Reviewed and updated on 13 August 2026
Chargeable weight
Air rates use the greater of actual and volumetric weight. A light but bulky package can therefore be priced like a much heavier shipment. Provide the dimensions and weight of each piece before requesting a rate.
Airport handling
The complete chain includes pickup, origin handling, the flight, destination handling, customs and final delivery. Courier, express and general cargo services have different size limits, processes and rate structures.
Restricted cargo
Batteries, aerosols, liquids, chemicals and some equipment may fall under dangerous-goods rules. They require classification, compliant packaging and airline approval. Temperature-controlled and high-value cargo need separate handling plans.
- compare door-to-door time, not flight duration;
- identify the actual origin and destination airports;
- declare batteries, liquids and regulated contents;
- check cut-off times and terminal charges.
What a quotation should include
Separate the flight from collection, export handling, terminal work, import clearance and final delivery. Chargeable weight, airports, aircraft capacity, security screening, storage and documents can matter more than the flight duration itself.
| Input | Reason |
|---|---|
| Each package size | Calculating volumetric weight and checking aircraft limits. |
| Exact commodity | Identifying batteries, liquids, aerosols and other restricted materials. |
| Temperature | Selecting packaging and acceptable handling time. |
| Full route | Including every surface leg and transfer. |
Restriction screening
Dangerous goods status cannot be determined from a casual product name. Battery-powered equipment, chemicals and medical samples require technical information and, where applicable, a safety data sheet. Classification, packing, marking and documents must be checked against current rules and airline variations.
Official source
- IATA dangerous goods documentation.