This decision can be especially hard if you must ship something by air freight. You constantly have to worry about the packages being loaded onto the wrong flight and being misdirected to another destination and being lost. Or you have to worry about them being damaged in flight.



Plus there is the additional factor of how much it will cost you to ship the packages. It can be enough to make your head spin around in circles. In this article we will cover the basics of air freight and hopefully answer some of the basics where this is concerned and before it is all over you will have a greater understanding of what this valuable service has to offer and where you can turn to for your shipping needs.

What companies offer air freight?

There are several companies that offer air freight services. FedEx, UPS, and United Air Freight are just a few. Some air freight companies offer pick-up services up to a certain amount of pounds per package whereas some will require that you deliver the package to their terminal. You will have to check with the individual shipping company to ensure what their services cover.

How much does it cost?

The cost of the air freight shipping will vary depending on: location, how soon it must be there, the nature of what it is you are shipping, the value of the item(s) in question, how many item(s) you are shipping and how much each item weighs. It also depends on what company you go with. Many large companies have contracts with shipping companies that provides them with a discount since they ship frequently. You will have to check around for pricing information before you decide on a company to ship with.

Should I take out insurance for my package?

Most air freight services will only cover packages up to a certain dollar amount. You should always insure your package if it is valuable. If you are taking the time and money to ship a package by air freight chances are that it is valuable to you.

Insurance does not cost that much and it is well worth the price if something were to happen to your package. It is better to be safe than sorry.

What is the weight limit for packages?

Some shippers do have a weight limit for picking up packages. They may require that you deliver the packages to their air freight terminal yourself or arrange for delivery yourself. You will need to check with the shipping company to see what the weight limit is and how you should properly prepare the packages for shipping.

It is important to follow their guidelines if you want your packages to arrive at their destination in one piece. Some may require special stickers to be placed on the packages to let the handlers know the weight of the package so that they are not harmed during lifting.