Unusual luggage terminal 5

[ciderman]

We wish to transport a carton containing a dinner service to our daughter in the USA, flying BA in June. The box will weigh 35 kgs and be approximately 900 x 500 x 500. Is it ok to turn up and pay the excess charge and is there a dedicated desk for such items? It’s easier to travel with the goods than to fill in the US Customs paperwork. Any advice appreciated, since we havent done this in a while.

[Globaliser]

The box will weigh 35 kgs ...I think that BA will refuse to take this as baggage purely on the grounds of weight. The absolute maximum is 32 kg. So it would have to go as cargo, and you'd have to arrange that separately.

[SimonPaddo]

Split into two cartons?

[ciderman]

Thanks for the sound advice. If it was in 2 boxes, what are the options as per original query?

[Globaliser]

If it was in 2 boxes, what are the options as per original query?The maximum size of each item is 190 cm x 75 cm x 65 cm, so even your original size is OK (assuming you meant mm). If, when you repack, either box is over 90 cm x 75 cm x 43 cm, then it'll be out-of-gauge and you'd have to go to the oversize bag drop. BA's website (https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/baggage-essentials) says the minimum time for this is 90 minutes before departure, so a bit earlier than the last bag drop for normal bags. But if they're within the standard size then I think that any bag drop should be able to take the boxes together with any necessary payment.

Obviously you'll still be subject to possible charges for extra bags if you're beyond your included piece count allowance, and for overweight bags if either box is over 23 kg and you don't get overweight bags for free.

And you'll need appropriate levels of courage to consign a dinner service to T5's mechanised baggage system.

[rog747]

If you check it in the hold it will likely be a 1000 piece Dinner Set on arrival.

Why not book to sail on the Queen Mary 2 to NYC? you can take what you like on there.....

[Hartington]

If you haven't made the purchase yet pick a vendor in the UK who will ship to the USA. They will then be liable to get the paperwork sorted and for any breakage that may occur.

I don't know if you will be liable for US custome fees but if you pick carefully you might even find someone who will calculate and prepay any fees.I do that shipping from USA to UK.

[Globaliser]

If you haven't made the purchase yet pick a vendor in the UK who will ship to the USA. They will then be liable to get the paperwork sorted and for any breakage that may occur.And which could be partly paid for, probably, by the removal of VAT from the purchase price.

[Mr Mac]

Ciderman
I admire that you think you will get this on a passenger flight. Could you not send it by a carrier like FedEx or DHL for example ? I assume it’s been bought or is inherited.

Cheers
Mr Mac

[ciderman]

Ciderman
I admire that you think you will get this on a passenger flight. Could you not send it by a carrier like FedEx or DHL for example ? I assume it’s been bought or is inherited.

Cheers
Mr Mac
Thanks gents. It’s a family heirloom going to my daughter. I’ve found a shipper who will pack it, insure it and ship it with DHL/Fedex. It’s got no commercial value and can be classified as used household goods being gifted, so fingers crossed.