Everything you need to know about hand-carry delivery services for urgent international shipments.
An On Board Courier (OBC) is a specialized logistics solution where a professional courier personally carries a shipment on a commercial flight as hand luggage or checked baggage, ensuring the fastest and most secure international delivery possible.
Unlike traditional courier or express services, an OBC travels with the shipment from origin to destination, maintaining full custody and control at all times.
An On Board Courier is responsible for:
This model eliminates multiple handoffs, warehouses, and delays common in standard logistics chains.
Companies rely on OBC services when time, value, or risk makes traditional shipping unacceptable.
Typical reasons include:
In these scenarios, speed and certainty outweigh cost.
Although often used interchangeably, these terms are not exactly the same. An OBC guarantees human custody end-to-end, which express couriers cannot.
Learn more about hand carrier logistics →You should consider an OBC when:
If a delay would cost more than the OBC service itself, OBC is the correct solution.
OBC services are commonly used in:
Each industry values OBC for different risk reasons, but the need for certainty is universal.
Yes. OBC services are legal when:
Professional OBC operations carefully evaluate country restrictions, airline policies, and customs rules before dispatch.
The cost of an OBC depends on:
Unlike express couriers, OBC pricing reflects human time, travel, and risk management, not just distance.
If you're evaluating whether an On Board Courier is the right solution, platforms like OnFlyGo help companies understand availability, risks, and timing before committing to a shipment.