International Shipping By Air

International Shipping By Air

Shipping by air provides speed and reliability. With a considerable amount of airlines offering cargo shipping, and approximately 10% of things being transported by air freight, it could make sense to transport your household belongings by air to the new international destination.

Once you have determined what you will be moving, and the timeline of when your items need to be delivered to the new destination, you can then begin exploring the option of shipping your items by air. International shipping by air is significantly more expensive than International Shipping by Sea, but you will receive your items within 2-3 days. Whereas shipping by sea can take weeks, sometimes even months. There is also the option to ship both ways, by sea and by air. If there are certain items that you or family members must have upon arrival into the new country, these can be shipped by air, while you wait for the rest of your belongings to arrive by sea.

Cost Of Shipping By Air

To find out the cost of shipping internationally by air, you will need to compare prices to see what each company offers. You can start by reviewing the website of any companies you are considering. Air carriers charge by volumetric weight, which can also be called dimensional weight. Or they charge by the actual weight, whichever comes out to be most expensive.

In addition to the cost of your belongings, the price for shipping by air will also need to include:

• Fuel surcharges
• Airport transfers
• Security surcharges

If you will be receiving door-to-door service, your price will also include:

• Pick up and delivery
• Customs brokerage
• Cargo insurance
• Extra Services (also known as assessorial charges)

If you’re considering shipping some, or all of your belonging internationally by air, before committing to a company, make sure you look at each carrier’s rules and regulations. It should be outlined on their websites, where there will be clear guidelines on what can and cannot be shipped by air. They will also specify how things should be packed and instructions for labeling your belongings. If you have any questions, now would be the time to contact the company directly to ensure you understand what is expected.

Air Freight Terminology

As you begin navigating the world of air freight and communicating with professionals, you will hear a lot of terms you may not be familiar with. Below are the meanings of just a few terms you might come across. For a detailed list you can visit Air Freight.

• Air waybill – Is the bill of lading. It is a non-negotiable contract between the shipper and the carrier.
• Customs – An official department that administers and collects duties levied by a government on imported and exported goods.
• Customs broker - An individual or company licensed by the government to enter and clear goods through Customs.
• Customs invoice – A document verifying the value and description of the shipment. The document will also show consignor, and consignee information. Some foreign countries usually require customs invoices.
• Consignee - The person or company whose name appears on the Air Waybill as the receiver.
• Consignor (Shipper) - The person or company whose name appears on the Air Waybill as the shipper.

Should You Ship By Air?

There are few pros and cons to shipping by air. It is by far more expensive than shipping by sea and produces more C02 emissions. On the positive side, it is fast and reliable. Shipping by air provides better tracking of your shipment, and delivers your belongings in just a few days. It also provides better protection; damages are less likely to occur from shipping by air than they are from ocean freight.