Savvy Traveler Ships Clothes for £2.59 to Dodge Ryanair's £30 Baggage Fee
A resourceful traveler has shared her ingenious method to avoid hefty airline baggage fees by shipping her clothes separately for a fraction of the cost. Laura Poole, a 33-year-old public speaker and trainer from Cardiff, Wales, posted a month's worth of clothing via an InPost locker for just £2.59 instead of paying Ryanair's £30 luggage charge on her flight.
The Frugal Travel Hack That Went Viral
Laura, who identifies as part of the FIRE community (Financial Independence, Retire Early), packed her outfits into a gym bag, wrapped it in a Lidl carrier bag, and deposited it at her local Tesco Express locker before flying from Bristol to Glasgow on February 22nd. She paid only £57.48 for her return flights, making a total saving of £27.41 on the journey.
"I have better things to spend my money on than really expensive baggage fees," Laura explained. "I actually did it before, this is the second time I've done it. So I knew it worked."
Inspiration from Online Marketplaces
The clever idea came from observing how platforms like Vinted use InPost lockers for parcel deliveries. Laura's curiosity led her to investigate the cost, realizing that if postage was minimal on Vinted, it could be significantly cheaper than traditional Royal Mail services or airline fees.
For her month-long business trip to Glasgow, Laura sent "at least five different outfits" including suit jackets, trousers, dresses, and loungewear. She deposited her parcel on Thursday evening before her Sunday morning flight, and it arrived safely in Glasgow shortly after she did.
Practical Considerations and Insurance
Laura took practical precautions with her unconventional luggage strategy. She packed sufficient clothing for two to three days in her cabin rucksack as backup and avoided shipping sentimental items like a decade-old scarf or her late grandfather's t-shirts.
"My thought process is if anything goes wrong, or it doesn't arrive in time, I've got time to buy new clothes," she said. "I do public speaking so I need to look good. It's insured for up to £50."
Mixed Reactions and Future Plans
After sharing her strategy on Facebook, the post quickly went viral, attracting both praise and criticism. While some trolls called the approach "stupid," many others hailed Laura as a "genius" for her frugal innovation.
"There are always trolls whenever anything goes that big and people are always negative," Laura remarked, "but overall I've never been called a genius so much in my life."
When Laura returns from her trip next month, she plans to use the InPost locker system again, pocketing another £27.41 in savings. This budget-friendly travel hack demonstrates how creative thinking can lead to significant financial benefits for frequent flyers looking to minimize unnecessary expenses.
