Introduction to OBC and hand carry service specifics
Being interested in the delivery of small packages, boxes, and parcels, it is necessary to make sure that goods are temperature- and time-sensitive or otherwise expensive and unsuitable for cargo shipment. In such cases, it is important to consider value-added delivery services, such as onboard couriers (OBC) or hand-carry specialists.
Full-cycle delivery control provided by OBC couriers or hand-carry specialists ensures fast and secure delivery of securities, documents, jewelry, and fragile or perishable items. What are the reasons for these benefits and the differences between the two types of services? What should you choose for your particular product, and what volumes are acceptable? These and many other questions will be explored in our article. Let's continue our pursuit of knowledge about international logistics!
What is an Onboard Courier (OBC)?
An onboard courier (OBC) is a passenger on a commercial flight who personally oversees the delivery of goods. Time-critical shipping of parcels and boxes requires an onboard courier who is responsible for escorting your package the entire way to the destination. OBC delivery is widely utilized for sensitive cargo handling, as well as emergency customs handling.
Executing high-value cargo delivery, your goods will be transported as hand luggage, or large and heavy ones may go to the hold and then be picked up upon landing in practice. Then, the way to onboard express courier service continues to deliver the package to the consignee personally or to the appointed trustee (local partner).
For urgent or confidential deliveries of documents or high-value goods, companies or individuals can rely on onboard courier services, which provide full supervision throughout the entire transportation process. Thus, there is no need to rely on regular flights, land, or sea transport, as commercial air flights are often used for any confidential and emergency shipment with high-level security needs.
What is a Hand Carry Service?
The hand carry specialist is indispensable for critical shipment delivery, as services of custom hand-carry logistics are requested for the highest level of reliability and security. Confidential and urgent hand-carry delivery is essential when your cargo must not be placed in the airplane’s cargo hold but instead, be kept under a specialist’s supervision from the consignor to the hands-on delivery to the consignee.
Global hand-carry courier services are flexible options for your business needs and also implement the Next Flight Out (NFO) - this service is a delivery by the next possible flight for urgent shipment. You receive a plan of the optimal flight route with a time frame, after which your package is transported to the airport, customs is cleared, and delivered to the recipient. During this express delivery, you can easily track your parcels in real-time and be informed of any changes automatically.
You can select a hand-carry courier for sensitive items or needs of emergency and be sure about a new level of safe and fast logistics.
OBC & Hand-carrying difference
How to choose among such VIP shipment services as OBC and hand-carrying?
International courier services with onboard delivery are needed for special handling and customs clearance of last-minute global shipments. This type of exclusive aviation transport is critical for time-sensitive packages and eliminates the need to rent a charter aircraft by relying on reliable, fast international couriers.
On the other side, you might rely on hand-carry specialists in case you have to deliver exclusive hand-carry shipments: strictly confidential, high-value items, fragile, or security-ensured cargo delivery. With such on-demand delivery specialists, you ensure not only same-day international delivery but also responsibility for keeping your package in a person's hands for the entire shipping time.
Make your needs clear. Is it necessary to apply for an increased level of security, or is speed delivery a main priority for you? Door-to-door delivery with hand-carry specialists and personal cargo escort services by OBC for urgent consignment delivery are both important logistics solutions for critical missions of your business. Let us know your logistics requirements and the SeaRates team will provide a customized solution for you.
Advantages of OBC and Hand carry specialist
There is a wide range of benefits of freight forwarding with onboard courier or hand carry services:
- Flexible solutions for the delivery of high-priority goods for supply chain optimization and avoidance of production process interruption
- Ultimate demand for expedited logistics in terms of rapidly shifting global logistics and trading
- Critical parcel delivery service: dealing with high-risk, sensitive, high-value, fragile items, confidential documents, emergency equipment, and more
- Dedicated assistant as a smartly implemented human factor focused on priority tasks for the next level of secure delivery services
- High-speed cargo courier for time-critical deliveries
- Seamless real-time shipment tracking with direct communication
- Door-to-door service for sensitive shipments
- Minimized delays due to custom-critical handling
Main tips when considering OBC & Hand Carry: FAQs
Who uses it and why?
