Shipments done by Travellers

These people were by far the most helpful and flexible among all the cargo companies in Buenos Aires, Ezeiza Airport. I could not get any info on shipping in the downtown offices, so if you are in Buenos Aires to ship you MC, go directly to the airport.

To reduce your shipping costs:
* dismount front tire with fender, handle bar with mirrors, and side+tail bags/boxes to reduce height, length and width ==> you'll pay the minimum possible by volume.
* if you can crate, the bike, because then they can put other things on the top of the motorcycle crate. Ask around for scrap wood, nails and hammer - I'm sure they have. In this case you will pay most likely for the weight of the motorcycle (Make sure that you will pay only for the weight of the motorcycle and not for the crate, too.)

We went to the office in Quito and got all information. At the date of the departure of the motorbikes we took them to the office and then with a guy down to the freight terminal.

We did the deal with two other motorbikers. We got a big aluminium platform and took all the three bikes to it. They were tied down with simple straps. You have to watch very well what the workers do. They didn't have lots of experience, we helped them fixing our bikes and even took some of our private straps to fix them.

Before we had to drain the gas (everything!), disconnect the battery, take the mirrors away, let the air out of the tyres. Our panniers/boxes we could let at the bike.

Note: After having fixed the bike to the platform at the cargo terminal INSIST on going to the Aduana office (customs) to get an exit stamp on your document. (Carola got an entry stamp into her passport stating that she imported a motorcycle when we entered Ecuador). The freight guy kept on saying it was not necessary but we insisted on getting one. Could you imagine the trouble we would have had without one the next day when we were at the passenger terminal at the airport trying to get out of Ecuador!?!

In Panama we went to Tocumen Freight Terminal, which is about 8 km north of the passenger terminal. There we had to pay 12 $ to get the original of the airway bill, then we went to the Aduana (customs) office, got a temporary importation paper (30 days), went back to the freight terminal and could get our motorbikes back. Not a scratch! Take an airpump and approx. 4 liters of gas with you, there is no air compressor or gas station near the airport.

Note: Subsequent travellers report that Aeroflot no longer flies this route.

On the 2/3/01 we airfreighted our BMW motorcycle with Aeroflot. The following is a list of procedures, costs and contacts for those who wish to use this service.

Initial contact was made with the travel agent mid December, 2000 and our seats on the flight were booked, confirmed and paid for.

We arrived five days before the departure date to confirm the price and deliver the bike to the Airline Company. Rajeev Bhatia negotiated with the Airline for the best possible rate while we were in his Office. We delivered the bike on the 27/2/01 (4 days prior to dep.) to the the Cargo shed at Delhi Int. Airport. The Bill of Lading was completed by a Mr Khan from Turkmanistan Airlines who are agents for Aeroflot. Turk. Airlines can be found on the first floor, office No. 15 of the Import Blg opposite Gate2.

The costs are as follows.

Bike weight... 235kg @ 32 Rs per Kg= 7520
Fuel Surcharge..235kg @ 2.35Rs per Kg = 552
Documentation Fee............ =300
TOTAL = 8372 Rs

The bike was delivered to the Cargo shed No. 5 in the Export Section, opposite Gate No. 3. Here the bike was weighed, defueled and the battery terminals disconected and taped. To expedite the documentation at this point a "helper" was used and the processing of the Carnet with Customs and paying the Terminal charges. Other fees also appeared as listed.

Terminal Fees...285 Rs (we paid 300Rs and received no change??)
Packing Fees (1)...150 Rs (paid to the Head Man)
Packing Fees(2)... 20 Rs (paid to the actual packers)
The Helper's Fees...100 Rs ( plus the fuel drained from our tank and he also scarpered with our new pen)

The bike was wrapped in hession and stitched up. We were advised that the bike would be placed in an Airline container but this was not the case as our steed was sighted being loaded onto the plane securely strapped down onto an aluminium plate normally used for this type of non crated motorcycles. The "Helper" was not happy with our gift of 100Rs for his assistance but we were advised back at Turk. Airlines that this was ample payment for his services.

Having no transport back to Connaught Place New Delhi we were advised of the local bus (No. 780) system and we considered that at 8 Rs p.p. picked up outside the Cargo Terminal and delivered to the Super Bazaar was an absolute bargain. No bargainings with Tuk Tuk drivers here.

In addition to this we stayed at the Gandhi Guest House, off Connaught Lane,(near Ringo's Guest House see Lonely Planet) Connaught Place. There was off street parking for the bike and only 5 minutes walk to Aqua Travels and even less to the Ex -Servicemen's Airlink Transport Service which provides an excellant bus ride to the airport for 50 Rs p.p .

For those intending to travel this way we can recommend our experiences. Aqua Travels will also organize freighting at the best possible rates to anywhere in the world. The reason why we received such a low price was that we were charged per kg and not volumetric weight. This generally makes for a considerable saving and we were fortunate in not having to dismantle the bike. Good luck. Ken & Carol Duval.

I flew with Thai Air. Cost = 1.37 US dollars per Kilogram VOLUMETRIC weight, which came out as 380 US dollars for my Yamaha Tenere. The bike must also be CRATED. The cost of crating (materials, construction and transport), plus the customs charges and the fee for the agent himself came to a total of 200 US dollars. Therefore the total cost was 580 US dollars.

My only complaint about the services of this agent was that the charge for crating etc turned out to be higher than the original estimate. Otherwise the agent was very efficient, the bike left on the same plane as I did (as promised). I took the bike to the crate-maker 1 week before the flight, for it to be measured, and I had to report to the airport the day before flying, to put the bike in the crate and get my carnet completed. This took about 1-2 hours, no problem, but BRING YOUR OWN RETAINING STRAPS OR ROPE to tie the bike down to the pallet! Happy travelling. Connor.

...I have just air freighted my NTV650 from LA to Sydney for far less money than any other agent in the US was able to and whats more, the company - ETC International Freight Systems - appeared to know more about freighting bikes than the rest!

The price charged by ETC included crating in the strongest crate I've ever seen and all associated documentation. The dimensions of my bike were 2.4m x 0.8m x 1.2m. The airline they used was Malaysian Airlines and they seem to have a special deal with them as the price which appeared on the Airway Bill was around $3500!

At ETC's premises I was able to prepare the bike for freighting ie. drain oil, fuel, radiator coolant and dismantle/ disconnect various bits and pieces.

Compton is a suburb of LA. The nearest train station is Dell Amo which is an hours walk away!