You may remember that a few weeks ago I was complaining that it was fucking impossible to find a nice holiday to go on for half term YES I KNOW BOO HOO POOR ME – the first person to say “First World Problems” gets shot okay? That was funny the first time someone said it and it’s not funny now and you sound like a pub bore quoting Mark and Lard when you say it so can we all have an amnesty on the “First World Problems” comeback please, thanks.
Where was I – oh yes you may be luckier than me and have sorted yourself out for this half term. In addition to this you may have been aware over the summer of the existence of a service called “AirPortr“, which is where you can have your bags picked up at your house, checked in and then you see them again at the carousel at your destination airport. It’s not a courier service and your bags fly on the same flight that you do.
Obviously being a solutions freak, prepared to throw any amount of money at anything that will make my life easier or more efficient, I love this idea – especially as we had a moment this summer where Giles left our large suitcase on the Gatwick Express and had to run back down the escalators and force open the train doors to get it back. I mean I feel actually physically sick with stress when I recall it. The kids were crying, everyone was standing around and pointing… anyway so anything to avoid that sort of shit is fine by me.
AS IT HAPPENS Kate B, long time Spiker, is doing the PR for AirPortr and wants to offer Spikers, that’s you, 15% off to try the service. The code is BAGSFLY15 and you get 15% off until 31st December this year.
I quizzed her over the phone about how many bags have been lost since the service started (about 4 years ago… I think, is that’s right, Kiki?) and she said she didn’t know but that she did know that 75,000 bags have safely been delivered. Which I thought was just the sort of perfect thing a PR person ought to say.
Other things:
- You can choose between 1 and 3 hour slots for collection
- Your bags can be collected up to 7 hours before you fly
- Costs start from £30
- Once your bag is off you can track it online until you pick it up
It’s being trialled at the moment in London and the South East (you can find out on the website if you’re close enough to get a pick up) and on the airlines easyJet, British Airways, American Airlines or Finnair from either Heathrow or Gatwick. They have plans to expand the service.
I kind of wish we were going away now just to try this out.
This has not been an ad.
Anyone tried this? Leave a comment in the handy box below.
This might be the best idea I’ve heard all year (as someone who just travelled with 2 small children, 5 checked in bags, 2 car seats and 3 carry on bags and a pushchair – yes, that was First World Hell). Sold. Amazing.
This sounds amazing! We had 5 checked bags go missing between Bangkok and Jersey last year which was highly stressful as there were three flights they could have gone missing on. I’m not going away at half term – BUT even better Mr W is taking the children away for a week so I get the house to myself which is 100x better than any holiday and doesn’t involve any potential luggage mishaps.
Have been using Airportr for past year and a bit. And it is truly AMAZING! Now able to take the tube to Heathrow instead of spending hours on the road with a whiny child needing the loo. The guys who come pick up the luggage have been universally lovely and usually arrive early *but not too early, if that makes sense. Off to book our next pick-up using your discount code 🙂
What exactly happens when at airport security you reply, truthfully “No, my bags have *not* been with me the entire time since I packed them”? Like, does it create a measurable delay? (Do they even still ask this question?)
Well… you won’t be asked that question because you won’t have your large bags at any security point in your journey, except when you walk out through customs at the other end. But even then that is not a security point. You will only have your carry-on bag, which you WILL have had with you since you packed it.
Also, I have never been asked that question at the airport. Once or twice I have been asked “Did you pack your bag yourself?” at check in, but now with online check ins and self-bag drops I’m not even asked that. I’m curious: when are you usually asked this question about having the bags with you since you packed them?
They used to ask it in the States back when they would just let any old person walk up to the gate – I got in trouble when I was 11 for saying “no, my dad had it sometimes” and the attendant just stared at me until I realized I would have to lie or they would have to call the bomb squad.
I haven’t heard it recently (including going up and down Central America) but I think I have gotten “did anyone ask you to carry a bag for them” at customs which is not about terrorism so much as cocaine… maybe a little of both though.
But obviously freight can go on passenger planes, they just screen it separately in the baggage processing area, so I suppose this is technically “freight”.
My dad tells a fun story about the old days going through the US and they used to ask “have you ever been a member of the Communist party” and my Dad said it was only ever the British people who would stop to have a good think
They have been doing this in Japan for years and is probably one of the things I miss the most.
Also- St Ives for half term. Windy, nearby, beaches, fireworks, cosy.
what a brilliant idea! does anyone know if such a thing exists in Germany?
Loving the mention of Mark and Lard.