Creating a quotation — air freight
Direct master, consol air, chargeable weight, and IATA rate classes.
4 min readLast updated 13 Apr 2026
Air freight quotes follow the IATA rate structure. This article covers chargeable weight, rate classes, the Direct Master vs Consol Air distinction, and the charges you'll see on every air quote.
Overview
Air quotations use mode=air with one of two load types:
- Direct Master (Air) — a single shipper's cargo under one MAWB. Higher cost per kg but faster and simpler.
- Consol (Air) is handled via a separate Master Booking structure — you quote the individual house AWB as a regular air quote, and consolidate multiple houses under a master. See Consolidations.
Route is defined by Airport of Departure → Airport of Destination, both 3-letter IATA codes (DXB, LAX, LHR) from the master-data airport catalog.
Chargeable weight
Air pricing uses the greater of:
- Actual gross weight — physical weight in kg.
- Volumetric weight — cargo volume in CBM × 167 kg (IATA standard divisor).
Whichever is higher is the chargeable weight. CargoSurge computes this automatically when you enter dimensions. Light bulky cargo is penalised; dense cargo pays by actual weight.
IATA rate classes
Charges on the AWB use IATA rate classes:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
M | Minimum charge — applies to small shipments below the break. |
N | Normal rate. |
Q | Quantity rate — the break-point tier (e.g. +45 kg, +100 kg, +300 kg, +500 kg, +1000 kg). |
C | Specific Commodity Rate (SCR) — negotiated for a specific commodity on a specific lane. |
R | Class rate with reduction (rare). |
S | Class rate with surcharge (e.g. DG, valuables). |
CargoSurge applies the rate class automatically based on chargeable weight breaks you configure per airline on your rate card.
Typical charges (air direct master)
| Code | Description | Basis |
|---|---|---|
AF | Air Freight | per chargeable kg |
FSC | Fuel Surcharge | per kg — changes monthly |
SSC | Security Surcharge | per kg |
SCR | Screening Charge | per shipment |
AWB | AWB Issuance Fee | per MAWB |
HAWB | HAWB Issuance | per HAWB |
HANDLING-O | Origin handling | per shipment |
HANDLING-D | Destination handling | per shipment |
DG | Dangerous Goods surcharge | per kg or flat |
Step-by-step
- Quotations → + Create. Pick the customer.
- Direction (Export / Import). Mode: Air. Load Type: Direct Master (Air) for a standalone MAWB, or leave as blank if the shipment will ride under a consol master.
- Route: Origin airport + country; Destination airport + country. Code prefills from the master-data catalog.
- Cargo lines: pieces, gross weight per piece, dimensions (L × W × H). CargoSurge computes volume + chargeable weight.
- Charges: AF, FSC, SSC, AWB, HAWB, HANDLING at minimum. Rate breaks apply automatically if a rate card is set up; otherwise enter manually.
- Validity — air rates change fast; 3–7 days is typical.
- Commercial Terms — include the Forwarder liability clause per FIATA Model Rules if you're quoting HAWB-level.
- Save & Send.
Dangerous goods (DG)
If cargo includes DG, tick the DG / Hazardous checkbox. Triggers:
- Extra charges (DG surcharge, DG documentation, SCR).
- IATA DGR documentation requirement at booking time (declaration, emergency-response info).
- Commodity-specific packaging and labelling checks.
- Route restrictions — not every airline accepts every DG class.
See also: MSDS / DG Reader (PDF Designer section).
Reefer / cold chain
For temperature-controlled air cargo:
- Flag Reefer on the cargo line.
- Temperature range (e.g. 2–8 °C for pharma, −20 °C for frozen).
- Many airlines run dedicated cool-chain products (e.g. Emirates SkyFresh, Lufthansa Fresh) — pick the product and the rate on your rate card applies.
Common pitfalls
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