Valuable cargo (special handling code VAL) is air freight with a declared value of US $1,000 or more per gross kilogram, which airlines carry under extra security: vault storage, escorts to and from the aircraft, tamper-evident packaging and no road feeder trucking.
Key takeaways
- Airlines treat cargo declared at US $1,000 or more per gross kilogram (UK: GBP 450) as valuable and use the special handling code VAL.
- The air waybill must show the words "Valuable Cargo" and accurate weight and piece dimensions, but never the actual value of the goods.
- Packaging must be tamper-evident and sealed, with no labels or marks that hint at the contents.
- Airlines vault VAL, escort it from and to the aircraft, keep it off road feeder services and refuse to mix it into a shared ULD.
- Vulnerable cargo such as phones and fashion is theft-prone but is not VAL; ask your carrier which category it applies.
What is valuable cargo (VAL) in air freight?
Valuable cargo is air freight whose declared value is high enough that the airline moves it under a secured chain from acceptance to delivery, flagged with the special handling code VAL.
The usual test is value per weight, not the type of goods. Finnair Cargo defines valuables as any precious or high-value item with a declared value for carriage of US $1,000 (or equivalent) or more per gross kilogram, or GBP 450 or more per gross kilogram in the United Kingdom. STAT Times quotes the same $1,000 per kilogram threshold and attributes it to IATA. Airlines publish their own acceptance rules, so treat these figures as a guide and confirm the exact threshold with the carrier you book.
Typical VAL shipments, according to STAT Times, include currency and banknotes, artwork, diamonds and gems, and silver and gold items. Air Cargo Week lists precious metals, jewellery, cash, works of art and sensitive documents. Items that are not valuable by weight, such as a small crate of watches, can still qualify when the declared value per kilogram clears the line.
How is VAL different from vulnerable and general cargo?
VAL gets the highest security tier; vulnerable cargo is theft-prone but cheaper to move; general cargo gets standard secure storage.
| Category | What it covers | Typical handling |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo | Ordinary freight with no special requirements | Secure areas, video surveillance |
| Vulnerable cargo | Goods attractive to thieves but not valuable by definition, such as electronics, mobile phones and branded fashion | Carrier-specific extra care; no VAL code |
| Valuable cargo (VAL) | Declared value at or above the airline's threshold, such as US $1,000 per gross kg | Vault storage, escorts, restricted routing and ULD rules |
The distinction comes from Air Cargo Week, which describes vulnerable cargo as goods prone to theft or damage but not classified as valuable. STAT Times, writing in 2014, contrasted general cargo, which needs storage in secure areas with video surveillance, with valuables, which need a higher level of security. If you are not sure where your goods fall, ask the carrier or your forwarder before you book, because the category decides which products and routings you can use.
What security measures do airlines apply to VAL?
Airlines store VAL in a vault or similar enclosure, escort it to and from the aircraft, and keep it confidential and on the routing you booked.
Finnair Cargo lists vault storage, escort service from and to the aircraft, travel as booked and confirmed, and confidentiality as service features. Other airlines describe similar packages. STAT Times reported that Air France KLM cited vault storage, specially trained security personnel, guarded ramp transport, secured vehicles, pre-alerting and proactive monitoring for its valuables product, while Swiss WorldCargo said its product goes beyond IATA's security standards and set a 99.5% flown-as-booked target. Cargolux, in the 2019 STAT Times piece, described lockable storage rooms, temperature control and individual loading supervision on its nose-door 747 freighters, and Emirates SkyCargo described a dedicated SafeVAL handling solution.
These products are carrier-specific marketing names for the same idea: fewer hands, fewer places the cargo can sit unobserved, and a short time on the ground. Finnair's guidance asks shippers and consignees to arrange acceptance and delivery in advance to minimize storage and holding times at both ends.
How must you pack, label and document a VAL shipment?
