Air freight from the UK to the US

Transit Times​

So, we know air freight is quicker than sea freight. But how much quicker?​

Flying between the UK and US generally takes between seven and 11 hours. A huge decrease in the 11-34 days (depending on ports) it takes for cargo to move across the ocean, but it’s not quite that simple.​

Customs declarations and other regulatory requirements mean it’ll probably take three-four days to complete the whole process. Which is still much quicker than sea freight, where you might be waiting a week for items to be released from port.​

Customs checks can sometimes be longer if you don’t have a good provider who is experienced in the USA as it has more forensic procedures than most other nations. ​

Schedule Times​

In normal market conditions, there are numerous flights between the UK and US every day. Scheduling specific planes is not an issue, because there are so many.​

As a bonus, if you miss one the next plane heading that way will no doubt be departing very soon. So, your goods are likely to be setting off shortly after the intended flight… although there are no guarantees! We really would advise your goods are all in order to make the proposed flight.​

With scheduled flights into the US so regular, the main challenge in 2023 is organisation. The best course of action is to be two-three weeks ahead of your freight and make bookings that far in advance. With that level of planning, booking appropriate flight times is unlikely to be an issue.​

Packing goods​

When packing up goods for air cargo you need to ensure that they are sturdy. Will the goods survive unharmed if wedged between or under others?​

If possible, it is preferable to pack them no higher than 160cm, so they can fit on wide-bodied aircraft. This is the maximum height possible to send goods on planes with passengers, which will keep the cost down. For narrow-bodied aircraft, the restriction is 120cm. Dimensions more than that and your goods will have to fly on a cargo plane, which will cost more.​

It’s also preferable to pack your goods tightly. Due to the way rates are calculated, tightly packing cargo, particularly when individual items are light, is an effective way to reduce costs.​

Chances are over the course of a shipment, goods are going to be rocked, knocked, and shook about. So, make sure items are secure. Cutting corners here is likely to result in damaged cargo at the other end. Any money you might have saved with cheap packaging will be lost in the cargo which is broken.​

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