Unit 21 Air Cargo Charges and Rates

一）基本要求
　　了解：Costs Elements
　　熟悉：Contract FAT Rates, Minimum Charges,
　　Bulk Unitization Rates
　　掌握：General Cargo Rates, Specific Commodity Rates, Class Rates
二）考试内容：
　　1. General Cargo Rates
　　General Cargo Rates are applicable to any type of commodity, without the restriction of hazardous consignment size.
　　The disadvantage is that they are pitched at an extremely high level, although some discount is offered for consignment which can take advantage of the weight breaks （重量分界点）which exist at 45kg, and also often at 100kg and higher.
　　2. Minimum Charges
　　General Cargo Rates are usually supplemented by provision for a Minimum Charge. This means that in most cases a shipper cannot be charged less than the appropriate rate of 4kg, even though his particular consignment may weigh less than this.
　　On some routes minimum charges apply at a higher weight of up to 8 kg. There is considerable justification for the minimum charge principle, because the costs of documentation and customs clearance are fixed irrespective of consignment size, and small consignments are expensive to handle.
　　3. Class Rates
　　Class Rates are a further supplement to the General Cargo Rate tariff, and are applied by most airlines.
　　Under Class Rating certain commodities are offered a discount, and many more commodities are surcharged under class rating.
　　4. Specific Commodity Rates
　　Specific Commodity Rates are rates which are applicable to named types of freight（货物）.
　　In addition, they have a number of features which separate them as a distinct form of pricing（不同价格类型）.
　　Specific Commodity Rates are not set by specific reference to General Cargo Rates. However they are always much lower than these rates. They are also available only for named commodities.
　　Specific Commodity Rates are offered for a vast number of commodities. Over 5,000 different commodities are described in lists of definitions prepared by the airlines with IATA （国际航空运输协会）for international services.

　　5. Bulk Unitization Rates
　　Bulk Unitization Rates offer low unit rates, substantially, below comparable General Cargo Rates.
　　They are available for all types of freight, irrespective of commodity type.
　　However these low rates are only given for freight which is prepackaged into an aircraft Unit Load Device (ULD集装器) that can be loaded directly into the aircraft.
　　For Bulk Unitization Rating, each of the different types of ULD is set a “pivot weight”（基准重量）.
　　This acts as a minimum charge, with the shipper required to pay for this weight even if he is unable to place such an amount in the unit.
　　6. Contract FAT Rates
　　Many airlines are offering substantial discounts for large consignments, if they are presented to the airline in containerized or palletized form.
　　In some cases these rates are offered only to those prepared to sign a contract to give the airline a minimum annual tonnage.
　　However, in many other situations they are offered for any large consignment, either through a public rates, or as a result of under-the-counter discounting.
　　Bulk rates of this sort are always offered on a freight-of-all-kinds (FAK) basis. They are not therefore restricted to named commodities; also, it is perfectly acceptable for the minimum consignment size needed to use them to be reached by the consolidation of small consignments. Therefore, most of the users of them have been freight forwarders rather than shippers.

扩展阅读：

2013年货运代理考试《货代英语》章节辅导讲义