Guide
Air or Sea for Excess Baggage?
How to choose between air cargo and sea groupage when you send luggage abroad from Johannesburg.
Compare
Air Cargo vs Sea Groupage
| Air cargo | Sea groupage | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A few bags or boxes, or anything urgent | Larger volumes that are not urgent |
| How it is charged | Higher of actual and volumetric weight | By volume (m³), with a minimum charge |
| Typical time | Days to a couple of weeks | Several weeks to a few months |
| Collection | From your door | From your door |
| At the destination | Clear and collect at the airport, or door delivery | Clear and collect at the depot, or door delivery |
Air Cargo
When Air Makes Sense
Air suits a few bags or boxes you need soon after you land: work clothes, school items, a starter kit for a new home. It is charged on the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight, so dense, heavy boxes are better value by air than bulky, light ones.
From Johannesburg, air shipments fly from OR Tambo, which has direct cargo capacity to most major cities.
Sea Groupage
When Sea Makes Sense
Sea groupage means your boxes share a container with other shipments. It is charged by volume with a minimum charge, so it becomes much cheaper than air once you have more than a few boxes.
Sea takes longer, so it suits things you can do without for a while: books, kitchenware, winter clothes and personal items.
Calculator
Work Out the Chargeable Weight
Enter the size and weight of your bags or boxes to see how air cargo will be charged and how much space they take by sea.
Air cargo is charged on the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (length x width x height in cm, divided by 6000). Sea groupage is charged by volume in cubic metres, with a minimum charge. Rough guide only; the quote is based on the measured pieces.
Questions
Air or Sea: Questions
Tap a question to open the answer. For anything else, WhatsApp us.
Flammable items, aerosols, loose lithium batteries, weapons, perishable food and some medicines are restricted. Cash, jewellery and important documents are better carried with you.
Yes. Strong double-wall cartons travel well and are often cheaper than suitcases because they are lighter.
Not Sure Which to Choose?
WhatsApp 068 058 2700 with your pieces and destination and we will quote both.