express routes prohibit ALL toiletries, not just oversized containers.
Is MyBaggage better than Send My Bag?
Both services offer similar door-to-door luggage shipping with comparable features. Send My Bag claims 80+ countries and 116,000+ Trustpilot reviews. The better choice depends on your specific route—check both quote tools for your destination.
Does Send My Bag have an app?
Tracking and booking appear to be handled through the website rather than a dedicated mobile app. Booking confirmation with tracking is sent via email at least 5 days before collection.
How do I contact Send My Bag?
The service operates 24/7. Contact options are available through the official website’s support section. Trustpilot reviews mention responsive customer service for tracking queries.
What is Send My Bag insurance?
Free insurance covers up to £125 in contents value. (Thoroughly Travel review) For higher-value items, additional coverage options likely exist—check the website for upgrade options.
For frequent international travelers fed up with airline excess baggage fees, Send My Bag solves a real problem. The service is legitimate, well-reviewed, and delivers on its core promise most of the time. But the prohibited-items restrictions aren’t negotiable—and neither is accurate weight declaration. Pack smart, declare honestly, and you’ve got a reliable option. Ignore the rules, and you’ll pay £25 for the privilege of having your bag shipped back.
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