How is air freight priced? What is "chargeable weight"?
Air freight is billed by Chargeable Weight: the greater of actual weight and volume weight (L×W×H cm ÷ 6000). Light cargo bills by volume weight, dense cargo bills by actual weight. On top of base freight, expect Fuel Surcharge (FSC), Security Surcharge (SSC), airport handling, AWB fee, and X-ray screening — request an all-in quote from your forwarder.
How much do direct vs. transit flights differ in time and price?
Direct flights arrive at the destination airport in 1-3 days; transits take 2-5 days (typically via Hong Kong, Seoul, Dubai, or Frankfurt). Direct is typically 10-30% more expensive than transit but with lower risk of loss or delay. Choose direct for urgent shipments; transit works for cost-sensitive general cargo. Decide based on ETD/ETA and space availability.
Can battery cargo (built-in or pure lithium) ship by air?
Yes, subject to IATA DGR. Built-in lithium batteries (PI 967 / 970) require UN 38.3 test reports, MSDS, battery certification, and external battery labels. Pure lithium batteries (PI 965 / 968) are restricted — most carriers only accept them through IATA-approved DG agents at 2-4× the general rate. Be precise about the product and battery type when requesting quotes.
What is the difference between MAWB and HAWB?
MAWB (Master Air Waybill) is issued by the airline and represents the master shipping contract; the consignee is typically the destination agent. HAWB (House Air Waybill) is issued by the forwarder to the actual customer; the consignee is the real recipient. Customs clearance is filed against the HAWB; the MAWB is mainly used for carrier-forwarder settlement.
Do air freight rates rise during peak season (Q4 / pre-CNY)?
Yes. From September to December (Christmas / Black Friday stocking) and March-May / July-August (e-commerce events), space tightens and carriers add a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) of 20-80%. Lock in space 2-3 weeks ahead. Some carriers require a Block Space Agreement (BSA) to guarantee allotment.
Can air freight ship door-to-door?
Yes — via "Air Express" or "Duty-Paid Air Delivery": cargo arrives at the destination airport and the forwarder handles clearance plus local trucking / parcel delivery to the door. This is the standard model for Europe / North America FBA first-mile and DDP door-to-door — total transit 5-10 days at 30-50% less than pure express. See our FBA / Door-to-Door rate search for details.
International Air Freight Rates · Airport-to-Airport Real-Time Quotes
Awice Logistics aggregates real-time air freight rates from 50+ airlines across 1,000+ international airports. Filter by origin airport (PVG / PEK / HKG / CAN / SZX, etc.) and destination, with tiered pricing displayed across +45 / +100 / +300 / +500 / +1000 kg breaks. Beyond general cargo we also quote sensitive cargo — batteries, magnets, chemicals, and temperature-controlled shipments. Sign in to view flight schedules, transit hubs, remaining space, and book in real time.
