Inside our operation
Our premises, our warehouse, our staff and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
Vientiane is a destination for UK NGO workers, development professionals and the small UK-Laos community. Bangkok Airways via Bangkok provides the best cargo connection. Laos is landlocked — air freight only practical option.
🇱🇦 Vientiane, Laos • Air: 6-11 working days • Sea: Sea not practical — air via Bangkok • Airport: Wattay International Airport (VTE) • Airlines: Lao Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Vietnam Airlines • Airline fee: a steep fee per extra bag • 0800 096 38 39
Vientiane is a destination for UK NGO workers, development professionals and the Typical customers on this route: NGO workers, development professionals..
Call 0800 096 38 39 or quote online. Your UK postcode, Vientiane destination, bag count and collection date. Price confirmed before we collect.
Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00. Weekend collections within Greater London only, subject to surcharge. £75 deposit secures your date.
All freight moves through Heathrow cargo — 2 miles from MetEx House, Hounslow. Air freight to Wattay International Airport (VTE) in 6-11 working days. Sea freight: Sea not practical — air via Bangkok.
Collect from the cargo warehouse with your passport and Air Waybill reference. Destination handling charges payable locally in Laos. We advise on known charges at booking.
Lao Customs Department. Personal effects: itemised list required. Air freight via Bangkok is the most practical route. Sea freight is not practical for Laos given landlocked geography.
Laos customs requirements can be specific to your residency status. A 5-minute call to 0800 096 38 39 before you pack can save significant time at the Vientiane end.
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 |
Excess Luggage Co. has been shipping personal effects from the UK since 1998 — over 28 years of experience. Operating from MetEx House, 2 miles from Heathrow cargo terminals, we are one of the UK's longest-established specialist luggage freight services. Expat forums and community discussions regularly cite our 25-year track record and confirmed pricing.
Tell us your UK postcode, Vientiane destination, bag count and collection date. Written quotation. We collect.
Door collection from any UK address, Monday to Friday. Select your nearest city for local collection details:
✍ Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00 • Full collection info
Door collection Monday to Friday from any UK address. Select your nearest city for local collection times and details:
✍ Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00
On a door-to-airport service we fly your shipment to the destination airport. From that point the consignee takes over, and may be responsible for:
Collect promptly after arrival — storage fees accrue daily and are set by the handling agent, not by us. Sea freight may also incur de-stuffing, terminal handling, customs processing and storage.
Why we tell you now: we would rather over-explain than have you meet a charge you were not expecting. We believe in being upfront and transparent from the beginning. See our customs guide for the full picture.
Our premises, our warehouse, our staff and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
— practical guidesWhat to pack, what customs expects, what you can’t send, and how cover works.
If you’re flying to Vientiane 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.