Airfreight Europe to US/CAN
 

I have read through much of the board and the actual shipments and I don´t find that many reports on transport by air from Europe to US/CAN. Can anyone recommend agencies preferably in Germany and tell about how much you paid or was quoted.

We flew our bikes on Air Canada Cargo from Calgary, Alberta to Frankfurt in summer of 2002. Two bikes came to $2,100 Canadian. We came home from London in the summer of 2003 with the same two bikes for $3,200 Canadian. We were told that it was a different type of aircraft and so we would have to purchase an entire pallet. Air Canada was great to deal with and it was very simple to prep the bikes. Just have less than 1/4 tank of fuel (we were on reserve) and disconnect the battery. Make sure the bike is clean as Agriculture Canada wanted to quarantine our bikes and steam clean them prior to releasing them. Fortunately we didn't have to do that and could just ride out.

Hope that helps!

------------------
Ekke Kok
Redwood Meadows, AB
'89 R100GS
'03 R1150GS Adventure

Thanks Ekke,

Sounds really easy. Did you deal directly with air canada? Did they "pack up" the bikes for you?

Hi,

I haven't shipped yet but I got a quote from go2UTi, Dick Hewlett (Check the transport page for further details I think it was London - Newark).

What I can tell they gave me a quote for £935 roundtrip London - Newark the airfreight to US was £0.75/kg and if I want to ship to Canada it's £0.95/kg.

I've asked him if it's really a roundtrip for that price or if it's one-way. Haven't got the answer yet.

I've got a number for their Swedish guy as well which I will call.

I'm gonna ship my bike this summer to us/canada from northern Europe and back.

Hope this is helps you abit.

Cheers,
Zappa

****UPDATES****
The Quote was for One-way but I guess the return trip is abit cheaper. But what I can see Motorcycle express is acctually quite cheap, US$2690 return-trip Amsterdam - Montreal or Frankfurt - Montreal. Looks like I'm gonna use them. Then I can get on the same flight as my bike and I can ride out from airport at once...

/Zappa

[This message has been edited by Zappa (edited 03 March 2006).]

Thanks. I just got a quote from a danish shipping firm (DFDS: http://www.dfdstransport.dk ). Airfreight from Copenhagen til San Fransisco DKK 2804 (USD 445) + DKK 29,8/kg (USD 4,8/kg). For 180 kg its about USD 1300.

This is not included toll(?) and probably also not including handling in SA Airport. Also the rate is for non-dangerous good so the bike has to be cleaned for gas and oil - (I wonder if this is not possible?)

AnderZen:

Someone is not well informed if they tell you that "the rate is for non dangerous goods and the bike has to be cleaned of fuel and oil".

Any motor vehicle that has an internal combustion engine in it will be considered 'dangerous goods' for the purpose of air freight, regardless of whether it has fuel, oil, and a battery in it, or whether it has just been manufactured, never fueled or oiled, and never driven. The 'dangerous goods' designation derives from what the shipment is (a 'vehicle, flammable liquid powered, UN category 3166'), not from what condition it is in.

I suggest you find a more knowledgable shipper, or, at least have your shipper look up the category above in the IATA DGR book, where they will also find the appropriate packing instructions (description of how it has to be shipped).

Michael - frequent trans-atlantic moto shipper and also a DGR instructor...

AnderZen,
try this one:

Bernhard Walter
GS-Sportreisen GmbH
Arnulfstr. 300
D-80639 München
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 2781 8484
Fax +49 (0) 89 2781 8481
Mail: info [a-t] gs-sportreisen [dot] de
www.GS-Sportreisen.de

B. Walter is very professional and reliable and the prices are fair. I went Frankfurt-Santiago Santiago-Cancun Cancun-Frankfurt with them, but their main business is North America.

Good luck
Winne

[This message has been edited by winne (edited 03 March 2006).]