At Hand Carry Shipments, we specialise in the urgent transport of high-value and time-critical cargo, offering a secure, personal delivery service from the UK to global destinations.

Whether you’re shipping aerospace components, medical devices, or confidential prototypes, our onboard courier service ensures the highest level of control and speed. 

A dedicated expert physically accompanies your item from pickup to handover.

What Are Hand Carry Shipments And Who Are They For?

Hand-carry shipments, also known as onboard courier (OBC) services, are a premium logistics solution in which your item is transported in the personal custody of a trained courier aboard a commercial flight.

This method is designed for organisations that require maximum oversight, minimal delay, and guaranteed delivery continuity, such as those in the aviation, healthcare, electronics, and legal sectors.

Why Use A Professional Hand Carry Courier Service?

Hand-carry shipments eliminate risks associated with traditional freight, such as missed connections, customs delays, or third-party handling.

With a professional hand-carry provider, you receive direct routing, real-time updates, and total visibility from collection to delivery.

We manage the complete journey with personal oversight, meaning your package never leaves the courier’s possession. This ensures full chain-of-custody compliance and reduces the risk of damage or delay.

What Types Of Items Are Suitable For Hand Carry Shipping?

Our hand-carry shipment service is ideal for small, valuable, or mission-critical items, including:

• Aircraft on Ground (AOG) components – Essential parts for grounded aircraft.
• Medical samples and devices – Items requiring rapid, temperature-stable delivery.
• Semiconductor parts and electronics – Fragile or irreplaceable components.
• Legal and financial documents – Sensitive paperwork requiring secure handling.
• Luxury goods and prototypes – High-value items needing confidentiality and direct oversight.
• Artwork and collectables – Items requiring personalised handling and fast transit.

How Much Do Hand-Carry Shipments Cost?

The cost of hand-carry shipments ranges from £500 to over £5,000, depending on the delivery’s origin, destination, and urgency.

Key pricing factors include airfare (economy or business class), baggage and customs clearance fees, and any required visa or standby courier arrangements.

The size of the shipment must comply with carry-on dimensions, and optional extras such as overnight dispatch or high-security packaging may affect final pricing.

Contact Hand Carry Shipments to receive a customised quote for your urgent delivery.

What Does The Hand Carry Process Include?

Our hand-carry shipment process begins with a rapid consultation and quotation. Once confirmed, we dispatch a courier to collect your shipment directly from the pickup location.

We handle documentation checks, customs pre-clearance, and flight booking on the earliest available route.

The courier boards the flight with your item in carry-on luggage, remains in constant contact throughout the journey, and delivers the shipment in person upon arrival, often within 24 to 48 hours globally.

We also provide full journey tracking and delivery confirmation for complete peace of mind.

How Fast Are Hand-Carry Shipments?

Hand-carry shipments are the fastest international delivery option available. Most items are transported same-day or next-flight-out (NFO).

Thanks to our global courier network, we can mobilise at short notice, select the quickest routing, and guarantee delivery within hours, where traditional logistics may take days.

What Security And Compliance Standards Do You Follow?

Our hand-carry shipment couriers are identity-verified professionals, trained in aviation security, customs compliance, and chain-of-custody protocols.

We support sensitive shipments with secure packaging, offer NDAS for confidential contents, and maintain a full audit trail from pickup to delivery.

Every shipment follows a strict compliance framework tailored to the origin, destination, and cargo type, ensuring safety and legal conformity at every stage.

Contact Hand Carry Shipments for details on our security and safety checks for your urgent hand-carry courier needs.

Find More Info

Make sure you contact us today for a number of great Hand Carry Shipment services.

For more information on Hand Carry Shipments, fill in the contact form below to receive a free quote today.