On-Board Courier (Hand Carry)
A courier carries your shipment by hand on the next suitable flight
Often same day in Europe and 24–48 hours to most long-haul destinations, with updates at every stage.
- Often same day in Europe
- Scheduled passenger flights
- Updates at every stage
What is an On-Board Courier Service?
An on-board courier (OBC), also called hand carry, is a person who travels with your shipment on a scheduled passenger flight. The goods go as the courier’s checked or cabin baggage, so they skip the cargo terminal, cargo cut-off times and cargo handling at both ends.
The courier collects from your door, flies on the first suitable flight, clears customs on arrival and delivers by hand. It is the fastest way to move small, urgent items between countries when next-day air freight is not quick enough.
Typical shipments include aircraft spares, production line parts, prototypes, tooling, legal documents and replacement components for stopped machinery.
Talk to an
On-Board Courier Specialist
On-board courier at a glance
Watch out for: goods carried by a courier are still commercial goods. They need a commercial invoice and must be declared to customs on arrival, or they can be held at the airport.
Why Choose Qube Cargo for On-Board Courier
Couriers ready to travel
We arrange couriers from the UK or near your supplier abroad, so the shipment can start moving within hours.
First suitable flight
We book the fastest route, including connections, and adjust if flights are delayed or cancelled.
Customs handled
We prepare the commercial invoice and customs paperwork so the courier can clear the goods on arrival.
Hand delivery
The courier stays with the goods until they are signed for at the destination.
Updates throughout
You are told when the courier collects, departs, lands, clears customs and delivers.
Talk to a person
Call us on 07544 381501, day or night.
On-Board Courier Services We Provide
We provide on-board courier solutions for urgent shipments requiring immediate departure, direct handling and full control throughout transit.
- International Hand-Carry Delivery
Global delivery using commercial flights, with a dedicated courier accompanying the shipment from collection to final delivery.
- Next Flight Out (NFO)
Immediate departure on the next available flight to minimise transit time and avoid delays.
- Airport-to-Airport & Door-to-Door
Flexible delivery options tailored to urgency, routing and final destination requirements.
- Secure & High-Value Transport
Direct handling for sensitive documents, critical components and high-value shipments requiring continuous supervision.
When to Use an On-Board Courier
An on-board courier makes sense when the cost of waiting is higher than the cost of the courier. Common examples:
A production line has stopped
A single part is holding up a factory, and every hour costs money.
An aircraft is grounded
Spares are needed to return an aircraft to service. See also our aircraft on ground service.
A deadline cannot move
Tender documents, samples or exhibition items that must arrive by a fixed time.
Air cargo is too slow or unavailable
Cargo cut-offs, terminal handling or limited cargo capacity on the route would add a day or more.
For heavier or larger urgent cargo, air charter or time-critical freight may be a better fit.
On-board courier or next flight out?
Both are urgent air services. The right one depends on the size of the shipment and how fast it must arrive.
On-board courier
Fastest for small items.
Travels as passenger baggage with a person, so it avoids cargo cut-offs and cargo handling. Limited by baggage size and weight.
Next flight out
Fast for larger items.
Booked as air cargo on the first available flight. No baggage limits, but cargo cut-off times and terminal handling apply.
Air charter
For large or very heavy urgent cargo.
A whole aircraft on your schedule, for when scheduled flights cannot take the cargo.
Groupage
Next Day
Hazardous
Drop Shipping
Freight Insurance
Customs Clearance
Rail Freight
Container Haulage
eCommerce
UK, European & Global Coverage
We deliver on-board courier services worldwide, supporting urgent shipments across:
- UK nationwide collections and deliveries
- European and international flight routes
- Major global airport networks
- Time-sensitive and remote destinations
We deliver rapid response and reliable hand-carry solutions regardless of location.
Case Example – On-Board Courier Delivery
A client required urgent delivery of critical components to prevent operational disruption.
Qube Cargo arranged an on-board courier on the next available flight, ensuring immediate collection, direct hand-carry and delivery to site without delay.
The shipment was delivered within the required timeframe, maintaining operational continuity.
On-Board Courier FAQs
Often within a few hours of booking, depending on flight times and where the courier is based. If the goods are abroad, we can use a courier near your supplier to save time.
It depends on the airline’s baggage allowance. Extra bags can be bought, but each piece is usually kept to 32 kg or less so it can be handled as baggage. Larger shipments go as next flight out air cargo instead.
Most dangerous goods cannot be carried as passenger baggage. Small lithium batteries fitted in equipment may be allowed within airline passenger rules, but anything else needs to go as declared dangerous goods air freight.
The courier declares the goods on arrival with a commercial invoice, just like cargo. Some countries also need a local customs broker. We prepare the paperwork in advance so clearance is quick.
Yes. We can send a courier to collect from your supplier abroad, or use a courier based nearby, and hand deliver to your site in the UK.
The price covers the courier’s time, flights, any extra baggage, ground transport at both ends and customs. Long-haul and last-minute flights cost more, so we quote each job individually.