Discover solutions, guidance, and troubleshooting tips derived from our frequently accessed topics

FAQs

General

Who can use the services of AIRX Global?

Businesses seeking to enhance and expand their delivery capabilities can leverage AIRX Global's services/platform to streamline operations and elevate customer satisfaction.

What types of delivery solutions does AIRX Global provide?

AIRX Global offers a range of international delivery solutions, including: 

  • Door-to-door services from India to USA/Europe/Dubai
  • B2B, B2C, and C2C shipments 
Which items can be shipped via AIRX delivery solutions?

AIRX Global facilitates the delivery of items of various sizes, catering to diverse industries, and covering locations across India and the USA. 

What is the estimated delivery time?
  • 3-9 days for small to medium packages
  • 9+ days for B2B shipments through air, part or full container load
  • Within the USA, we provide express services such as Next-Day Delivery
Does AIRX Global provide packaging facilities?

We provide warehouse facilities. It encompasses receiving and pick & pack services. 

How does AIRX Global operate?

Clients can conveniently book services/deliveries via our web portal or reach out to our customer support team for assistance.

What is the shipping cost?
How can I contact customer support?

You can contact customer services at ‪+1 (951) 507‑5176 or [email protected]

Customs clearance

What happens in case an inspection is done for one of the shipments?

The entire shipment is stopped until the inspection is completed. 

What happens if a package is lost in transit?

In the event of a lost package, a claim must be filed, which typically takes around 30 days to process. 

In case of a return, how will I receive it?

Returns will be shipped back to you at an agreed-upon cost. 

Ocean Freight Forwarding

What is the difference between LCL and FCL?
  • FCL or Full Container Load is a standard set by the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) which refers to one 20 ft or 40 ft container filled with cargo. A shipper uses up the space of the entire container. 
  • LCL or Less than Container Load refers to a shipment that doesn't fill one 20 ft or 40 ft standard container. In the case of LCL, several shippers load their cargo into a single container. While LCL is the cheaper option for small shipments, it costs more money per unit of freight as compared to FCL. 
What is IHC?

IHC stands for Inland Haulage Charges and refers to the transportation charge incurred due to transportation of containers from inland container freight station to the port of loading and vice versa. When the port of loading is away from the cargo freight station, the shipper has to make arrangements for moving the cargo from the freight station to the port either by road or rail. In this case, custom formalities are completed at the freight station. 

If the goods are moved by rail, then Inland Haulage Charges refer to the charge of transporting goods from such location to the concerned seaport. IHC is collected by the shipping line when it generates the bill of lading for export shipments. In case of import orders, it’s released at the time of issuing a delivery order. 

What are detention and demurrage charges?
  • Detention charges: Detention charges are levied by the shipping line to the importer when the importer takes a full container for unpacking and fails to return the empty container to the concerned empty depot before the permitted line free days expire. 
  • Demurrage charges: Demurrage charges are levied by the shipping line to the importer when the importer fails to take delivery of a full container and move it out of the port premises for unpacking within the stipulated line free days. 

  

What is port free days and line-free days?

Port free days refers to the number of days for which a port allows the importer to keep the containers in the port area for free. Once the limit of port free days is exceeded, the port storage charges published in the port tariff are applied.  

On the other hand, line-free days is the number of days the shipping line gives to the customer to pick up a full container, take it to their facility for unpacking and return the empty container to the concerned shipping line. After the line free days, the shipping line imposes a charge for every extra day taken by the customer to return the container. 

What are port charges?

As the name implies port charges refer to the charges levied by port authorities on the containers it handles. Some of the port charges involved in container shipments are as follows: 

  • Terminal Handling Charge (THC) : Terminal Handling Charge is levied by ports for loading and discharging of a container from the ship. It is charged by both the port of loading as well as the port of discharge. THC varies from port to port and terminal to terminal across the world. It is also paid to transhipment ports if there’s a transhipment along the route. However, for transhipment ports, THC is paid directly to the port by the shipping line. It is usually included in the ocean freight charges paid by the shipper to the shipping line in advance.
  • Early Arrival Charge : At times containers arrive at the port even before the stacks into which it is to be taken has opened, in this case, the port levies the early arrival charge. It is usually at the discretion of the port operator to decide whether or not to accept containers that arrive early.
  • Late Arrival Charge : At times containers arrive at the port after the stacks into which it is to be taken has been closed, in this case, the port levies the late arrival charge. 
  • Shifting charges : Sometimes situations arise under which the destination of a port gets changed or the ship in which it is to be sent gets changed or the container requires an inspection. In such cases, the container needs to be shifted around within the stacks and the charges levied on it are called shifting charges.
  • Amendment/Cancellation charges : It refers to the charges levied by the port for cancelling or amending any document lodged with them. 

