⚠ Door-to-Door Services — Destination Charges Not Included
Your UK shipping quote does not include the following destination charges. These are levied by governing bodies and government agencies at the arrival country and are payable by you directly at destination:
⚠Quarantine and biosecurity inspection fees — mandatory government charges, payable per consignment at destination, levied by the arrival country’s quarantine or biosecurity authority (e.g. AQIS in Australia, MPI in New Zealand). Payable per consignment at destination. Not included in your UK quote.
⚠Government inspection fees — charges levied by customs authorities or other governing bodies where your shipment is selected for physical inspection. These are outside our control and not included in your UK quote.
⚠Storage fees — if your shipment is held at the destination warehouse due to customs queries, incorrect documentation, missing tax IDs or failure to respond to inspection notices, storage charges accumulate at your cost. These are payable before your shipment is released.
⚠Customs duties and taxes — any import duties, VAT, GST or local taxes assessed by the destination customs authority on your shipment are payable by you at destination.
⚠Cargo dues and wharfage — mandatory port or airport handling charges levied by the destination authority (e.g. Ad Valorem Wharfage in South Africa, cargo dues in Nigeria). Payable per consignment at destination.
These charges are mandatory, set by the destination country’s governing bodies, and outside our control. We will advise you of known destination charges for your route at the time of booking so you can budget accordingly. If you have questions about what to expect at your destination, call us on 0800 096 38 39 before you book.
What is excess baggage shipping and how is it different from airline baggage? −
Excess baggage shipping means sending your bags separately from your flight, as air freight or sea freight, rather than checking them onto the aircraft. We collect from your UK door and deliver to the destination airport or seaport. The main differences: your bags travel independently of you, they arrive at the cargo warehouse (not the baggage carousel), and in most cases the cost is significantly lower than what the airline charges for additional checked bags at check-in.
Is shipping excess baggage actually cheaper than paying the airline? +
For most customers shipping two or more bags, yes — sometimes by a substantial margin. British Airways charges from £65 per extra bag pre-purchased, rising to £100 or more at the airport desk. Emirates and Qatar charge from £60 per kilogram over your allowance. Our air freight rate is confirmed at the point of quote, — and as long as your bags are what you told us, that’s the price you pay, and includes UK door collection. Call us with your destination and bag count and we will give you a comparison on the spot.
How long does excess baggage shipping take? +
By air freight: typically 4–10 working days from UK door collection to arrival airport. By sea freight: 3–12 weeks depending on destination — Nigeria direct is 20–21 days, Canada 10–20 days, Australia 46–68 days. Transit times are estimates and not guaranteed. We always recommend building in extra buffer time during peak periods such as Christmas, Eid and summer holidays when cargo space is in high demand.
What is door-to-door (subject to your destination) excess baggage shipping and where is it available? +
Door-to-door means we collect your bags from your UK address and deliver them directly to your home address abroad, with customs clearance handled along the way. You don’t need to go to any customs office or cargo warehouse at the destination. We offer this service to Australia, the USA, the UAE and Canada (Canada is subject to customs restrictions — the receiver may still need to attend in person). Also available by sea freight to New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa and Thailand.
Can I ship personal effects overseas? +
Yes — personal effects are exactly what we ship every day. Clothing, shoes, books, kitchen items, household goods, sports equipment, musical instruments. The sender and receiver must be the same person for the shipment to qualify as personal effects rather than commercial goods. For door-to-door (subject to your destination) air service via our express air partner/our express air partner, only personal effects are accepted — no laptops, no commercial items.
Do you collect from my home? And what are the collection hours? +
Yes, we collect from your home, workplace or university anywhere on the UK mainland. Within the M25: Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00–12:00 with a weekend surcharge (Greater London only, subject to availability) plus the item collection fee. Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, no standard weekend collections. Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland attract a higher collection fee. Book at least 48–72 hours before your required date. If your items are above the second floor and there is no lift, please tell us at booking — a secondary collection person is required and chargeable.
Is there a booking deposit? +
Yes — a £75.00 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking and secure your collection date. This is not an additional charge on top of your quote. It is offset against your total shipping charge when we invoice for the full amount after collection.
What happens if my plans change after booking? +
Contact us as early as possible. All cancellations must be advised at least 48–72 hours before your collection date. Once the luggage or cargo has been collected, 100% of the quoted charges apply. If you cancel on the day of collection once our driver is at your door, 95% of the quoted charges apply — plus any airline or carrier retrieval charges that have already been incurred. The £75 deposit is non-refundable in all circumstances. We understand plans change — the sooner you let us know, the less it costs you.
How much does excess baggage shipping cost compared to airline fees?+
Airlines charge significant fees per excess bag at check-in — set at the check-in desk or gate when you have no alternative. We’ll send you a written quote before we collect anything. As long as your bags are what you told us, that’s the price you pay — subject to airline rates at the time of booking. Airline rates may change, subject to space and availability, so if that affects your quote we’ll let you know before you commit. For 2+ bags on long-haul routes, we are usually cheaper. For one bag on short-haul, airline fees may be comparable or cheaper if included in the fare. Call 0800 096 38 39 with your route and bag count for an immediate comparison.
Can I avoid excess baggage fees completely by shipping ahead?+
Yes — this is exactly what most customers do. Book your shipment 10–14 days before you travel, fly with hand luggage only (or your included allowance), and collect your bags from the destination cargo warehouse. You avoid check-in queues, baggage reclaim, and the stress of overweight bags at the check-in desk or gate. thousands of customers have done this with us since 1998.
