Excess Baggage Shipping – UK Services and Packaging Tips

Summer is here and many of us are making last minute arrangements to book time off. If you do not want to pay horrendously high luggage surcharges at the airport, excess baggage shipping can be a great alternative to save you money.

DHL Express Luggage Shipping

Whether you are travelling within the UK, or are going overseas, you can ship your luggage ahead using DHL Express’ excess luggage service.

Packaging and Maximum Weight

• Please remember to solely use hard protective cases when shipping excess luggage.
• In order for your luggage to be shipped via services such as DHL Express, the suitcases will be allowed a total weight of 70kg.
• It is not necessary to wrap individual suitcases in packaging paper. Yet, it is important to ensure that your labels are attached to the top of each suitcase.

Tracking and Liability

Independent freight forwarders such as Transglobal Express offer online tracking via which you can follow up on the latest status of your shipment. You will be asked to enter your reference / tracking number in the required field and click “track a shipment”.

For further information and instant, free quotes for your excess baggage shipment, please visit TransglobalExpress.co.uk.

Two very important checks to ensure successful international parcel delivery...

Excess baggage charges is a common issue when it comes to air transport, irrespective of whether it is a commercial or domestic airline.  If you were going on holiday, you would expect to pay excess baggage charges on your luggage if it is overweight or if you have too many items. Similarly, sending a parcel internationally can become quite expensive if you incur excess baggage charges.

Here are a couple of important checks for you to consider prior to packing your parcels, when requesting a quotation, or before booking a parcel delivery service to any destination.


Check Baggage Allowance

It may sound simple, but the first and most important thing for you to do is to check the maximum baggage weight allowed. The size and weight of your package could mean the difference between the package being sent via passenger air transport and specialist courier cargo plane.

If you can send your package via passenger air transport, you can make significant savings. Check the weight of your package to ensure that it meets the allowance specified by the courier company. Also, if you received a quotation for delivery of a parcel based on specific parcel weight and dimensions, double-check the weight and dimensions of your package against those which you entered at the quotation stage.

Couriers will check the weight and dimensions of a package and additional charges will be incurred if they are found to be greater than those quoted for.


Check the Contents
 
Shipping goods from one place to another is generally not difficult and most goods carrier services offer a reliable delivery service for a variety of shipment types. However, there are certain things which can not be taken onboard.

For this reason , you should be aware of the list o f items which can not be shipped to a specific country. This will save yo u time, money and reputation as you reduce the risk of delay or failed delivery of your package.

We have published a list of common restricted and prohibited items which can not be accepted for carriage or storage. This page also contains further links to each courier's specific unaccepted and restricted items.

If you are at all unsure about whether your item will be accepted for international parcel delivery, please contact our customer services team who are available to offer you information and advice.


Related Links

• Packaging advice for safe parcel delivery
• How much does it cost to send my parcel internationally?
• Prohibited Package Contents on all International Delivery Services

DHL Packaging Advice for Safe Parcel Delivery

Whilst every care is taken with all of our carriers to ensure that your parcel is delivered safely and undamaged, we would recommend that you consider the following advice to reduce the risk of damage to your goods during damage.

The following information and advice has been provided courtesy of DHL:

You should . . .

• Choose the size of the package according to its content. Under-filled boxes are likely to collapse; overloaded ones may burst.
• Always use high quality materials for your shipments. Consider strength, cushioning, and durability when selecting your wrapping supplies.
• Choose boxes made of corrugated cardboard, with good quality outer liners. Use heavy-duty double-layered board for valuable items.
• Make use of cushioning materials, especially to stop your packaging contents from moving.
• Use strapping, when suitable, as a good way to seal and secure your box. Use strong tape if a strapping machine is not available.
• Put fragile goods in the centre of a package; ensuring they don't touch the sides. Your item should be well cushioned on all sides.
• Ensure liquids are stored in leak-free containers, packed with a lightweight, strong, internal material (for example, Styrofoam) and sealed with a plastic bag. Always remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.
• Seal semi-liquids, greasy or strong-smelling substances with adhesive tape, then wrap in grease resistant paper. Always remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.
• Place powders and fine grains in strong plastic bags, securely sealed and then packed in a rigid fibreboard box.
• Use "arrow-up" label for non-solid materials.
• Repack your gifts properly. Many goods sold in attractive packaging may not be suitable for shipping.
• Use triangular tubes not round tube-type cylinders to pack rolled plans, maps and blueprints.
• Remember always to pack small items in flyers appropriately.
• Protect your data discs, audio and video-tapes with soft cushioning material around each item.
• Complete the address clearly and completely, using uppercase letters when handwriting labels to improve readability for DHL personnel.
• When shipping sharp items, such as knives or scissors, ensure that you fully protect the edges and points. Heavy cardboard is suitable for this. Fix the protective material securely so that it cannot be accidentally removed in transit.
• Always use cardboard dividers when sending flat, fragile material (such as vinyl records).
• When re-using a box, remove all labels and stickers. Ensure that the box is in good shape and not worn out.

You should not . . .

• Use bags made of fabric or cloth
• Do not over seal your package. Remember that all shipments can be opened by customs authorities for inspection.
• Do not use cellophane tape or rope to seal your shipment.
• Do not consider "Fragile" and "Handle with care" labels as a substitute for careful packaging. They are only appropriate for information purposes.

If you are in any doubt at all as to how to package your parcel, please contact out customer services team who are available to help with your enquiries 0871 855 7474 or email sales@transglobalexpress.co.uk