How does unaccompanied baggage shipping work?

You book a collection from your UK address, pack your luggage, boxes, or personal effects, and we collect, prepare your export documentation, and ship by air or sea freight to your destination. Depending on the country, your shipment is either delivered directly to your address (door-to-door (subject to your destination)) or held for collection at the arrival airport or seaport. Your belongings travel separately from you as freight, not as checked airline baggage.

What items can I ship?

Most personal effects can be shipped: clothing, books, personal electronics, sports equipment, and household items. Certain goods are restricted or prohibited under IATA dangerous goods regulations and destination country customs rules, including aerosols, flammable liquids, batteries outside of equipment, and some food and animal products. Check the specific restrictions for your destination before booking. Please note we are not a removals company and do not ship furniture for house relocations; however, we can offer bespoke packing for smaller items of household furniture, antiques and inherited effects, or arrange full-container sea shipping for larger consignments.

How long does international luggage shipping take?

Transit times vary by destination and delivery method. Air freight to most European destinations takes 3-5 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers; air freight to longer-haul destinations such as the USA, Australia, UAE, and South Africa typically takes 5-10 working days. Sea freight takes considerably longer, often 8-12 weeks depending on the destination, but costs less for larger volumes.

Who is responsible for customs clearance?

Excess Luggage Co. prepares your UK export documentation and a valued, itemised packing list. Import customs declarations and clearance at the destination country are the importer's own responsibility in every case. For door-to-door (subject to your destination) destinations, clearance is generally handled as part of the delivery process; for collection-only destinations, you or an authorised representative must attend in person to clear customs.

What is the difference between unaccompanied baggage and a courier parcel?

Unaccompanied baggage is luggage and personal effects shipped on behalf of an individual traveller or relocator, prepared with export documentation specific to personal effects shipments. This is different from a courier parcel service, which is designed for general goods and commercial items rather than personal belongings travelling in connection with a person's own move or trip, and does not typically include the same customs documentation support for personal effects.

Is luggage shipping cheaper than airline excess baggage charges?

For larger volumes of luggage, shipping with Excess Luggage Co. is often more cost-effective than paying per-kilo airline excess baggage fees, particularly for families, students, and relocators moving multiple bags or boxes. The right option depends on weight, volume, and destination, so it's worth comparing both for your specific shipment.

Do you offer student shipping?

Yes. We regularly assist students relocating to universities in the UK and overseas, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Dubai, shipping luggage and personal effects between home and university accommodation.

Do you collect luggage from anywhere in the UK?

Yes. We collect from homes, universities, hotels, and offices throughout the United Kingdom, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, and many other UK cities and towns. Wherever you're based in the UK, we can arrange a collection.

Can I ship golf clubs, skis, or a bike?

Yes. We ship golf clubs, skis, snowboards, and bikes as part of our personal effects shipping service, provided they're properly packed in a suitable bag, case, or box. This is often more cost-effective than paying an airline's oversized sports equipment fee. Please note that electric bikes need special dangerous-goods packaging because of their lithium-ion batteries, so tell us in advance if you are shipping an e-bike.

Can I ship a canoe or kayak?

Yes. We regularly ship larger and awkwardly shaped sports equipment — canoes, kayaks, surfboards, paddleboards and bicycles — as part of our personal effects service. Items like these are packed or crated to suit their size, and shipping them with us is usually far cheaper than an airline's oversized-item fee. Send us the dimensions and we will advise on packing and the best air or sea option.

I'm moving abroad for work — can you help with relocation shipping?

Yes. We regularly help professionals moving abroad for work ship personal effects and household items to their new country, as part of a wider international relocation. We prepare your UK export documentation, and can advise on transfer of residence relief where applicable for your destination.

Unaccompanied Baggage Shipping from the UK

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