From Bangkok to Kathmandu - January, 2015

Shipping two postiebikes from Bangkok to Kathmandu

We've contacted several different shipping agents, but the two that can be found on the Hubb (PT and TAC) reacted most adequately and came with a quote straight away, some other companies only do sea shipment.

We calculated it would be cheapest to go with Kittima from Trans Air Cargo, although the packing/crating of the bikes was not in the quote, and might have been cheaper with PT.

Bangkok: the procedure was really straightforward and clear.

1. We contacted Kittima via email (kitt...@transaircargo.com) and got a quote per motorbike (one motorbike per shipment allowed only) that lookes like this:

   - Airfreight charge by Thai Airways: Thb59/kg
   - Fuel charge: Thb20/kg
   - Handling charge: Thb3500/shipment
   - DGR (Dangerous Good) charge: Thb1000/shipment
   - Shippers declaration of dangerous goods fee: Thb1500/shipment
   - Transportation charge: Thb1200/truck
   - Forklift fee: Thb500/shipment

2. 10 days prior to shipment we have sent the following information by email to Kittima:

   - Copy of temporary import document from Thai customs
   - Copy of Passport main- and visa-page
   - Copy of Carnet bike data page and first free page to be stamped on entry in Nepal (only for bike info)

3. We met with Kittima at the TAC office in BKK (N13 44 560, E100 32 993). We prepared the airway bill, signed some copies of the documents we sent earlier, gave the original Thai customs temporary import document to Kittima in exchange for a copy and got the address of N&T packing.

4. Next day we went to N&T Packing on the outskirts of Bangkok (N13 55 732, E100 28 450) to build transport crates for the motorbikes. The price they quoted was a fair bit higher then prices we heard from other packaging companies. After negotiating we came to a total of 6500 thb per bike incl. Transportation to TAC warehouse. Also we spoke to another packing company that sounded like a good alternative: 0816539554/ 0816539554.

   The friendly people at N&T where really helpful, efficient and did a real good job. We had given some thought how we wanted to make the bikes as small as possible, but these guys really made it happen! The crates were so compact that we ended up paying the weight-price instead of the volumetric-weight-price. We were dropped off at the busstation to make our way back to the centre of Bangkok.

5. Kittima prepared the airway bill and planned the shipment, and two days later we came back to her office to pay for the shipment in cash. Kittima kept us informed via email with the status of the shipment, which was not really needed because everything went according schedule.
   A copy of the airway bill and the Carnets we kept to be able to claim and clear the bikes in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu:

1. We went to the Thai Air Cargo office in Kathmandu, in the building named 'operations' to get the original Airway Bill. The building is north of the passenger terminal, or left when you're looking at the passenger terminal, (N27 42 022, E85 21 403).

2. We walked about 2 km to the Cargo building south of the passenger terminal, take the airport exit, turn left on the main road, first big building on the lefthand side is the Cargo building (N27 41 358, E85 21 141)

3. You'll be attacked by agents the moment you walk through the gate, who will want to persuade you into different deals.

4. With a bit of effort we found out the following:
   - One must have an agent in order to register the shipment with customs department (maximum 500 NPR per shipment paid to the agent)
   - There is a customs declaration fee (565 NPR to be paid at the bank in the same building)
   - There is a warehouse charge to be paid at the warehouse office cantbremember exact amount)
   - finally there's a loading and handling charge, also dubbed 'keycharge' (2,50 NPR/kg) also to be paid at the warehouse office.
   We were able to go through this proces ourselves, but due to regular powercuts and a restricted timeframe because of an upcoming strike the next day we decided to let the agent do all the running around with the paperwork. We paid him 6500 NPR to do this for two motorbikes.

   Obviously this could have been done cheaper, but it would have taken a lot more time and effort finding the right offices and persons.

5. We gave the remainders of the crate to the agent as a tip, but might have been able to be taken in with negotiations as the crates produced in bkk are really good quality compared to what we have seen in ktm