Loading Page...

How does unaccompanied luggage work?

Unaccompanied baggage is luggage that does not fly as part of a passenger's ticketed baggage allowance. Your baggage????? can be shipped as air cargo at rates lower than online excess baggage rates.



Unaccompanied luggage, often referred to as "luggage shipping" or "unaccompanied baggage," is a service where your suitcases are transported to your destination separately from your person. In 2026, this is increasingly handled by specialized companies like Luggage Forward, ShipGo, or SendMyBag, rather than the airlines themselves. When you book the service, a courier collects your bags from your home or office. The bags are then transported via ground or air freight, bypassing the airport check-in and carousel wait entirely. This is particularly popular for international travelers who want to avoid high airline excess baggage fees or the physical burden of hauling large bags through train stations. For international shipments, the shipping company provides the necessary customs documentation (usually declaring the items as "Used Personal Effects") to ensure the bags are not taxed as new imports. The bags are typically delivered directly to your hotel or residence at the destination. While it is more expensive than checking a bag on a flight, the convenience of traveling "hands-free" and the guarantee of door-to-door delivery make it a favored choice for luxury travelers and students moving abroad.

People Also Ask

UB, or unaccompanied baggage, is an option for shipments where a small portion of your total weight allowance is expedited to your new location, typically while you wait for the rest of your belongings to arrive at a later date. UB shipments are approved for CONUS TDY and OCONUS TDY and PCS.

MORE DETAILS

How to Send Unaccompanied Baggage with My Baggage
  1. Get a Quick Quote Online.
  2. Pack your Suitcases and/or boxes.
  3. Book online for a suitable collection date.
  4. Attach your shipping labels.
  5. Your items are collected.
  6. You can track your items online.
  7. We deliver your items to your door.


MORE DETAILS

Unaccompanied baggage of incoming or outgoing passengers refers to the baggage belonging to the passengers that are checked inward or outward within the prescribed term after the entry or before the exit of the passengers.

MORE DETAILS

Unaccompanied Baggage (UB) These are the smaller household electronics, appliances, and household goods you'll want to bring with you so that you get them just as you move into your new home overseas. It takes about 4 weeks to ship your UB (and about 4 weeks to find housing if you are approved for private housing).

MORE DETAILS

Examples: May consist of personal clothing and equipment, essential pots, pans, and light housekeeping items, collapsible items such as cribs, playpens, and baby carriages; and other articles required for the care of dependents.

MORE DETAILS

UB, or unaccompanied baggage, is an option for shipments where a small portion of your total weight allowance is expedited to your new location, typically while you wait for the rest of your belongings to arrive at a later date.

MORE DETAILS

Unaccompanied baggage is anything you do not bring back with you. These may be items that were with you when you left the United States or items that you acquired (received by any means) while outside the United States.

MORE DETAILS

Unaccompanied Baggage (UB) – UB ships by plane and is meant to get those critical items that a SM and family will need as soon as the lease as signed. This shipment usually takes 2 weeks, mostly due to customs. No food stuff or liquids can be shipped in UB and there is a smaller weight allowance for it.

MORE DETAILS

Unaccompanied articles include household effects imported for relocation of residence, things such as personal effects that became unnecessary while traveling, and souvenirs sent from your visiting countries separately from the accompanied personal effects, by regular mail, airmail or sea mail, or international courier ...

MORE DETAILS

The short answer is “no”, but of course the reality is not black and white. in general, customs do not have the resources to inspect all the luggages.

MORE DETAILS

The standard tour length for a DoD Service member stationed OCONUS is 36 months in an accompanied tour and 24 months in an unaccompanied tour. Hawaii and Alaska are exceptions, with a tour length of 36 months for both accompanied and unaccompanied tours.

MORE DETAILS

Absolutely! Many of Send My Bag's customers choose to send their belongings in suitcases. This is a good option as suitcases tend to be well-designed to hold substantial amounts of luggage.

MORE DETAILS

If you're looking for a courier to ship your suitcase to an international destination then we'd recommend UPS, FedEx or DHL. Any of these shipping companies will be able to ship your luggage internationally from the US and have specific services for shipping large items.

MORE DETAILS