There is an unlimited list of industries that rely on hand-delivered critical freight because urgent medical equipment shipping, emergency aircraft parts delivery, or urgent spare parts delivery (AOG) will always require fast custom-critical delivery by experienced staff. Take a look at the main areas of need:
- Aerospace and aviation (urgent spare parts delivery)
- Medical and healthcare (urgent equipment and supplies)
- Automotive (prototype transport and critical components)
- Tech and electronics (sensitive devices or prototypes)
- Fashion (expensive clothing and time-sensitive artworks)
- and any other business or individuals (confidential documentation and personal high-cost goods)
How much does it cost?
The tariff of the priority shipping by OBC or hand carry specialist service is influenced by such factors as the destination, cargo dimensions, distance, transit time, etc. In addition, the availability of the necessary permits, customs clearance, door-to-door, and so on also have an impact.
| Delivery route | Transit time | Distance | Cargo dimensions | Estimated cost |
| Europe → North America | ~12 hours | ~7,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Asia → Europe | ~10-12 hours | ~8,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From $3,500 to $6,000 |
| North America → South America | ~8 hours | ~5,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From $2,500 to $4,500 |
| Europe → Asia | ~10-12 hours | ~8,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From $3,500 to $6,000 |
| Asia → North America | ~12-14 hours | ~10,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From $4,000 to $7,000 |
Africa may be a key destination for some logistics services, but it is often overlooked in general analyses of On-Board Courier (OBC) and hand carry specialists, as it has an underdeveloped infrastructure for urgent transportation and limited or less regular direct air service to other regions of the world, making OBC a less popular or significantly more expensive option:
| Europe (Paris) → West Africa (Dakar, Abidjan, Lagos) | ~8 hours | ~4,500 - 5,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From €3,000 to €4,000 |
| Europe → South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town) | ~10-12 hours | ~9,000 - 10,000 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From €3,500 to €5,000 |
| Europe → East Africa (Nairobi, Dar es Salaam) | ~8-10 hours | ~6,500 - 7,500 km | Up to 20 kg, hand luggage | From €3,500 to €5,500 |
For an individualized tariff calculation of your cargo or parcel according to any requirements your business has, don't hesitate to contact the SeaRates team.
What are the maximum dimensions?
Note that the most important thing is to clarify permitted dimensions on particular airlines. There are common dimensions for hand carrying of no dangerous substances and liquids with a volume of up to 1,000 ml:
- Within the cabin, you can bring one small package no more than 10 kg, with no more than 40 x 20 x 25 cm in size.
- Packages and boxes weighing 10–32 kg each, with a total length, width, and height of no more than 152 cm, and weighing 150–200 kg (subject to airline approval when booking the flight) are all considered in the hold.
In case it still doesn’t fit airline policies, kindly consider hand-carry next flight out (NFO) service or air charter rent to make sure your emergency shipments reach the consignee in time.
When don’t I need an OBC or hand-carrying?
Let’s test whether you need to ship your goods in a prior and rapid way with such express logistics services. Bend fingers if you find your thoughts:
- ‘My transportation budget is limited’. Simply calculate freight rates for your cargo by sea, air, rail, or road and enjoy well-managed transportation without rush.
- ‘The goods are too bulky or heavy’. You shouldn’t apply for OBC or hand-carry delivery network if it comes to oversized cargo, heavy equipment, or pallet transportation. In case your cargo perfectly fits into the cabin or the hold luggage, you can proceed with that service.
- ‘My shipments are well planned in advance’. This way, you can manage the entire supply chain without the urgent need to look for hand-carry onboard courier solutions.
- ‘I do not plan to transport confidential goods’. Apply for general, non-standard cargo, or parcel transportation services instead of highly secure document transport or other items.
To sum up
With proper insights into your business needs and awareness of the current logistics market, you'll be able to move forward with the best solutions to effectively overcome any challenges. Let us know if you are interested in door-to-door delivery of your cargo or parcel, enjoying a high transparency of the supply chain.
You are always welcome to contact the SeaRates team at [email protected] for assistance in improving your logistics and trading processes.
