Every shipment we send follows the same clear path. We’ve set it out below step by step so you know exactly what to expect before you commit to anything. Throughout, we’ll be honest about what we control and what we don’t — because the parts outside our hands, like destination customs, matter just as much to your peace of mind.
Behind every shipment is a reason. Some of our customers are starting university abroad. Others are moving overseas for work, or returning home to family after years away. Some are retiring to the sun, joining a partner, or relocating an entire household to the other side of the world.
Whatever your reason, we understand that what you’re sending isn’t “just luggage” — it’s part of your life. That’s why the process below exists: so nothing about it is left to chance, and nothing is a surprise.
A note on what we can and can’t control. From collection to the moment your shipment is handed to the airline or shipping line, the process is in our hands and we keep as much of it as possible under one roof. Once it leaves the UK, airline schedules, security inspections and — above all — destination customs, duties and taxes are controlled by others. We’ll always tell you plainly which is which.
Who does what, at a glance
| What you do | What we handle |
|---|---|
| Pack your belongings and tell us the details for a quote | Arrange collection from your UK address |
| Provide passport ID and a valued packing list | Check, weigh, measure, label and security wrap your shipment |
| Photograph your labelled luggage before it leaves | Complete the export documentation and UK customs export entry |
| Pay any destination handling charges, duties or taxes | Book airline or shipping line space and complete security screening |
| Clear and collect, or receive delivery, at the other end | Send you the carrier and destination agent details |
You request a quotation
Tell us your UK collection postcode, the destination, how many items you’re sending, and their approximate weights and dimensions. The more accurate these are, the more accurate your quote will be.
Your partWe email your quote — valid for 14 days
We send your quotation by email. It is valid for 14 days and based on the information available at the time. If your details change, or 14 days pass, just ask us to confirm it again — there’s no obligation at this stage.
We handle thisYou accept and complete the contract
If you’re happy to proceed, you complete the shipping contract and provide passport ID, a packing list and a valued packing list. Every personal effects, excess luggage and student shipment travels with a valued packing list and a photocopy of the consignee’s passport — this is a customs requirement, not red tape.
Your partWe arrange collection
We collect from homes, universities and businesses across the UK. Outside London a trusted carrier may be used for the collection leg. Before your luggage leaves, take a quick photo of your labelled bags and boxes. It’s a simple record of what was sent and how it was packed — it protects both sides and takes a moment.
Shared We handle this
Your shipment reaches our warehouse
Once it arrives with us, your shipment is checked, weighed, measured, labelled and security wrapped. This is where we confirm the details your quote was based on and prepare everything for export.
We handle thisWe book the carrier and complete the documentation
We complete the airline or shipping line booking, the export documentation and your UK customs export entry. This is the part customers most often underestimate — and it’s the part we handle for you.
We handle thisAviation and maritime security screening
Your shipment undergoes security screening before it flies or sails. Excess Luggage Co. comply with the UK aviation and maritime security act and regulations, we ship all dangerous goods under IATA and IMDG rules, and all our staff are trained in aviation & maritime security for shipping.
We handle thisWe send you the details you need
Once your shipment is on its way, we provide the airline or vessel details and the contact information for the handling agent at destination, so you know who to deal with when it arrives.
We handle thisDestination charges, duties and taxes
Any handling charges, duties and taxes at the destination are set and controlled by the destination authorities — not by us. They are always at the discretion of destination customs. We’ll tell you what to expect, but we can’t waive or predict another country’s customs decisions.
Outside our controlYou clear and collect, or receive delivery
Depending on the service you chose — Door-to-Airport, Door-to-Port or Door-to-Door where available — you either clear and collect your shipment, or receive it to your door. And that’s the journey, from your first email to your belongings arriving safely.
Your part“I have worked in this industry for more than 40 years, and safety has always been my highest priority. Our responsibility is to protect not only the shipper’s belongings, but also airline staff, carriers, customs authorities, and fellow passengers travelling on the aircraft carrying the shipment.”
Lak Kharod — Director, Excess Luggage Co.
Your belongings are treated like our own
Every suitcase, box and personal belonging entrusted to us represents someone’s life, memories or future. Whether you’re moving abroad, sending a student’s belongings to university or relocating for work, we understand these aren’t just parcels. From collection to export, we handle every shipment with the same care and attention we would expect for our own family’s possessions.