Why Air freight is so expensive

[cja]

Here is the tracking on a recent shipment I ordered from China to the UK.
NB times are in reverse order. Consignment weight 52KG



All shipment travel activity is displayed in local time for the location
To display the shipment travel activity in local time of the scan, please select "Local Scan Time" time zone option.
Alert: To determine the destination time zone for this shipment please select from the Others list.
Alert: To determine the origin time zone for this shipment please select from the Others list.

No entries found

Jan 26, 2010 8:56 AM
Delivered

DEESIDE FLINT SHIRE WALES GB

Jan 26, 2010 7:01 AM
On FedEx vehicle for delivery
CHESTER GB

Jan 26, 2010 4:02 AM
At local FedEx facility
CHESTER GB

Jan 25, 2010 5:39 PM
In transit
STANSTED GB
Package available for clearance

Jan 25, 2010 5:32 PM
Int'l shipment release
STANSTED GB

Jan 25, 2010 3:09 PM
At dest sort facility
STANSTED GB

Jan 25, 2010 3:47 AM
Departed FedEx location
NEWARK, NJ

Jan 24, 2010 10:14 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
NEWARK, NJ

Jan 24, 2010 7:08 PM
Departed FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Jan 23, 2010 10:24 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN

Jan 23, 2010 7:06 PM
In transit
BEIJING CN

Jan 23, 2010 3:23 PM
In transit
BEIJING CN

Jan 22, 2010 8:55 PM
Left FedEx origin facility
BEIJING CN

Jan 22, 2010 4:09 PM
Picked up
BEIJING CN


I Also had a package from Munich Germany come to the UK via Belgium, Paris, Memphis, Newark and Stansted.

[LX-A343]

Not so long ago, people would buy around-the-world-tickets ....

[cja]

Not so long ago, people would buy around-the-world-tickets ....

At the moment I can only dream of doing such trips!!

[Highkeas]

Here is the tracking on a recent shipment I ordered from China to the UK.
NB times are in reverse order. Consignment weight 52KG

........................................

This looks very efficient from a cost standpoint knowing how FedEx operates. If faster delivery was required the shipment should have been on a UK aircraft (or EU aircraft - not sure of the rules these days). When I took a class on air freight I was told that US aircraft could not fly between most countries without a stop in the USA.

[ufo]

This looks very efficient from a cost standpoint knowing how FedEx operates. If faster delivery was required the shipment should have been on a UK aircraft (or EU aircraft - not sure of the rules these days). When I took a class on air freight I was told that US aircraft could not fly between most countries without a stop in the USA.

That's pretty much it. Most countries are quite particular on their air traffic agreements and carriers develop their schedules around those freedoms of the air. Only Santa Claus can operate direct...and only on flights from the North Pole (although the toys are still built in Beijing).

The routing PEK-MEM-EWR-STN is pretty direct service IMO. The second routing from MUC-BRU?-CDG?-MEM-EWR-STN is obviously more roundabout, but, so long as FedEx met its delivery promise, should not be a problem for the shipper or the consignee just how it got from point A to point B.

And lastly...the funny thing about air freight is...it rarely complains.

[cja]

Only Santa Claus can operate direct...and only on flights from the North Pole (although the toys are still built in Beijing).

Thanks for your explanations. To the unitiated like me flying from China to the UK via the USA is adding a lot of extra miles especially as most packages are routed westward via Almaty. The fact is that parcels shipped economy come the long way round and we are billed more than for parcels shipped on a priority service that tend to come via Almaty. So are we being charged extra for that Economy routing because of the extra distance and therefore does this really demonstrate efficient organisation?

[ufo]

Thanks for your explanations. To the unitiated like me flying from China to the UK via the USA is adding a lot of extra miles especially as most packages are routed westward via Almaty. The fact is that parcels shipped economy come the long way round and we are billed more than for parcels shipped on a priority service that tend to come via Almaty. So are we being charged extra for that Economy routing because of the extra distance and therefore does this really demonstrate efficient organisation?

Yes, I agree. If YOU are flying from China to the UK as a passenger, then by all means, westbound is certainly the way to go. But if you are small packages flying with FedEx, you will most likely fly eastbound to the U.S. before flying to the UK. This may not be efficient mileage-wise, but it may be the only way to service the freight, given FedEx' operating authority. I can only recommend that you find alternative European or Chinese-based carriers (who may have operating authority China-UK) to move your freight next time if you have a problem with routing or associated shipping charges.