Shipping accessories via air offers unmatched speed—but also exposes your goods to theft, damage, and loss risks. Whether it’s a carton of rhinestone-studded headbands or 5,000 branded scarves, one unexpected delay or breakage could erode your margins.
Air cargo insurance gives accessory exporters financial protection and peace of mind by covering a range of risks during air transit—ensuring your goods and business stay safe.
Let’s explore the best coverage types, reliable providers, pricing insights, and claim handling processes so you can ship confidently, no matter your accessory's value or fragility.
What Types of Air Cargo Insurance Are Available?
Not all insurance is equal. Choosing the right one depends on your product value, risk tolerance, and shipping destination.
The most common air cargo insurance types include all-risk, named perils, and declared value coverage—each offering different levels of protection and flexibility.
What’s covered by all-risk insurance?
All-risk coverage protects against most external events except listed exclusions. It’s best for:
- Fragile accessories like glass-bead headpieces
- Valuable goods like branded leather gloves
- Moisture-sensitive scarves or velvet
It covers theft, rough handling, water damage, and pilferage. More details are available on Freightos’ air cargo insurance guide.
What’s named perils insurance?
Named perils only covers events specified in the policy—e.g., fire, crash, natural disasters. While cheaper, it offers less protection. Trade Finance Global explains the differences clearly.
Is declared value protection real insurance?
No. Declared value (offered by couriers like FedEx or DHL) limits liability based on weight and value declared. It's not legally binding insurance and may not fully cover losses. See FedEx's terms for limitations.
Who Offers Air Cargo Insurance for Accessories?
You can get air cargo insurance from freight forwarders, third-party underwriters, or directly through global insurers.
Top insurance providers for accessory shipments include Chubb, Allianz, Freightos, and regional brokers that understand small B2B needs and high-value items.
What global insurers are trusted for accessories?
- Chubb Cargo Insurance — Excellent claim support
- Allianz Global — Popular with luxury brands
- Falvey Cargo Underwriting — Fashion industry-focused
- Freightos — Easy for small shippers
We often help clients integrate these services into their DDP booking workflows for full customs and loss protection.
Can your forwarder arrange insurance?
Yes. We, at AceAccessory, often bundle insurance with air shipping. We work with agents like Flexport or CIF Insurance to give real-time quotes and online policy issuance.
How Much Does Air Cargo Insurance Typically Cost?
Many importers skip insurance thinking it’s too costly. But the reality is, it’s relatively cheap compared to the value it protects.
Air cargo insurance usually costs between 0.3% and 0.7% of the shipment’s total insured value—including a small buffer over invoice cost.
What’s the cost formula?
A typical formula used is:
(Invoice + Freight + 10%) × Insurance Rate
For example:
- Invoice: $12,000
- Freight: $800
- Buffer: $1,280
- Total: $14,080 × 0.005 = $70.40 premium
Quick quotes can be generated via Freightos Insurance Calculator or platforms like Roanoke Trade.
What raises your insurance rate?
- Shipping to theft-prone areas (e.g., South America)
- Fragile or luxury items (e.g., rhinestone accessories)
- Loose or non-palletized packing
- No previous shipping record or high claim ratio
In such cases, we advise all-risk coverage with photo-documented packing to mitigate rates and maximize approval.
What’s the Process If You Need to File a Claim?
Insurance only helps if your claim is approved—and fast. Many shippers fail to claim successfully due to incomplete or delayed documentation.
To file a successful claim, you need fast damage reporting, full shipment documentation, and visual proof. We assist clients at every step.
What do you need to submit?
- Commercial invoice
- Air waybill and freight bill
- Photos of packaging + damaged items
- Insurance certificate
- Signed claim form
- Inspection report (for claims >$5,000)
Some insurers (e.g., Lloyd's of London) may require surveyor documentation depending on the accessory type and location.
How does AceAccessory help?
We maintain a digital record of:
- Packing photos at dispatch
- Box count and scan logs
- Barcode tags
- Batch QA reports
We also submit the first notice to the insurer within 24 hours on your behalf, reducing average resolution time to 10–15 working days for valid claims.
Conclusion
Air cargo insurance might feel optional—but for growing accessory brands, it's a critical safeguard. A single missing or damaged carton could disrupt a season’s launch or harm retail relationships.
By choosing the right provider, calculating fair premiums, and preparing your documents well, you’ll protect your profits while shipping fast. At AceAccessory, we help clients build insured shipping plans that align with their volume, value, and risk profile.
