Inside our operation
Our premises, our warehouse and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
Excess baggage, personal effects and household goods shipped from any UK address to French Guiana by air cargo or sea freight. Family-run since 1998, two miles from Heathrow. Written quotation before we collect.
French Guiana is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic, and one of the destinations we are asked about most by UK customers relocating for work in insurance, reinsurance and finance.
Air is the right choice for smaller consignments and anything you need soon — suitcases, boxes, the things you cannot be without. Typically around 4 to 10 working days from collection, routing to L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA). 30kg per item standard, surcharge if heavier.
Sea becomes the sensible choice once the volume grows — a household rather than a few bags. Typically around 4 to 10 weeks, routing to Hamilton. It is slower, and for larger consignments it is the honest answer.
On actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Volumetric is length × width × height in cm divided by 6000, so a box of bedding prices on the room it takes, not what it weighs. Dismantle and flat-pack anything you can. Minimum chargeable weight is 25kg on most services, 45kg on some — we tell you which applies before you book.
French Guiana is part of France and an EU outermost region — inside the EU customs union but outside the EU VAT area, with a local octroi de mer (dock dues) charged on imports.
We handle your UK customs export entry. Import clearance, and any duty or tax at the other end, is the responsibility of the importer or consignee. We will tell you what to expect before you book rather than after you have paid.
Every personal effects, excess luggage and student shipping consignment must travel with a valued packing list and a photocopy of the consignee’s passport. Not a rough list — an itemised one, with honest values. This is the single most common reason a shipment sits waiting at the destination, and it is entirely avoidable.
Because French Guiana sits alone in the Atlantic rather than in a shipping cluster, sailings are less frequent than to a mainland port. If you are working to a date, tell us early and we will be straight with you about what is achievable.
On a door-to-airport or door-to-port service, the consignee may face destination handling, customs clearance, storage and collection charges at arrival. On sea freight there can also be de-stuffing and terminal handling. These are levied at the destination, not by us — but you should know they exist before you ship, not when someone calls you asking for money. Ask us and we will tell you what is typical for French Guiana.
Your shipment is handled many times by people who cannot see inside the box. The most common mistake we see is packaging never designed for international transport — single-wall storage boxes, plastic crates, canvas bags, bin liners. None of it survives properly.
Use double-wall shipping cartons made for international transport; we can supply them. Label every carton with your surname and the arrival address, tape all seams, and fill empty space so the box cannot collapse under load. For anything fragile or high value we build purpose-made timber crates in-house. See our packing guide and the prohibited items list before you start.
Our premises, our warehouse and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
“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.”
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.
Airline excess-baggage charges add up fast once you go past a bag or two, and they often bill by the kilo on top. Once you have more than a couple of bags, sending them with us usually works out cheaper and a good deal less stressful.
| Factor | Excess Baggage Fees | Ship with Us |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for 2+ bags | Often £150–500+ per extra bag | Usually works out cheaper |
| Size limits | Strict airline limits; oversized bags rejected | We can ship boxes, crates, odd shapes |
| Pickup | You carry to airport; pay at check-in | We collect from your door, UK-wide |
| Delivery | Airport baggage claim only | Door delivery or airport, your choice |
| Timing | Arrives with your flight | Can arrive before or after you |
| Fragile items | Airline handling; damage common | Professional packing; insurable |
Tell us what you are moving, where it is going and when. We will give you a clear quote before we collect anything.
Get a Quote 0800 096 38 39If you’re flying to French Guiana from the UK yourself and only have one or two extra bags, paying the airline for excess baggage may be the simplest option. But for larger amounts — multiple bags, boxes, or a full relocation — sending your belongings as unaccompanied luggage is usually more flexible and often more economical. Here’s an honest comparison:
| Extra airline baggage | Shipping with Excess Luggage | |
|---|---|---|
| Collected from your door | You carry it to the airport yourself | Yes — we collect from your UK address |
| How much you can send | Limited by airline allowance | No practical limit — bags, boxes, furniture |
| Price predictability | Per-bag fees, can add up fast | Written quotation before we collect |
| Do you have to be flying? | Yes | No — send it independently |
| Customs paperwork | You handle it alone | We guide you through it |
| Oversized / awkward items | Often refused or penalised | Handled routinely |
| Best for | 1–2 extra bags on your own flight | Larger moves, boxes, unaccompanied items |
We’ll always give you an honest steer — if the airline is genuinely cheaper for what you’re sending, we’ll tell you.
We move personal effects and cargo to French Guiana by every route — choose what fits: Sea freight • Air cargo to French Guiana.