I am airfreighting my motorcycle to Buenos Aires in Feb/March '02. Can anyone out there help with the 'steps' required for getting the bike released once in BA? There was a great post by Gonzalo 25th Oct 2000 (listed under "Good news i thought i'd share")that outlined the procedure required when importing by sea. I would like similar information that deals with importing by air - or would it be the same?

Thanks
Nomad

Hi Nomad

Several posts on air freighting into Buenos Aires on the Shipping page:

From Stephan Solon, Sep/2000 from Cape Town to BA: "At Buenos Aires the cargo terminal for imported goods is by the airport exit, a short walk from the passenger terminal. Customs Officers and warehouse staff went out of their way to ensure all went well. Warehouse charges were US$67. The process took about 3 hours and this was on a Monday when customs were trying to clear a backlog of cargo that arrived over the weekend."
Cape town To Buenos Aires

See also our post just following Stephan's, with Gonzalo's comments re Argentina and carnets.

As long as all your documentation is good, the procedure for clearing a bike by air freight will always be less hassle than for sea freight. Airports are used to dealing with relatively high value individual items, whereas ports are used to dealing with large containers of identical stuff. This explains why port charges on motorcycles can add up so quickly that sea freight becomes as expensive as air freight on some shipping routes.


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Good luck and safe travels!

Susan Johnson
Share the Dream at www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 24 January 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 02 October 2002).]

__________________
Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

This is my experience from Dec.99 at he airport in Buenos Aires:
The Freight Treminal is to the right when you exit the main Treminal. Walk for 300m and you see a gap in the fence through which you can enter the cargo area. There is an ID-Checkpoimt at the entrance. From there, anything goes very smoothly. We had to present a carnet de passage, no way around that, although there are reports that people got in without. I would not try without one, unless you have a lot of time, patience, excellent knowledge of spanish, many dollars and luck.
It took us 2 hours to get through the whole process. Fitting the frontwheels and other parts we had put seperatly to save money, the workers helped us, and the manager offered us a coke. Nice people, smooth process, and since the motorcycles had just arrived that morning, the handling fees were about 20$ each. No other cost.
Werner

Sounds easy (maybe even too good to hope for!) Will be travelling without a carnet as am doing only Sth America at this stage. Will also consider trying to sell bike at the end but thats another can of worms!!

Thanks

Nomad

Sounds easy, yes, but you did notice Werner's comment re the carnet de passage, I hope, which we would agree with:

Arriving at a land border into either Argentina or Ecuador is not a problem without the carnet. BUT, without the carnet, flying into or shipping into either is very difficult.


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Good luck and safe travels!

Susan Johnson
Share the Dream at <A HREF="http://www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


" TARGET=_blank>www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


</A>

__________________
Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

hi all,

I will fly into BA next week and tell you soon the situation now. As I don't have a carnet, or it is not valid anymore, we will see what happens.

hope to met you there, because we will stay for maybe two weeks or so.

mika

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hi, me again, we are in Bs As and got the bike out in four hours. They will ask you for a carnet ! I don´t know if you can enter without, because we got it stamped. For more information contact me under "link above"
hasta la vista
mika

email address removed by Grant - see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/faq.shtml#notify for why.

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 14 February 2002).]

Thanks Mika
Will have to try my luck as don't have a carnet and don't plan to get one. Do have a letter from Argentine Embassy here in NZ though with requirements and they don't mention carnet.

Regards

I am about to air freight my bike to BA and I was wondering whether you need a local agent to help with the clearance procedure or whether you just turn up with the documents (including a carnet I understand), clear your bike yourself and ride off into the sunset.

Hi Bald Git!

Well, it helps if you speak some Spanish, but not absolutely necessary. When we turned up in 1997 from Cape Town, we happened upon an agent who didn't know what a Carnet de Passage was, and wanted us to find some local to post a bond for us! Luckily, we had a nice letter in Spanish provided by the Canadian Automobile Association, which explained the purpose of the Carnet, etc., and eventually he went and found a more experienced agent who knew what it was. After that, and without an agent, we only took another hour before we rode off into the sunset.

I think the letter would be unnecessary now, as the Customs authorities are fairly familiar with the Carnet procedure, and it is pretty straightforward.


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Susan Johnson

"It matters not what goal you seek
Its secret here reposes:
You've got to dig from week to week
To get Results or Roses."
Edgar Guest

'One world, two wheels'
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi All,

These posting goes back to 2002. I am doing my RTW route and want to know current situation about shipping the bike from South Africa (Cape Town) to Argentina (Beunos Aires). Is it possible?

AIf yes, any information regarding price, procedures, airports, etc will be appriciated.

Thanks in advance

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ozhan u.
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