How air-cargo charges are actually filed — the M-minimum floor, weight-break Q rates, and commodity-specific classes.
The Air Cargo Tariff (TACT) is IATA’s rulebook and rate directory for scheduled airlines. General Cargo Rates (GCR) fall into two classes, N (normal, under 45 kg chargeable) and Q (quantity, at each weight break). Everything else — commodity-specific reductions, surcharges, or ULD rates — comes from filed exceptions.
Charges = chargeable weight × applicable rate, but only if that product is at or above the M minimum charge. If not, you pay the M.
Enter a chargeable weight — we’ll flag the general-cargo class you fall into.
Minimum charge
Carrier's floor per airway bill. Applies when chargeable weight × applicable rate is less than the filed minimum. Publicly available in TACT Rules per station pair.
Normal general cargo rate
Baseline GCR up to (but not including) 45 kg chargeable. Any shipment lighter than the first weight break is priced at N unless a commodity rate is filed.
Quantity general cargo rate
Weight-break discounts on the GCR. Each break (45, 100, 300, 500, 1000 kg) publishes its own rate — typically 15–35 % below the level above it.
Class rate — reduction
Percentage reduction from the GCR filed for a defined commodity group (newspapers, unaccompanied baggage). Cheaper than N/Q, but only that commodity qualifies.
Class rate — surcharge
Percentage surcharge over the GCR for handling-sensitive commodities (valuables, human remains, live animals). Rating varies by carrier and commodity.
Specific commodity rate
A discrete filed rate for one commodity between two named airports. Overrides both GCR and class rates when the shipment matches the commodity item number.
Unit-load-device pivot rate
Flat rate up to a “pivot weight” per ULD type. Weight above pivot rates at the over-pivot rate, per kg. Used when the whole ULD is booked as one unit.
Class rates (carrier-filed)
Carrier-published class rates for shipments inside ULDs — a discount off the GCR when the shipper self-loads a container. Rating varies by carrier.
Typical IATA weight-break steps and the discount each break usually earns from the level above. Actual rates are filed per airline and route.
| Break | Typical rate vs. next-lower break | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| N — under 45 kg | 100 % | Baseline general-cargo rate |
| Q 45 kg | 70 – 85 % | First quantity discount |
| Q 100 kg | 55 – 75 % | Common on air-express |
| Q 300 kg | 45 – 65 % | Palletised or ULD-scale shipments |
| Q 500 kg | 40 – 60 % | Full ULD-equivalent |
| Q 1000 kg | 35 – 55 % | Bulk / block-space arrangements |
Breaks are additive — an 800 kg shipment moves at the 500 kg break, not the 300, because 500 × Q500-rate is lower than 800 × Q300-rate. TACT calls this a “chargeable weight up-rating” — always compute both.