Do Airlines Improve Bag Handling when Fees Rise?

UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg says more travelers are doing the same since airlines began imposing the extra fees for checking bags in 2008. Jeff Boyd, co-owner of Luggage Free, a New York-based luggage-shipping business, says he's seen a similar increase. His company ships bags for about 2,000 customers a month.

It can cost more to ship bags separately than the airlines charge in extra fees.

Jacobsen paid $200 to ship her bags to and from a destination last month. But the price was worth it, she says.

"I'm a big believer in paying a little extra for comfort and peace of mind," she says. "And I have a tracking number, so I can see exactly where my box is on the way back home to me."

Contributing: Barbara Hansen