Air Freight Forwarding

How to calculate Chargeable Weight?

If weight in kg > Volumetric weight: 

Step 1: Calculate the capacity of the air freight shipment 

Step 2: Convert cubic inches into cubic meters 

Step 3: Finalise the volumetric weight 

Step 4: Convert weight into kilograms 

Step 5: Compare the volumetric weight with the gross weight. 

  

If weight in kg < Volumetric weight: 

Step 1: Calculate the capacity of the air freight shipment 

Step 2: Convert the cubic inches into cubic meters 

Step 3: Finalise the volumetric weight 

Step 4: Convert weight into kilograms 

Step 5: Compare the volumetric weight with the gross weight 

How to calculate Volumetric weight?

All means of freight transportation are ruled by weight and cubic measurement factors, where the carrier will charge based on Actual Weight or Volumetric, whichever is deemed to be the greater. 

Air Freight Shipments have an IATA / Airline Cubic Allowance Factor of 1 Kilo = 6,000 Cubic Centimetres. 

The illustration below shows you how to calculate the Volumetric Chargeable Weight: 

The carton measures 30 × 45 × 65cms, which is 87750 cubic centimetres. Divide this figure by the IATA/Airline Cubic Allowance Factor of 6000 cubic centimetres = 14.625 Kilos. 

Here, the Air Freight charge will be calculated on 15 kilos volumetric, rather than the 14 kilos actual weight. 

Air Freight charges explained (FSC & SSC).

Fuel Surcharge or FSC: Fee assessed by a carrier to account for regional / differences due to the season in fuel costs. A fuel surcharge is most frequently seen in trucking, but an ocean or air carrier can also assess a fuel surcharge. This protects the carrier from the volatility of fuel prices. 

Sensitive Cargo Contribution Surcharge or SSC: SSC Surcharge is especially utilized in pharmaceuticals and therefore, in the industry. This is applicable in cases where the cargo must be taken extra care of while shipping, eg. medical devices, vitamin supplements, plasma, medicines, vaccines, medical disposables, etc. Shipping lines need to take additional care while handling such cargo to add the extra SCC surcharge for these types of cargo. 

What are the taxes applicable on Air Freight?

Several taxes are levied on air freight services and understanding them is vital if the corporate wants to use air freight services regularly. A number of the taxes are listed below: 

Fuel tax: Airfreight services come under non-commercial aviation services and therefore come under the purview of fuel tax. Airfreight services also got to consider a further 0.1% leaking basement storage reservoir fund. 

Waybill tax: In a few countries, tax is imposed on all air freight shipments within the country. The rate is 6.25% for all domestic shipments. In air freight services, the shippers are responsible to deposit the tax imposed and failure to try to do so will end in penalties to be paid by the transporters. 

Storage of shipment: Shipments sent using air freight are stored in special containers so that they fit inside the cargo area. Cargo planes have electric rollers that help to manoeuvre the freight into the aircraft clutch. This helps to handle larger quantities of freight when compared to commercial airlines. 

Many air freight services usually add a surcharge on their quotations to hide up the lost revenue that they spend in paying taxes. it's always an honest thing to read the contract details completely if the corporate wishes to rent air freight services. 

What is IATA?

The Indian Airline Trade Association (IATA) is an association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA is the system that sets technical standards for airlines and also arranges tariff conferences that serve as a forum for fixing prices. 

Warehousing

Which industries do you specialize in?

We don’t limit ourselves to any specific industry. We can service all businesses.  

How are warehouse rates determined?

Warehouse rates are determined by the warehouse footprint of the product, how quickly the product will be moving in and out of the warehouse as well as any specific handling and shipping requirements that are required of an individual product. We believe that there is no one price fits all when it comes to warehousing products and we will structure our pricing to be competitive and meet the needs of our customers. 

What is considered short term and long term storage?

Short term is usually considered when storing a customers product for less than a month. Long term storage is usually considered storage of products that will be in our warehouse for a minimum of 1 month and beyond. 

Will my goods be safe in your warehouse?

