This past week, I moved out of my apartment in Hawaii when my lease ended. I’m minimalist by nature, and I only brought a single checked bag, carry-on suitcase, and personal item when moving to Oahu last year. While I’ve accumulated some items over the past year, I’m largely moving off the island with the same amount of stuff. Yet, there’s one special item that I decided to bring with me back to the mainland that has caused quite the ruckus. And it only made it thanks to a travel angel named Paige.
What Am I Bringing Back to the Mainland?
I’m a minimalist to my core. To me, fewer items mean less stress. It was a cathartic experience selling large pieces of furniture and donating items that I’ve purchased over the last year. My boyfriend, Dan, visited for a lot of the year that I lived in Hawaii. He’s based out of Iowa City but preferred the North Shore (for obvious reasons).
His job has provided him with status on United Airlines, which has been an asset for the long flights to and from the mainland. With this status, he is permitted 2 free checked bags himself and 2 additional checked bags for a companion. Knowing this, I requested we fly together from Oahu to lower fees. While I only paid for one checked bag last April, I had more stuff and figured anywhere I could reduce the financial burden during relocation would be beneficial. Here’s the baggage we ended up with.
Kelsey
- Personal item: Backpack
- Carry-on: Small rolling suitcase
- Checked item #1: Large rolling suitcase
- Checked item #2: 40L Osprey backpack*
*My Osprey can be carried on and put in an overhead compartment. However, it was easier to check that bag than my small rolling suitcase because it would have necessitated me wearing two backpacks simultaneously. While possible, it isn’t the most comfortable way to travel for an entire day.
Dan
- Personal item: Backpack
- Carry-on: Small rolling suitcase
- Check item #1: Large rolling suitcase
- Checked item #2: Coffee table
Throughout my year in Hawaii, I collected enough items to fill my 40L Osprey bag and one half of Dan’s large rolling suitcase with items. Some of these were items he brought me from his apartment in DC (i.e., a yoga mat). Others were things I had purchased (i.e., rollerblades and sweaters for our March Italy trip). And the remaining items were some I had brought from my parent’s house for our Italy trip (i.e., a winter coat – not at all a necessity in Hawaii).
Why Check a Coffee Table?
If you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s random,” then you’re right. I, myself, have wondered why on Earth I’m bringing a coffee table of all things back to the mainland (and going through such trouble to do so).
During my first few days of living in Hawaii, I acquired a unique coffee table with a world map printed over the top. I found it on eBay and purchased it from a gentleman in Honolulu for $50. I’ve loved having it in my apartment, and my mom insisted it was the perfect item to remember my year on the North Shore by. I wavered on this decision to bring it back with me. On one hand, it was the only piece of furniture I was at all partial to in my entire apartment. On the other, it’s bulky. One of the reasons I loved it so much is because it was a good deal. Surely, shipping it would not make it such a good deal. I decided that I would simply investigate what it would cost and allow that to make the decision for me.
And just as I expected, a local shipping company contracting with UPS and FedEx quoted me $240 to box and ship it. I balked at this figure. I decided I was better off selling it. My mom was adamant I should keep it, even offering to contribute. The employees at Aloha Ship and Pack were so kind. They suggested the option of checking it with an airline if we could get a quote. While at the store, Dan called United Airlines and was told that his status allowed him to check item under 70 pounds (even if it was oversized as the coffee table definitely was). He even requested any other parameters, but the representative said there weren’t any. With this green light, I paid $50.47 to pack it up.
A Travel Angel Named Paige
On the morning of the move, we struggled into the airport with all of the baggage listed above. When we got to the front of the premier access queue with United, we were told point-blank that they couldn’t accept the package as one of the checked bags as we had been told. It was too big. They said that we could pay oversized fees of $200 if we wanted to fly it.
Dan was rightfully frustrated as he had called ahead of time to make sure this wouldn’t happen. The oversized fees came from the size of the box, and we both felt that we would’ve either packaged it differently or not brought it at all if we had been told the correct information. Dan spent around 40 minutes on the phone with a United representative explaining the situation. The representatives at the airport were intent that someone at corporate had to provide a written exemption in his account in order for us to fly with the table fee-free.
Dan initially talked to one agent who then put him on with a supervisor named Paige. After a lengthy process, Paige did what is seemingly never done. She gave clearance for exemption and even worked with us on the phone to put the exemption into the account as the desk agents wouldn’t talk to her over the phone directly.
Final Thoughts
Paige was a true travel angel. We really wouldn’t have had any options that morning other than paying $200. Do people who can’t pay just end up abandoning their possessions at the airport? Is that allowed? I’m happy to say I don’t know the answer to that question.
Read about another travel angel I met in the airport in Auckland or Oakland?