Pack it so any opening is obvious, mark nothing about the contents, and show "Valuable Cargo" and VAL on the paperwork without stating the value.
- Tamper-evident packaging. Finnair's rules say packages must be packed so it is immediately apparent when the outside wrapping is broken, and the shipper is responsible for tamper-evident packaging and adequate seals.
- No transparent or flimsy wrapping. Inadequately packed or damaged shipments are not accepted, for example transparent plastic that reveals the contents or poor-quality wrapping.
- No hints on the outside. Packages must not bear labels or marks calling attention to the nature of the contents.
- Accurate weights and dimensions. Each package is check-weighed at acceptance and checked against the documents, so declared weights must be right.
- The VAL code and the words "Valuable Cargo". VAL is used in all information about the shipment, and the air waybill shows the words "Valuable Cargo", without the actual value of the goods. Our guide to the air waybill explains the other entries, and you can follow the shipment afterward with AWB tracking.
Declare the true value for customs and insurance purposes through the proper channels; the air waybill is not the place to put it on this product.
What limits does VAL put on routing and loading?
VAL does not travel on road feeder services, cannot share a ULD with other freight, and may face piece-weight and booking-time limits.
Under Finnair's rules, valuable cargo is not carried on road feeder services and is not accepted in a consolidated shipment loaded in a ULD unless the entire shipment is valuable cargo. The airline also applies a 50 kg per piece limit for VAL, bigger shipments on request, requires booking at least 24 hours before departure, and accepts VAL on certified routings only. Other carriers set different limits, which is the main reason to ask early. Our guide to ULDs and air cargo pallets explains why consolidation rules matter for how freight is loaded.
Because the rate is based on weight and volume, price the shipment on the same basis as any other freight. The air freight cost calculator converts dimensions and gross weight into chargeable weight, and the carrier then adds the secure-handling charges that apply to its VAL product.
How should you prepare to ship valuable cargo?
Confirm the airline's definition and limits first, then pack, document and schedule the handover to keep time on the ground short.
- Ask for the carrier's VAL conditions in writing: threshold, piece-weight limit, routing and booking deadline.
- Use a known, vetted route. Prefer direct or few-transfer routings; each transfer is another handover.
- Plan the first and last mile. The airline's chain begins at acceptance and ends at delivery, so arrange secure pick-up, drop-off and a named consignee ready to collect.
- Keep the circle small. Share the details only with those who need them; confidentiality is part of the product.
- Insure it. Carrier liability is capped, so ask the carrier what it covers and arrange cargo insurance for the full value.
The risk is real. STAT Times recalls the 1978 Lufthansa heist at New York's JFK airport, described as the largest cash robbery in US history at the time, as a reminder of why the industry built these procedures.
Jumbo Air Cargo lists JumboSecure for high-value goods; for any specific shipment, start by asking for the conditions that apply to your goods and route.
Frequently asked questions
What does VAL mean in air cargo?
VAL is the special handling code for valuable cargo. It tells every handler in the chain that the shipment needs a secured transport chain from acceptance to delivery.
What is the value threshold for valuable cargo?
Finnair Cargo defines valuable cargo as a declared value of US $1,000 (or equivalent) or more per gross kilogram, or GBP 450 or more per gross kilogram in the United Kingdom. STAT Times attributes the $1,000 per kilogram figure to IATA. Each airline publishes its own rules, so confirm with your carrier.
Should I write the value of the goods on the air waybill?
No. Finnair Cargo's rules say the actual value of the goods must not appear on the air waybill, which should instead show the words "Valuable Cargo" and accurate weights and dimensions.
Can valuable cargo be consolidated with other freight?
Not in the same unit load device (ULD), unless every shipment in it is valuable cargo, according to Finnair Cargo's acceptance rules.
Is VAL the same as vulnerable cargo?
No. Air Cargo Week describes vulnerable cargo as goods prone to theft or damage but not classified as valuable, such as electronics, mobile phones and branded fashion.
