How is the rate determined for air freight?
Air cargo rates are calculated on either the weight or the space of the goods, known as dimensional weight(determined by multiplying length x width x height in cms and dividing the sum by 6000 for international shipments). You must calculate dimensional weight on every shipment, compare this to the actual weight, and use the greater of the two to determine the final shipping cost. The Dimensional Weight calculator below will automatically work this out:

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Can you explain this with an example?
Let's take our standard removal carton which has the following measurements: 46 x 46 x 56 centimetres.
According to the volume calculator above, the dimensional weight of this package is 20kgs. This means that if the box's true weight is only 12kgs the rate you'll be invoiced for will be the full 20kgs. The principal behind this concept is very simple: by charging only by weight, lightweight, low density packages become unprofitable for freight carriers due to the amount of space they take up in the aircraft in proportion to their actual weight. Dimensional weight favors shippers of dense objects and penalizes those who ship lightweight boxes.

I'd rather pack my own goods, is this a problem?
Consignments must be packed in a professional manner to withstand the hardships of air cargo. Bear in mind that each package will be handled by many different people along the way and, for this reason, we strongly suggest you leave the packing in the hands of our experienced crew, especially the delicate items. At Britannia Southern we stock a wide range of packing materials that will offer substantial protection to your goods whilst in transit. However, if you'd prefer to do the packing here are a few suggestions:

• Inner packaging.
  The strongest removal box will be useless if it's contents have been packed poorly. Inner packaging provides padding and secures the contents. Wrapping paper and bubble wrap along with crushed paper or "filler" are best suited for packing delicate items. Other useful materials include polystyrene chips, moulded foam or air cushions.

• Packing cartons.
  When selecting the shipping carton, make sure it has the right size(take into account the contents & padding) and is sufficiently strong. Corrugated cardboard boxes are especially suitable. The heavier and larger the item is, the sturdier the outer packaging should be. We strongly suggest not to use second-hand cartons.

What are the prohibited goods I cannot send?
Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or to property when transported by air. Dangerous goods are defined as those goods which meet the criteria of one or more of nine UN hazard classes. The nine classes with examples are as follows:

What happens if I'm missing an item at destination?
The air carrier's liability for damage, loss or late delivery, under the amended Warsaw Convention, is limited to a maximum of 20 USD per Kg (approx. 16 Euros per Kg). When collecting the consignment from the cargo terminal at destination the client must check that all items listed on the inventory have arrived safely. If any items are missing then the client must notify the airport authorities immediately in writing and contact us so we can liaise with the IATA agent at origin.

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