I'll be moving back to the US. I don't have too much stuff and won't need to get a container. What's the best way to mail boxes cheaply? When I moved to Switzerland I mailed everything book rate by ship. It took a few months but was really cheap. Is there any equivalent here?

drag it to Kloten airport and have Lufthansa cargo ship it to their cargo office that's closest to your destination the U.S.

downside - involves schlepping and DYI dealings with customs offices

upside - saves a ton of money

I'm in a similar situation.
I couldn't find contact details for Lufthansa Cargo online (at least not for Zurich). Are they the same as Swiss Cargo? (this I did find, and I know Lufthansa bought out Swiss airlines... but I don't follow that stuff in enough detail to know what the deal is with the cargo arms).
Thanks,
Michael

My hubby works in American Airline Cargo,Zurich. PM if you need contact numbers. or at least he can give you some advices about Swiss or Lufthansa Cargo,as he worked before. I hope I can help something.

i am currently hosting a swiss exchange student who will be returning home on 7/21/09 with much more than she came with. is there a way to ship her items cargo with an airlines to Zurich. her father works for an airline in Zurich so it would be no problem for him pick up boxes if i can get them there cheaply.

you have a few options but one of the simplest (if it's a few suitcases) is having them sent as unaccompanied baggage...speak to the airline that she is flying home with...

Does anyone know of a cargo airline that delivers to the Lugano airport? If so, I imagine goods would have to be tranferred by hand in Zurich, costing extra $$$. We're coming from Toronto.

Similar problem here - I need to move around 35-40Kgs of stuff from London To Zurich (basically, my Denon Amp & a set of B&W speakers w/o the Sub). What is the best option available??

Seafreight out of Switzerland for cargo of less than 500 kilos is more expensive than AIRfreight. If the cargo is less than 150 kilos I suggest you pack things into 20 kilos boxes and send it by "Economy Mail" with the Post Office. If it is more, than you best contact a US forwarder like CEVA Logistics (CEVA Freight Schweiz GmbH), Oberfeldstr. 12-d, 8302 Kloten
Tel 043 255 4000 --- Mr Pedro Baumgartner or Mr Rüegg, the mgr). If contacting CEVA, just mention that Ernst Sommer of BUCHairCARGO recommended them and might love a nice bottle of wine ! Well, we co-operate with them for shipments between Miami and Zurich and they are good !

Suggest you contact CEVA Logistics or BAX Global and get quotations. Both have offices in ZRH and so are ideal for that purpose

Swiss (Swiss International Airlines) is a 100 % subsidiary of Lufthansa. Swiss World Cargo is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo (part of LH). I suggest you do not use either as their cargo rates are relatively high.
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I think you are talking about a dispatch to the USA, and so I might recommend you to contact Mr Pedro Baumgartner or Mr Rüegg at CEVA Logistics, Tel 043 255 4000, Oberfeldstr. 12-d, 8302 Kloten, who can make a far better deal for you. Just mention that you got their details from Ernst Sommer at BUCHairCARGO, and they will do something favourable !

If less than 50 kilos, pack everything into boxes of 10 kilos and use Royal Mail. It may at first look more expensive than other options but it basically is free domicile. An import handling in Switzerland would total up to at least CHF 100.--, just to give an idea, and most forwarders (truck or air) would only quote "free arrival ....." .

Would be nice to get a name and phone number of your hubby at AA in ZRH. Thanks!

I wouldn't hold my hope up to high for an answer. This thread was last active in August 2009 and that poster has not been active since Jan 2009.