International air freight rates are the costs associated with shipping goods by air internationally. These rates are influenced by several factors, the weight and volume of the shipment, the distance it needs to travel, fuel surcharges, and the type of cargo being shipped.
There are many methods of transporting goods in international trade. Many businesses use air transport to transport high-value goods. Therefore, accurately calculating international air freight rates is important for business owners to ensure efficient cost management and reduce transportation risk.
Knowing the international air freight rates calculator is necessary for purchasing orders and choosing suitable freight forwarders for high supply chain efficiency. You can now calculate air freight rates online easily and quickly through some global logistics company tools. Let’s dive into this article to understand better international air freight rates calculator and the variables involved in shipping charges.
Key factors affecting international air freight rates
Air shipping provides reliable and fast service for delivering goods globally. However, international airfreight pricing can differ in weight and volume, shipping distance and trade lanes, fuel surcharges and additional fees, and cargo type and urgency.
Weight and volume (dimensional weight)
The airline will calculate air cargo cost by weight and volume. It is mentioned in the actual weight and dimensional weight (volume) as below:
- Actual weight is the physical weight of the shipment, measured by standard scales at the warehouse. Airlines use the actual weight of bulky and heavy shipments to calculate air shipping costs.
- Dimensional weight is calculated by the shipment volume, often based on the package’s length, width, and height. Freight carriers will compare actual and dimensional weights and charge air freight for which one is higher.
Shipping distance and trade lanes
The distance between origin and destination also affects air freight, including the significance of key trade routes. The larger the distance, the higher the fuel cost for the airline leads to higher airfreight per weight unit. There is little air service for less common trade lanes, so freight shipping costs are usually expensive.
Popular routes with high competition between airlines will have cheaper rates because the airlines spend more space on them. Busy international air hubs charge handling fees highly due to their efficiency and professionalism.
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Fuel surcharges and additional fees
Some additional fees for unforeseen circumstances will be mentioned on airfreight costs. Furthermore, shipping goods by air also includes fuel surcharges, security fees, and handling charges.
- Fuel surcharges aim to offset regional fuel costs, and they can be increased or decreased in the following seasons.
- Security fees are the surcharges involved in the Security Scheme implementation belonging to the origin and destination point.
- Handling charges are fees that the cargo owners must pay for airline carriers and agent logistics to take care of the cargo process.
- Additional fees: Some extra costs will be charged through the cargo handling process. For example storage, demurrage, re-packing goods,..
Cargo type and urgency (express vs. standard)
Air shipping costs are also affected by cargo type and urgency factors.
Air transportation has three main types of cargo: perishables, hazardous cargo, and general cargo (non-hazardous and non-perishable goods). Airfreight for perishables and hazardous cargo is more expensive than in general because they need special handling or expedited shipping to prevent risks and damages.
How to use an international air freight rates calculator
Using an international air freight rates calculator is simple. Here is a step-by-step guideline:
Inputting dimensions and weight
To input dimensions and weight, you need to measure length, width, height, and weight:
- Length: Measure the longest size of the package cargo.
- Width: Measure the facet perpendicular to the length.
- Height: Measure from the ground to the highest of the cargo.
- Weight: Use highly accurate digital or mechanical scales to measure your cargo. Notice the weight units can be pounds or kilograms based on calculator tools.
After collecting dimensions and weight, double-check to guarantee accuracy when inputting into the calculator tool.
Entering the origin and destination
Shipping zones, airports, and countries are vital factors for rate calculation. Shipping zones are defined by zip code and measured from origin point to destination point. The cargo owners are based on their warehouse address to identify the airport of loading (AOL) and do the same with the consignee address to determine the airport of destination (AOD).
Every country has some international airports which can transport international goods. Shippers can look for the airport or ask a logistics provider for help.
Be mindful of remote areas, inputting the right zip code to get the accurate freight shipping cost.
Selecting additional services
Apart from the main service, air transportation also has some additional services, such as cargo insurance, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery. They affect air freight as explained below:
- Cargo insurance can protect your shipment against loss or damage in the transport process. It is added to your airfreight and calculated by a percentage of the cargo’s value.
- Customs clearance is vital before goods can be exported or imported globally. Airfreight standard quotes have no customs clearance fee, so freight will be increased if you use customs clearance services.
- Door-to-door delivery means the airline will deliver the cargo from the shipper’s address to the consignee’s address. This service rate is more expensive than basic airfreight due to handling fees.
Reviewing and comparing rates
Review results from multiple shipping carrier calculator tools and comparing international air freight rates from them are very important to find the best air freight calculator for global shipping. You can consider these factors:
- Carrier Name
- Shipping methods (express, standard,…)
- Base airfreight per unit
- Transit time
- Additional fees (customs clearance, cargo insurance,…)
- Optional service (door-to-door, door-to-airport,…)
After listing these factors, you should focus on carrier names, their base airfreight, and transit time to determine the best option. If you have regular shipments, make an appointment with an airline to have better freight and quality service.
