
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.