On-Board Courier ServiceHand-Carry Global Delivery
Professional courier hand-carries your time-critical shipment on passenger flights. Full chain of custody from pickup to delivery. 4-12 hour global delivery for shipments up to 150 lbs.
What is On-Board Courier Service?
On-Board Courier (OBC) service provides a dedicated professional courier who hand-carries your time-critical shipment as passenger baggage on commercial flights. Unlike standard air freight that goes in cargo holds with hundreds of other packages, your shipment travels with a trained courier who maintains full custody from pickup to delivery.
OBC Service
- Courier flies as passenger
- Shipment as carry-on or checked baggage
- Courier never leaves shipment
- Passenger flights (hourly departures)
- Expedited customs (personal baggage)
- Hand-delivered to recipient
- Real-time communication
- Timeline: 4-12 hours typical
Standard Air Freight
- Cargo in airplane belly hold
- Mixed with hundreds of packages
- No dedicated escort
- Cargo flights (daily/weekly)
- Standard customs processing
- Courier delivery at destination
- Limited visibility
- Timeline: 2-7 days typical
Why Choose OBC?
Speed
Passenger flights depart every 1-2 hours on major routes vs cargo flights that may only operate daily or weekly. This means your shipment can be on the next available flight within hours.
Security
Full chain of custody. The courier picks up your shipment, checks it in as baggage (or carries on), flies with it, clears customs, and hand-delivers to the recipient. Your shipment is never out of sight.
Reliability
Because the courier is traveling with the shipment, they can adapt to issues in real-time (flight delays, customs questions, documentation issues). Standard air freight can get stuck for days with no one there to resolve problems.
Flexibility
Courier can rebook if flights are delayed, take alternative routes if needed, and handle unexpected customs or documentation issues on the spot. Standard cargo can't adapt.
Customs Speed
Personal baggage clears customs much faster than commercial cargo. A courier can walk through customs with your shipment in 30 minutes vs cargo that can sit for 2-5 days.
How OBC Works
Our OBC service follows a precise process to ensure your time-critical shipment is hand-delivered with full chain of custody. Here's exactly how it works from your call to final delivery.
Emergency Call or Quote Request
You contact us between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM Pacific with shipment details. We need: origin, destination, weight, dimensions, contents, and deadline. We ask critical questions about TSA restrictions, temperature control, and customs complexity.
Courier Assignment & Flight Booking
Professional courier assigned based on current location, language skills, TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry status, and passport/visa for destination. Flight booked on next available passenger flight with multiple routing options considered.
Pickup & Packaging
Courier arrives at your location with TSA-compliant packaging materials, temperature-controlled containers if needed, and proper labeling. Shipment inspected for TSA compliance, packaged as carry-on (up to 22 lbs) or checked baggage (up to 70 lbs per bag).
Airport Check-In & Security
Courier arrives at departure airport. Carry-on kept with courier at all times, checked bags under courier's name. TSA Pre-Check for expedited security. Real-time updates sent to you and recipient.
In-Flight Transit
Courier boards with shipment. Carry-on stored in overhead bin or under seat (never leaves sight). Communication with recipient to coordinate arrival. Flight tracking shared in real-time.
Arrival & Baggage Claim
Plane lands, courier deplanes. Checked baggage retrieved immediately with priority tags if available. Shipment inspected for damage. Ground transportation arranged to final destination.
Customs Clearance
Personal baggage customs (much faster than cargo). Courier presents passport, customs declaration, commercial invoice, and import documentation. Courier answers questions in-person to resolve issues immediately.
Final Delivery
Ground courier or rental car to final destination. Hand-delivery to recipient at specified location with signature and photo proof. Temperature data verified if needed. Chain of custody documentation completed.
Total Timeline
OBC vs Other Shipping Methods
On-Board Courier service occupies a unique space in the shipping landscape - faster than standard shipping, more secure than next-flight-out, and more economical than charter aircraft for small shipments. Here's how OBC compares to other shipping methods.
| Feature | OBC | NFO | Air | Ground | Charter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (Domestic) | 4-8 hours | 6-24 hours | 2-5 days | 1-3 days | 2-6 hours |
| Speed (International) | 8-24 hours | 12-48 hours | 5-10 days | Not available | 8-24 hours |
| Weight Limit | 150 lbs typical | 2,000 lbs+ | No limit | 150 lbs | 50,000+ lbs |
| Security/Custody | |||||
| Flexibility | |||||
| Flight Options | Hourly (passenger) | Daily (cargo/passenger) | Weekly (cargo) | N/A | On-demand |
| Customs Speed | Moderate | Slow | N/A |
When to Choose Each Method
Choose OBC When
- Shipment under 150 lbs
- Need fastest possible delivery (4-12 hours)
- High-value items requiring security ($50K+)
- Temperature-sensitive (medical, biologics)
- Complex customs (courier handles in-person)
- Irreplaceable items (prototypes, one-of-a-kind)
- Legal/contract documents requiring chain of custody
Choose NFO When
- Shipment 150-2,000 lbs (too heavy for OBC)
- Need fast delivery but not absolute fastest (12-24 hours acceptable)
- Cost-sensitive (NFO is 20-40% cheaper than OBC)
- Standard commercial items (not high-value)
Choose Standard Air When
- Non-urgent timeline (2-7 days acceptable)
- Cost is primary concern
- Large or heavy shipments
- Standard commercial goods
Choose Charter Aircraft When
- Shipment over 2,000 lbs (too heavy for OBC)
- Need absolute fastest delivery with large cargo
- Budget exceeds $50,000
- Downtime cost exceeds $100,000/hour
OBC Service Levels
We offer three levels of On-Board Courier service to match your urgency, budget, and security requirements. All levels include professional courier, hand-carry delivery, and full chain of custody.
