A common subject I know, but I just want to check if I'm missing something when I come to the conclusions I'm coming to.
Looks like I'm going to be here long enough to want to bring a bit of stuff over from the U.K. - a lot of books, papers, some other not-too-large-but heavy stuff.
Checked a couple of the freight companies, but they seem to be insanely expensive, e.g. €50odd per kilo + €60 service charge. Thing is, I could just book a couple of flights and move the stuff myself in a couple of big rucksacks. As long as I stay within the allowances, it seems to work out a lot cheaper (e.g. British Airways allow 23kg, so I can book a flight for about £220 which works out at about a tenner a kilo. And that's not including hand luggage). Is there something I'm missing here? Are there any cheaper ways to do it?
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Just checked UK post office surface mail. Cost is about £10-15 for 2kg, but I think up to a maximum of 2kg unless it is printed papers only. You could send lots of small packages I guess... at least one would be bound to get lost, though.
DIY frieght??
I moved from UK to finland with excess baggage company http://www.excessbaggage.co.uk/ I just dropped the stuff off at the airport as I left for my flight to Finland, three days later the stuff was at Vantaa's Finnair terminal and I think it cost me £120 all up including service fee and a large insurance (optional) and I think I brought 25 kgs over. Obviosuly check the pricings with them but if you call the airport counters they can even give you a quote now.
I'm not sure I follow your book two flights thing I don't think you can check in luggage without a person. You can send via BA Cargo but this is very dear. I did a bit of shopping around and companies like Excess Baggage were the cheapest and easiest from the UK. You can also bargain on the price and they will match the price of anywhere cheaper.
Re: surface mail when I actually went to the post office, they don't actually offer surface mail to Finland anymore so you have to send airmail! It worked out the same if I sent it via Excess Baggage and I could track it better with Excess.
I'm not sure I follow your book two flights thing I don't think you can check in luggage without a person. You can send via BA Cargo but this is very dear. I did a bit of shopping around and companies like Excess Baggage were the cheapest and easiest from the UK. You can also bargain on the price and they will match the price of anywhere cheaper.
Re: surface mail when I actually went to the post office, they don't actually offer surface mail to Finland anymore so you have to send airmail! It worked out the same if I sent it via Excess Baggage and I could track it better with Excess.
Thanks, that sounds ideal.I moved from UK to finland with excess baggage company http://www.excessbaggage.co.uk/ I just dropped the stuff off at the airport as I left for my flight to Finland, three days later the stuff was at Vantaa's Finnair terminal and I think it cost me £120 all up including service fee and a large insurance (optional) and I think I brought 25 kgs over.
I just meant that I could go and visit friends / family for a weekend without bringing any luggage, and then take the stuff on the way back. I guess I could do both though - i.e. take 23kg in my luggage and use excessbaggage.co.uk for the rest.I'm not sure I follow your book two flights thing I don't think you can check in luggage without a person.