All our safe warehouses are equipped with the highest level of security for your goods, including: 24/7 state-of-the-art video monitoring with 30+ day retention, cell connected security systems, as well as patrolled yards. 

Do you store hazardous materials?

We can store hazardous materials on a case by case basis depending on the product. 

How can I monitor my inventory levels in your warehouse?

All inventory levels are monitored in our Warehouse Management System (WMS). Customers are provided a login to our system to allow them the ability to monitor their inventory levels in real-time, 24*7, 365 days a year. 

What is the difference between cross-docking and warehouse storage?

The difference between cross-docking and warehouse storage is that cross-docking is the unloading of product directly from incoming transport onto outbound transport with little if any, storage in-between, whereas warehousing requires a stock of product on hand to distribute to customers on an as-needed basis. 

How long does transloading take?

Transloading can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on how the product is received, and the services that our customer is looking for. If the product arrives palletized or in crates, then the process is usually very quick, but if the product arrives loose and needs to be individually unloaded, sorted and segregated and palletized for shipment out, then it can often take hours. 

How do you ship individual orders?

Individual orders are shipped via USPS, FedEx, by local LTL carriers as per the customers requirements. 

How are claims for damaged pallets handled?

If a pallet is damaged upon receiving and there is a potential claim, a picture of the pallet is taken and immediately sent to the customer for review. The customer then advises the warehouse to continue receiving or to hold the product in quarantine to allow further review. 

What happens if there is a discrepancy in inventory count between the warehouse and goods owner?

We perform an immediate inquiry on receipts to and from the customer associated with the SKU(s) in question. This inquiry will often times include discussions with the customer. For all customers we have an agreed upon SLA in place to protect both the warehouse and the owner of goods, which allows a very small variance discrepancy in which both parties understand and can recoup any financial loss when a loss occurs. 

E-commerce

What is B2B e-commerce?

B2B e-commerce is the process of selling goods or services from one business to another via online channels, such as a website or marketplace.  

B2B e-commerce typically involves larger order volumes, longer sales cycles, and more complex procurement processes. 

What are the benefits of B2B e-commerce for businesses?
  • Streamlined procurement processes: Online ordering can help businesses streamline their procurement processes, reducing the time and effort required to order goods and services. 
  • Increased efficiency: B2B e-commerce can help businesses automate many of their procurement processes, freeing up staff time for more important tasks. 
  • Improved customer experience: Online ordering can provide businesses with a convenient and user-friendly way to order goods and services, improving the overall customer experience. 
  • Access to new markets: B2B e-commerce can help businesses reach new markets and customers, expanding their customer base and potentially increasing sales. 
  • Better data and insights: Online ordering can provide businesses with better data and insights into their procurement processes, allowing them to make more informed decisions about inventory, pricing, and more
What is B2C e-commerce?

B2C e-commerce is the process of selling goods or services directly to consumers via online channels. B2C e-commerce is focused on individual consumer purchases. 

What can B2C e-commerce businesses sell in the USA?

Almost anything that can be shipped to a consumer can be sold, subject to approvals.  

USPS - India 

Does AIRX Global provide doorstep services?

We offer doorstep pick-up services across all major cities in India, subject to availability based on the volume and frequency of shipments each week. 

What is the process of shipping a package outside India?

We pre-check packages before shipping and handle customs clearances at Indian ports. Shipping can be arranged via air or sea, depending on client preferences

What are the custom charges?

Custom charges vary depending on factors such as the type of goods and their value.

What items are exempted from custom duty?

Certain items may be exempted from custom duty, but specifics should be verified with customs authorities.

Do you provide packing services at pick-up?

Currently, we do not offer packing services at pickup.

USPS - USA

Which products can be shipped to the USA?

Products can be shipped as long as they are supported by the necessary documentation (e.g., FDA approval, MSDS). Charges are based on label printing, and any unused labels must be reported. 

What is the process followed at the destination port in the USA?

We handle customs clearance and then either scan packages at our warehouse before dropping them off at the USPS hub or directly drop them off at the hub for ground advantage and priority shipments. 

Do you provide insurance?

Insurance is available for :  

  • USPS Ground Advantage and Priority shipments 
  • UPS  
  • FedEx 
  • LTL/FTL is provided including supplementary liability insurance 
  • For Lightweight and BPM, insurance can be obtained from a third party or via flat-rate box services 
How do I make payment for shipment?

To make payments, create an account and pre-load it with funds. All fees and charges are payable upon label printing.