The most expensive transportation option is usually air freight. Airfreight is usually the most costly mode of transport. If getting your cargo to market as soon as possible is your main priority, air freight may be the best option. There are a few things to consider before committing to air freight, whatever your motive for doing so. Whatever your reason for shipping by air, there are a few things to consider before committing to air freight.
We’ve put up a collection of business tips and best practices that may help you save time, money, and effort while also avoiding common blunders.
Consideration before Using Air Freight:
Volume Weight vs. Actual Weight:
Airfreight is frequently paid by volumetric or actual weight, depending on whether the figure is higher. It is because, despite the lower weight, huge shipments might take up more cargo room on an airplane than smaller, heavier products.
Importers must consider the difference between volume and actual weight when shipping by air. There might be significant shocks if an importer doesn’t identify the difference.
When exporting through air freight, it is critical to consider the product’s size after packaging. If the volume weight is more than the actual weight, the higher volume weight will be applied, resulting in a considerable increase in your cost.
Custom Crating and Logistics, an experienced air freight forwarder, is looking out for your best interests. They’ll assist you in determining the best packaging alternatives for your products while reducing bulk weight. It’s typically a good idea to utilize lightweight yet robust packaging to avoid paying excessive shipping fees. The aim is to lower volumetric weight while maintaining optimum safety for your goods, resulting in a more efficient transportation procedure.
Unique products such as Electronics:
Depending on the commodities you’re transporting, there may be packaging requirements to keep them safe throughout travel. Between maritime freight and air freight, these standards may change significantly.
Electronic goods that include batteries are an example of a particular commodity. Before being authorized for distribution, these products must be packed and labeled appropriately. Failure to correctly package them might result in significant delays and penalties. Before delivering your cargo to the airport, inform your supplier and freight forwarder of any special requirements.
If your electrical goods contain batteries, there are a few things to think about before choosing air freight:
Double-check all shipping requirements before your things are packaged and sent to the air freight company.
For example, aluminum sheets must be put between the batteries and the electronic gadgets during transportation to protect the batteries from coming into contact with certain metals. This safeguard ensures the product’s safety.
If you’re looking for a freight forwarder, be sure they can assist you with optimizing packaging for your unique product.
Make sure you have all of the necessary paperwork:
All relevant documents, such as commercial invoices and packing lists, must be assembled, reviewed, and completed before shipment by air carriers. When shipping through air freight, your forwarder must be aware of what is necessary, such as the exact information that must be included on those documents.
We know which documentation you’ll submit and which we’ll need to fill on your behalf at Custom Crating and Logistics. We take a proactive approach and always request them ahead of time, ensuring that crucial deadlines are met. To guarantee a seamless procedure, our experienced team inspects every paper. There will be no last-minute delays, and we will pre-clear your goods in most circumstances, reducing their time to market.
Direct vs. Delayed Service:
It’s critical to know if you’ll be using a direct or postponed service before booking an air freight shipment.
Direct service is the same as it sounds like:
It travels directly from one airport to the next without any pause. It takes one to two days for direct flight service to arrive. Depending on the number of stops along the route, deferred service might take 3-5 days.
Although some air freight is delivered on passenger flights, some things are not allowed, such as electronics with batteries. Unskilled forwarders may not tell you until it is too late, resulting in a delay in your shipment.
Cargo Insurance:
Despite its increased expenses, air freight does not automatically include cargo insurance. Shippers frequently make the mistake of believing it does or decide to forego it to save money.
Cargo transit is inherently dangerous, and cargo loss can occur at any step throughout the shipping process. Mistakes happen every time a package passes through someone’s hands, from your supplier to a local trucker to the receiving facility to the airline. Cargoes may be mistreated, exposed to the weather, or stolen.
Cargo insurance is affordable and provides peace of mind. Your forwarder is in charge of the whole procedure, from getting coverage to filing a claim, and the insurance carrier pays claims swiftly. It is your insurance policy, not your forwarder’s. Experienced forwarders like Custom Crating and Logistics, on the other hand, would always guard the same carrier that protects their firm’s liability.
