The required measures of the electronic manifest data transmission cause increased handling and system costs for air carriers. Lufthansa Cargo, like other carriers, has therefore been forced to pass on a share of these costs, and introduced a US Customs Fee.

LCAG introduced different fee levels, which distinguish between different transmission methods for the data.

1. Electronical data transmission using FHL2 messages via Traxon
All HAWB data that is sent to us using this method will be charged a fee of € 1,- (or equivalent in local currency) per HAWB. The total amount per Master has to be inserted on the Master Airwaybill, as Other Charges with the Charge Code "CG".

2. Manual provision with paper copies of the HAWBs
For HAWBs, which must be manually entered a fee of € 10,- (or equivalent in local currency) per HAWB applies. The total amount per Master has to be inserted on the Master Airwaybill, as Other Charges with the Charge Code "CC".

3. Direct data transmission to AMS by forwarder
If you as a forwarder are certified to transmit data directly to AMS, it is nevertheless necessary that LCAG also receives all necessary information in electronic form, as we must also transmit this information to AMS. However, LCAG recognizes this effort on behalf of the forwarder and does not apply the fee in these cases, as long as LCAG also receives the data electronically via FHL2 messages. If HAWB data has to be entered manually, LCAG will nevertheless charge EUR 10,- for these cases. An "AGT Code" needs to be marked on the Master AWB in the field "Handling Information" in order to be exempted from the fee. The wording should be: - "House Information transmitted by: (the ABI filer code or the FIRMS code)" or - "AGT: (the ABI filer code or the FIRMS code)" This wording indicates that the forwarder reports the house waybill details directly to Air AMS. The ABI filer code or the FIRMS code is a special confirmed code from US Customs/CBP.

4. No charges for freight which transits the US...
but has a final destination outside the US, will not be charged with this fee.

Here you can read in detail which documents must be disclosed with the shipment.