Standard OBC
Next Available Flight
- Professional courier assigned
- Next available passenger flight
- Carry-on or checked baggage (up to 150 lbs)
- Real-time tracking and updates
- Hand-delivery with signature
- Chain of custody documentation
- Basic insurance ($5,000 included)
- Standard customs clearance
Priority OBC
Fastest Routing Available
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Expedited courier dispatch (arrive pickup in 1 hour vs 2-3)
- Best routing selection (optimize connections for speed)
- Priority rebooking if delays occur
- TSA Pre-Check courier (expedited security)
- Enhanced insurance ($25,000 included)
- Priority customs clearance
- Dedicated account manager
- Proactive communication (updates every 2 hours)
VIP OBC
White-Glove Hand-Carry
- Everything in Priority, plus:
- Executive courier (senior, experienced professional)
- First-class flights (priority boarding, faster deplaning)
- Airport lounge access (comfortable wait for connections)
- Private ground transport (luxury sedan vs rental car)
- White-glove handling (extra care for fragile/valuable items)
- Full insurance ($100,000+ available)
- VIP customs assistance (private clearance if available)
- Executive hotline 8 AM to 8 PM Pacific (direct access to operations director)
- Video proof of delivery (full documentation)
- Climate-controlled throughout (medical-grade if needed)
Service Level Comparison
| Feature | Standard | Priority | VIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dispatch Speed | 2-3 hours | 1 hour | 30 minutes |
| Flight Selection | Next available | Best routing | First-class priority |
| Insurance Included | $5K | $25K | $100K+ |
| Customs | Standard | Priority | VIP assistance |
| Updates | Daily | Every 2 hours | Hourly + on-demand |
| Ground Transport | Standard | Standard | Private luxury |
Most clients choose Priority OBC - it offers the best balance of speed, security, and value.
Weight & Size Specifications
OBC service is limited by airline baggage policies, as our couriers travel as passengers and check your shipment as personal baggage. Understanding these limits helps determine if OBC is the right solution for your shipment.
Carry-On Baggage
Preferred for Speed & Security
- Never leaves courier's sight
- No baggage claim wait time
- Faster customs (nothing checked)
- Zero risk of lost baggage
- Immediate delivery upon landing
- • Documents and contracts
- • Prototypes and samples
- • Electronics (phones, laptops, small equipment)
- • Medical specimens (up to 20 lbs with proper packaging)
- • Small parts (under 20 lbs)
- • High-value jewelry or collectibles
Checked Baggage
For Larger Shipments
- Larger capacity than carry-on
- Can transport bulkier items
- Multiple bags (140+ lbs total)
- Still faster than cargo (personal baggage)
- Must wait at baggage claim (15-30 min delay)
- Out of courier's sight during flight
- Small risk of baggage loss (0.1% vs 0% for carry-on)
- Baggage fees apply ($30-$100 per bag)
- • Equipment (50-150 lbs)
- • Multiple small items (distributed across 2-3 bags)
- • Parts and components (30-70 lbs each)
- • Textiles and apparel (bulk but light)
- • Food samples (50+ lbs with ice packs)
Oversized or Overweight Shipments
Multiple Couriers
Send 2-3 couriers on same flight, each carrying up to 150 lbs
Courier + Extra Seat
Purchase extra seat for oversized item strapped into passenger seat
Restricted & Prohibited Items
Always Allowed
- Documents and papers
- Electronics (phones, laptops, tablets)
- Clothing and textiles
- Small parts and components
- Medical devices (non-hazardous)
- Food and beverages (within reason)
- Artwork and collectibles
Cannot Be Carried
- Explosives, fireworks, flammable liquids
- Compressed gases (except medical oxygen with approval)
- Weapons (firearms, knives, etc.)
- Illegal drugs or substances
- Hazardous materials (acids, corrosives)
- Lithium batteries over 100Wh (without approval)
What We Run Out of Valencia
Alvy runs one warehouse — 53,000 square feet in Valencia, California — and your inventory sits in it, racked or floor-stacked, handled by our own team. Nothing is scattered across a network of subcontracted sites you will never see. For shippers moving high-value goods, that is the whole argument: one building you can walk, one team you can hold accountable, and no third party in the middle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about On-Board Courier service
Still have questions?
Call Us 8 AM–8 PM PT: (661) 344-8766Related Courier Services
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Strategic California Coverage
Our Valencia, California facility sits on the I-5 corridor just north of Los Angeles, putting us within reach of the state's major ports, airports, and freight lanes. From there we route shipments across California and out to the rest of the country.