MetEx House, 496a Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0TE  ·  Shipping since 1998
0800 096 38 39
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Airline Cargo Alternative · Excess Luggage Co. · Since 1998

Booked a Hand Luggage Only Fare? Send Your Bags Separately

BA Economy Basic, Ryanair, and EasyJet sell fares with no checked bags included. Adding hold bags at the airport is expensive. Excess Luggage Co. ships your bags to your destination separately — often cheaper than the airline adds, with door-to-door (subject to your destination) collection from your home.

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The hand luggage only problem

Millions of passengers have no checked bag allowance

The growth of no-bag fares

The aviation industry has increasingly moved toward fare structures that strip out checked baggage — charging separately for every bag in the hold. This trend — started by Ryanair and EasyJet — has now been adopted by British Airways (Economy Basic), Vueling, Wizz Air, and many other carriers. Even full-service airlines now sell basic economy fares with zero or reduced hold baggage allowances on certain routes.

The result: millions of passengers every year book a flight only to discover they have no hold baggage included. Adding bags at the airport is significantly more expensive than adding them online — and adding them online can cost more than the original flight fare for budget airlines.

Airlines selling hand luggage only fares (2026)

  • British Airways — Economy Basic: 0 hold bags
  • Ryanair — Standard: 0 hold bags
  • EasyJet — Standard (no bag add-on): 0 hold bags
  • Wizz Air — Basic: 0 hold bags
  • Vueling — Basic: 0 hold bags
  • Norwegian — LowFare: 0 hold bags
The Excess Luggage Co. solution: Ship your bags separately from your UK door. Often cheaper than adding bags to your fare — and we collect from your home.
How it works

Sending your bags separately — the simple process

1. Book your shipment

Call us on 0800 096 38 39 or WhatsApp us with your UK postcode, destination, travel date, and number of bags. We provide a full quote and book your collection.

2. We collect from your door

We collect from your UK home address 2-3 days before your flight. No airport trip for your bags — we come to you.

3. You travel light

Travel to the airport with hand luggage only — straight through security with no queues at check-in or the bag drop. No excess baggage fees, no weight panic.

4. Your bags arrive

Your bags arrive at your destination within 4-10 working days by air freight — typically before or around the same time you do for most destinations, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers.

Related

More alternatives to airline baggage

Airline cargo alternative hub Bag over 32kg Oversized items British Airways Ryanair EasyJet Cheap luggage courier
FAQs

Booked a Hand Luggage Only Fare? Send Your Bags Se — answered

What is a hand luggage only fare?+
A hand luggage only fare — also called Economy Basic (British Airways), or the standard Ryanair and EasyJet fare — includes zero checked hold baggage. You are allowed cabin bags only. Any bag you want to put in the hold must be purchased as an extra, often at significant cost. British Airways Economy Basic, Ryanair standard, and EasyJet standard fares all operate this way.
Is it cheaper to ship bags separately than add them to a hand luggage only fare?+
For two or more bags, or for heavier consignments, yes — shipping separately with Excess Luggage Co. is typically cheaper than adding hold bags to a British Airways, Ryanair, or EasyJet hand-luggage-only fare, particularly when adding bags at the airport (which is significantly more expensive than online). We also collect from your door, removing the airport handling entirely.
How far in advance should I send my bags if I have a hand luggage only fare?+
We recommend booking your shipment at least 3-5 days before your flight. We collect from your UK address and ship by air freight — your bags typically arrive at your destination within 4-10 working days. For most long-haul routes, your bags arrive before or around the same time you do.
Which airlines sell hand luggage only fares with no checked bags?+
British Airways (Economy Basic), Ryanair (standard fare), EasyJet (standard fare without bag add-ons), Wizz Air, Vueling, and most low-cost carriers. Most full-service airlines also sell basic economy fares with reduced or zero baggage allowances on certain routes.
What can I ship if I have a hand luggage only fare?+
Everything you would normally put in hold baggage — clothing, shoes, books, electronics, household goods, and personal effects. We also accept items that airlines typically refuse as hold baggage — oversized items, heavy boxes, and personal effects over 32kg.

Ready to ship your luggage from London?

Get a quote in minutes, or call our UK-based team on 0800 096 38 39.

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