We operate consolidated and direct air freight services from the United Kingdom to United States, with departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands. United States is served by 13,513 registered airports and airfields, of which our principal gateways are JFK New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA). Typical airport-to-airport transit is 2–4 days depending on airline allocation and the security screening slot we secure for your cargo.
Pricing guide
Air Freight Rates to United States
Airport to airport · JFK New York (JFK) · transit 2–4 days
| Cargo under 100 kgChargeable weight, airport to airport | £5 per 100 kg (min charge £140) |
| Cargo 100 kg – 300 kgConsolidated weekly departures | £3.66 per kg |
| Cargo 300 kg – 1,000 kgDirect airline allocation | £3.10 per kg |
| Cargo over 1,000 kg / full ULDContract rate on application | £2.54 per kg |
| Airline handling & securityTerminal, screening and AWB fees | £85 to £140 per shipment |
| Fuel & carrier surchargeReviewed monthly by the airline | £0.74 per kg |
| UK export customs entryAdditional lines £8 each | £45 per entry |
| UK collectionNationwide door collection | from £65 |
Indicative rates only, excluding VAT where applicable. Final pricing depends on dimensions, weight, sailing schedule and destination charges.
Forwarding international air freight to United States
We are specialists in air freight to United States, offering full-service air cargo and logistics, pallet delivery, road freight, excess baggage, consolidated airfreight and project cargo from the UK. Our air export desk is based at London Heathrow with departures also from Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands, and we operate door-to-airport, airport-to-airport and door-to-door services subject to clearance. Cargo takes between 2 and 4 working days depending on flight availability into JFK New York (JFK).
If you are travelling to United States with more luggage than the airline allows, our unaccompanied baggage air freight service is almost always cheaper per kilo than airport excess baggage charges.
Air cargo shipment to United States: how the process works
- Contact us: tell us the weight and the measurements (length, width, height) of each piece.
- Weight: the minimum air cargo shipment to United States is 45kg, with no upper limit.
- Collection: same-day or next-day collection from any UK postcode, or drop off at our East Tilbury facility.
- Screening and packing: cargo is re-weighed, security screened and palletised to the aircraft contour.
- Documents: export customs entry, commercial invoice, packing list and the air waybill issued in-house.
- Departure and arrival: flight details confirmed in writing, with customs clearance and delivery in United States on request.
Air freight services to United States
Please note that quoted rates cover carriage to the airport in United States only and exclude arrival charges such as terminal handling, documentation, customs clearance, examination, quarantine or inspection, duties, taxes and storage fees.
- Door-to-door delivery
- Door-to-airport freight logistics
- Third-party and cross-trade shipping
- Temperature-controlled transportation
- Hazardous and dangerous goods transportation
- Commercial export packing, palletising and labelling
- Excess and unaccompanied baggage carrying services to United States
Low-cost commercial air freight to United States
Car Shipping Direct holds competitive commercial air freight rates to United States through direct allocation with the major carriers serving JFK New York (JFK). With daily departures from Heathrow and same-day or next-day collection across the UK, we can move commercial goods to United States very quickly. Full tracking gives you reassurance that your air freight is on schedule from the moment it leaves your premises.
An all-in-one solution for flying cargo to United States
- UK-wide next-day and same-day collection
- Export packing, palletising and dangerous goods handling
- Export customs and consular documentation
- Pre-flight security screening and delivery to the airline
- Strong relationships with the major carriers serving JFK New York (JFK)
- Destination customs clearance and delivery anywhere in United States
Personal air freight and excess baggage to United States
We are specialists in personal air freight to United States, whether it is a couple of extra suitcases, a full family relocation, or a car or motorbike flown as air cargo. For excess baggage air freight we supply boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape free of charge anywhere in the UK. For larger loads our packing crews will wrap your furniture at your home and take it to the airport for the flight to United States.
On arrival our agent in United States handles customs clearance and delivery to your new address, or you can take the cheaper door-to-airport option and collect the goods from JFK New York (JFK) yourself. Wooden transit cases can be built for fragile items.
Consolidated airfreight to United States
Our consolidated airfreight service to United States can be considerably cheaper than booking direct with an airline for smaller shipments, with less handling at the airport and simplified customs clearance. Consolidated cargo is grouped with other clients' freight bound for JFK New York (JFK) and travels under a single master air waybill to our partner in United States. With at least two consolidations to United States every week, the small extra transit time is easily offset by the lower rate.
Air cargo collection across the UK
As a global freight forwarder we collect commercial air cargo and personal effects for United States from every part of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, London (north, south, east and west), Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton and Swindon.
Check your cheap airfreight quote to United States now
To receive a quotation for your air freight to United States, complete the quote request form on this page or call us on 020 3807 1033. Weights and measurements help us price accurately, but if you simply want a per-kilogram rate we can normally give you one straight away.
Airports we serve in United States
United States has 13,513 registered airports and airfields. Our regular gateways are shown below, and we arrange onward road delivery from any of them to inland cities, mine sites and project locations.
Airports served in United States
13,513 registered airports and airfields · airport-to-airport transit 2–4 days
UK departure airports
- London Heathrow (LHR)
- Gatwick (LGW)
- Stansted (STN)
- Manchester (MAN)
- East Midlands (EMA)
consolidated
United States arrival gateways
- JFK New York (JFK)Scheduled cargo capacity · bonded warehouse · onward road delivery
- Los Angeles (LAX)Scheduled cargo capacity · bonded warehouse · onward road delivery
- Chicago (ORD)Scheduled cargo capacity · bonded warehouse · onward road delivery
- Miami (MIA)Scheduled cargo capacity · bonded warehouse · onward road delivery
- Regional and domestic airfields served by road feeder from JFK New York (JFK)
Shipping air cargo to United States step by step
Quote & booking
Rates, sailing or flight options confirmed in writing.
UK collection
Nationwide collection or delivery into our Tilbury depot.
Loading & packing
Lashing, crating, palletising and photographic record.
Customs & export
Export entry, NES clearance and documentation released.
Transit & delivery
Tracking updates until the cargo lands with your consignee.
Types of air cargo we fly to United States
If your commodity is not listed, ask, we can almost always find a compliant routing.
- General palletised cargo and export consignments
- Excess baggage, personal effects and student shipments
- Perishables, pharmaceuticals and temperature-controlled cargo
- Dangerous goods (IATA DGR) with certified packing
- Aircraft on ground (AOG) and time-critical spares
- Machinery parts, electronics and high-value cargo
- Live animals and horticultural produce (on request)
- Charter and part-charter for oversized freight
Documentation and customs for United States
Every air shipment leaves the UK with a commercial invoice, packing list, export customs entry and an air waybill. Depending on the commodity, United States customs may also require a certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate, import permit or a pre-shipment inspection. We check the requirements against the current tariff before the cargo leaves our warehouse so it is not detained on arrival at JFK New York (JFK).
Why ship air freight to United States with Car Shipping Direct
- Direct airline allocation, no waiting for space in peak weeks
- Chargeable weight verified in the UK before departure
- Nationwide collection from any UK postcode
- Dangerous goods, perishables and pharma handled in-house
- Named coordinator from booking through to delivery in United States