Air freight
For cargo that's small, urgent or worth more than the time it'd spend at sea. Standard or express, from Asia and Europe into the US.
What an air booking covers
- 01Space with an airline, booked through an air freight forwarder partnerairport to airport
- 02Chargeable weight checked before booking, so the invoice doesn't surprise youincluded
- 03Air waybill details checked against your invoice and packing listincluded
- 04Customs entry through a licensed broker partneroptional, $165
- 05Pickup and delivery at either endquoted per address
You pay for space or weight, whichever is more
Airlines run out of room before they run out of lift, so light, bulky cargo is charged as if it were heavier. The formula: length × width × height in centimeters, divided by 6,000. Compare that with the real weight. The bigger number is your chargeable weight.
Example scenario
One carton of lampshades
Carton: 100 × 80 × 70 cm, weighs 22 kg
Volume weight: 100 × 80 × 70 ÷ 6,000 = 93.33 kg
Chargeable weight: 93.5 kg (rounded up to the next half kilo)
Asia → US, standard: 93.5 × $4.80 = $448.80
If your cargo is light and bulky, it's worth asking whether it can be packed smaller. Every 10 cm off one side shows up on the bill.
Standard or express
| Service | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| Asia → US | from $4.80/kg | from $6.24/kg |
| Europe → US | from $4.20/kg | from $5.46/kg |
| Minimum charge | $290 | $290 |
| What changes | consolidated, next suitable flights | priority space, fewer hand-offs |
Express is the standard rate plus 30%. Neither comes with a guaranteed delivery date; both come with an estimate in the quote.
Batteries, aerosols, anything that might burn
Lithium batteries, perfumes, aerosols, paints and similar goods are regulated as dangerous goods on aircraft. They have to be declared, packed and labelled to airline rules, and some airlines won't take them at all. Tell us up front, even if it's a battery inside a product. We'll check whether it can fly and what it adds, and if it can't, we'll say so. Undeclared dangerous goods can be refused, held or fined.
Air rates
- Asia → US, standardfrom $4.80/kg chargeable
- Europe → US, standardfrom $4.20/kg chargeable
- Expressstandard rate +30%
- Minimum charge$290
Indicative prices. Your written quote is what counts. Rates updated October 2026. Written quotes hold for 7 days, because ocean and air rates move.
What we need from you
- Number of pieces, each with length, width, height and weight
- Pickup city and the US delivery address
- What it is, and whether anything contains a battery
- How soon it has to arrive, and what happens if it's late (so we can pick standard or express sensibly)
Things that can add cost
- Fuel and security surcharges (listed in the quote)
- Dangerous goods handling, where accepted
- Liftgate or residential delivery
- CBP exam fees, if selected
- Duties and MPF (passed through at cost)
Airlines carry it, booked through air freight forwarder partners. Customs entries go through licensed customs broker partners.
| Task | Done by |
|---|---|
| Quote, booking, coordination, paperwork chasing | We✓Us |
| Packing, crating, palletizing | PackersOur packers or a partner crating shop near the cargo (named in your quote) |
| Ocean carriage | CarrierLicensed ocean carriers and FMC-licensed forwarders |
| Air carriage | AirlineAirlines, booked through air freight forwarder partners |
| ISF, customs entries, bonds | Broker partnerLicensed customs broker partners |
| Storage, devanning, pick & pack, FBA prep | Partner warehousePartner warehouses |
| Cargo insurance | Third-party insurerThird-party insurers |
| Pickup and final delivery in the US | Carrier partnerCarrier partners |
Air freight questions
Q01Why is my chargeable weight higher than what the box weighs?
Because it takes up more room than its weight suggests. See the formula above: the bigger of the two numbers is what's billed.
Q02Do I need ISF for air freight?
No. ISF is for ocean shipments only. You'll still need a customs entry.
Q03Is express guaranteed to arrive faster?
It's booked on priority space and usually moves faster, but we don't guarantee transit times on any air or ocean service.
Often paired with
Sizes and weights per piece. That's what we need.
A few details about the cargo and where it's going. We reply within one business day, Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 ET, with a written quote or the questions we need answered first.
No online payment · Written quote first