Tools for calculating international air freight rates
There are many tools to calculate international air freight rates, and here are the best air freight rate calculators available online. Let’s find out.
FedEx Freight calculator
We will show you how to use FedEx’s air freight cost calculator for international shipping.
- Step 1: Entry the FedEx website.
- Step 2: Click the “Shipping” button and choose “Shipping rates and delivery times.” rate tools will appear in the image below.
- Step 3: Fill in the shipper’s address and consignee’s address.
- Step 4: Note cargo information: number of packages, cargo weight, dimension, and estimated departure time (ATD).
- Step 5: FedEx will display the air freight after filling in the information.
DHL express shipping calculator
DHL provides an international shipping cost calculator for air freight. Using DHL’s freight tool is an easy process. Let’s come into details:
- Step 1: Access the DHL website and find the “Ship” section. Click “Get a quote”.
- Step 2: Choose the type of shipment (commercial or personal) and enter the origin and destination.
- Step 3: Complete your shipment details, like the picture below.
- Step 4: Get an estimated quote.
- Step 5: If you are satisfied with DHL’s cost, you will proceed with the booking online.
UPS freight cost estimator
UPS’s freight tool for calculating costs is on the UPS website and is so straightforward. You must notice this process:
- Step 1: Approach the UPS website, find “Shipping” -> choose “Calculate Shipping Cost,” -> click the “Freight” tab, -> choose “Get a Quote Air Freight”.
- Step 2: Fill out the origin location and destination location.
- Step 3: Select “Payment Term” and Incoterm for this shipment.
- Step 4: Provide complete product information, weight, volume, and cargo value.
- Step 5: Choose the type of cargo: general or special.
- Step 6: The UPS website shows the air freight.
Freightos shipping calculator
How to calculate international air freight rates? Freightos is an online freight platform that allows users to compare rates from various logistics providers and carriers.
Logistics managers and coordinators can assess the Freightos website and complete all cargo information, origin/destination, and value. Then the Freightos website will show freight and rates comparison between forwarders and carriers you mentioned.
Kuehne + Nagel air freight quote tool
The air freight shipping cost calculator of Kuehne + Nagel is famous for getting instant air freight adapted to specific logistics needs.
Like other air cargo rate calculator platforms, users provide enough transportation information, cargo weight & dimension, payment terms, and estimated departure time. Kuehne + Nagel rates platform issue freight results ensure to tailor logistics demands.
Common mistakes to avoid when calculating air freight rates
Preventing costly errors can help ensure budget and logistics shipping costs when calculating air freight. We will mention some key for everyone to watch out for:
Incorrect dimensions or weight
Discuss the impact of incorrect measurements on the final rate.
Measuring dimension and weight play crucial roles in calculating air freight. For delivering goods by air, the base air freight is usually expensive. If incorrect dimensions or weights are used, those errors will be generated, and costs will be very high. This means a loss of cost control, affecting the enterprise’s business performance.
Overlooking surcharges and fees
While handling goods, the shipment has air freight and other incidents that arise, leading to extra fees. Therefore, the person responsible for checking air freight must add all surcharges, customs duties, export taxes, and additional fees into the air freight quotation to effectively manage logistics costs.
Choosing the wrong carrier for your cargo type
You have to identify what kind of cargo is in your shipment to choose the right carrier. If you export hazardous cargo, you have to check with the airlines specializing in handling dangerous shipments. Because they have space to store hazardous cargo and implement safety measures to prevent risks and damages.
Conclusion
In summary, air transportation is a fast and safe method to deliver cargo globally. Knowing the key factors that affect calculating international air freight rates can help everyone prevent errors in measuring and estimating. From this, getting high efficiency in logistics costing planning.
In this article, you also learn how to use international air freight rates calculator through an online platform. It is easy to apply, so let’s explore the calculators mentioned to find the best rates for your specific shipping needs.
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FAQs
How do I calculate international air freight rates?
First, you measure the dimensions and volume of shipments; then, you input these numbers into the air freight rates calculator online. The system will send you the air shipping rates.
What factors affect the cost of air freight shipping?
Some key factors affect airfreight rates, such as weight & volume, shipping distances & trade lanes, fuel surcharges & additional fees, and cargo type & urgency.
What is dimensional weight, and how does it impact air freight rates?
Dimensional or volumetric weight is a pricing formula shipping carriers use to calculate freight costs. You have to notice dimensional weight because if small goods are packed in large boxes, the weight for calculation will be greater than the actual weight.
Are there any tools to compare international air freight rates?
Yes, you can use tools on global freight forwarder websites to compare international air freight rates, can be mentioned: FedEx, DHL, UPS, Freightos, or Kuehne+Nagel.
References:
- https://www.iata.org/contentassets/e55ae27b2fc34343a1143fca5129c8dd/security-charges.pdf
- https://www.world-airport-codes.com/world-top-30-airports.html
