Guide to Air Courier Services

When you need to get a package delivered cross-country or overseas today, you need an air courier. Courier services often hand carry time-sensitive packages and documents directly to the recipient. Courier services use commercial flights to transport your package.

Business courier services get packages through customs much quicker than standard shipping methods. Instead of a package spending days or even weeks in customs, the package is cleared as part of the courier's luggage. In addition, the package bypasses the typical sorting and loading processes at a carrier's transportation hub. Some things to keep in mind when choosing an air courier service:

1. For the security of your package, choose a company that uses only screened personnel as couriers.

2. Evaluate your needs carefully since courier service costs significantly more than overnight or second-day delivery.

3. Work closely with the air courier service to make sure all paperwork is complete for international shipments; otherwise you could still end up with the package stuck in customs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Trust the big guys to get your package there on time

Air courier services in the past relied on networks of individuals who wanted to travel cheap; courier services matched them up with companies that needed time critical delivery of a package. Today, the major package carriers all offer domestic and international courier service. You can get door-to-door or counter-to-counter service almost anywhere in the world.

I recommend: UPS and FedEx both offer hand-carry courier services. Due to the personal nature of the service, you'll need to call the companies to make arrangements to ship your package. Both companies provide a courier who stays in possession of your package from pick-up to delivery.

Ship large packages and freight with a dedicated air freight courier

If your package for overseas delivery is too large to transport on a commercial airline with a courier, consider using a company whose sole business is international air freight courier service. These specialized carriers maintain a network of overseas facilities that provide door-to-door service for even the largest shipments.

I recommend: OCS: Overseas Courier Service has the experience and network to get the job done. They walk your shipment through customs and deliver to your recipient. OCS has vast import/export experience; however, they're not your best bet for standard overnight delivery--stick with UPS or FedEx for those packages.

Turn to domestic air courier services to ship coast-to-coast

You can get personal, hand-carry service for packages delivered to another city. Documents, small packages and even large freight can be delivered to your client that same day.

I recommend: A1Express Delivery Service provides same-day local and domestic air courier service. They also offer live animal delivery and medical business courier services. Sign-up for an account with FreightQuote.com and get freight shipping quotes from multiple carriers.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Compare companies and find a representative you work well with. Whether you ship via air courier frequently or infrequently, your package should be treated with the same importance.
• Don't let cost be the single determining factor in choosing a courier service. Look at the company's reputation, on-time delivery statistics and testimonials from other customers.

The official source of Air Courier Services is the Air Courier Services page at Business.com