Air freight from USA to UK is a popular choice with importers who have urgent, high value or particularly small, or light weight cargo to import into the UK. As a UK based freight forwarder, our team regularly handles shipments to and from the USA, in particular import air freight shipments. Mercator has preferential air freight rates secured from the USA which are displayed on this blog.
What are the benefits of using air freight from USA to UK?
The biggest benefit of utilising air freight (as opposed to sea freight) from the USA to the UK is the short transit time. With direct flights daily from the major US airports to London Heathrow, there are a number of options and airlines offering next day arrivals into the UK. Airports are dotted all over the USA, with a shorter distance to an airport, as opposed to a sea freight port, there can be savings of cost (on trucking) and time by shipping via the nearest airport.
Should I use sea freight or air freight from USA to UK?
Air freight is more costly than sea freight, however, there is a “tipping point” whereby a small shipment (for example a single, short pallet – less than 1m) might actually cost more by LCL (less than container load) sea freight than by air freight.
There is no particular formula to calculate whether you should ship via sea over air, each shipment we deal with is unique. LCL freight is worked out as cost per cubic metre, or per 1000kg, whichever is greater. For example, you have 1 pallet, 100cm x 100cm x 100cm = 1CBM. It weighs 1,200kg. The sea freight rate, and associated charges, will be based on the actual weight – 1,200kg. Conversely, if you have two pallets with a gross CBM of 2.5, but the total shipment only weighs 500kg, the rate will be based on 2.5CBM.
Air freight is calculated by volumetric weight. A small but heavy shipment might be charged based on actual weight. Whereas a large but light shipment would be charged on volumetric weight. Examples: a package 30cm x 30cm x 30cm weighs 100kg. Chargeable weight is calculated by the cm dimensions multiplied, divided by 6000. (30 x 30 x 30) / 6000 = 4.5kg volumetric. Air freight will be billed by the actual weight – 100kg. A large but light shipment example: 100cm x 100cm x 140cm, weight 150kg. (100 x 100 x 140) / 6000 = 233.3. Chargeable weight would be 233.3kg as it is greater than actual weight.
How much does air freight from USA to UK cost
Due to fuel supply issues, global economics and airlines attempting to maintain their margins on passenger flights, this is a difficult question to answer broadly. Usually, we can obtain an air freight rate which will be valid for 2-3 days, before it requires to be refreshed and validated. However, thanks to our founding memebership of the freight forwarding network MarcoPoloLine and therefore our partner agent in the USA, based in Chicago, we are able to offer very competitive air freight from USA to UK rates starting from as little as $0.75/kg (in the case of a larger booking of over 1000kg – out of certain US airports).
This rate sheet that we have been offered access to, provides our customers with a unique opportunity to access excellent preferential rates for air freight from USA to UK, covering an array of US airports, all with direct flights to London Heathrow with United Airlines. As these are passenger flights, there are some restrictions such as goods which will be accepted (non-haz), whether the US exporter is a “known shipper” on the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS), actual size of shipment (for example, no piece can be taller than 162cm/63”), and the rates are valid for new business only, not existing business with the airline.
The following rates are valid for departures up to 30.09.26 booked via Mercator with our agent, and are valid when booking UK customs clearance and onward delivery to door with our team at Mercator.
Rates are from the airports listed. The map below shows locations where we can also offer remote station drop: BOS,PHL,CLE,DTW,SLC,CLT: Add $0.30/kg to airfreight rates.
Thanks to our strong connections with our partner agent in the US, you can appoint Mercator here in the UK to take care of your air freight from USA to UK, and to handle the whole process for you. We will work alongside our agent in the US to coordinate the US side, offering services such as pick up from door, export customs in the USA, and delivery to the airline (depending on the agreed incoterm with your supplier). You will have one point of contact in our team here in the UK, so no need to be dealing with multiple agencies, we do all the hard work.
The rates apply if you also book our UK side services, including customs clearance, and onward delivery. As an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) approved by HMRC, we will only perform and instruct customs clearance at LHR with another AEO clearance agent. So you can be sure you are receiving the best service, with high standards of customs compliance and record keeping.
If you would like us to quote a full shipment for you, whether it is from door in the US, or from the airport of departure only, through to UK customs clearance and delivery in the UK, get in touch with our team. Be sure to mention you would like the rate on United Airlines and that you have seen the preferential tariff rates on our website. To request a quote, you can call us on (+44) 02392 756 575, email sales@mercatorcargo.co.uk or complete the form below and we will be in touch.
