SJU Shipping Guidelines
Cargo Customers shipping to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) should be aware of a number of helpful tips and guidelines. Any shipment transported between the United States and Puerto Rico must be accompanied by the proper documents required by the Government of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The shipment consignee is responsible for the payment of any applicable taxes to the Puerto Rican government.
Required Documentation
Universal Air Waybill
Southwest Airlines requires that air cargo shipments to San Juan (SJU) be tendered on a Universal Air Waybill (compliant with IATA Resolution 600b) or a Southwest Airlines Universal Air Waybill (form WN-1062). Southwest Airlines Universal Air Waybills are available from your local Southwest Airlines Cargo facility, or contact your Southwest Airlines Cargo Area Manager (see www.swacargo.com for contact information). Domestic Southwest Airlines Air Waybills are not acceptable for shipments to SJU. Universal Air Waybills must be typed or computer generated; they cannot be prepared by hand. Pre-printed air waybills for SJU shipments are not available.
Commercial Invoice
Shipments to Puerto Rico are subject to Puerto Rican Sales and Use Tax based on the value of the goods. Non-commercial goods imported into Puerto Rico may substitute a pro forma invoice for the required Commercial invoice. The US Census Bureau and the Department de Hacienda both use this information for statistical purposes.
Shippers Export Declaration (SED)/ Electronic Export Information (EEI)
The US Census Bureau requires Shippers to file an electronic SED for any shipments that are valued greater than $2,500 USD (for a single commodity) through the Automated Export System (AES). This electronic Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) or Electronic Export Information message (EEI) must be on file in the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System (AES) prior to export from the United States. Once accepted in AES, an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) will be assigned to the shipment, and this number must be noted on the tendered air waybill. . If the shipment is considered Low Value, the shipper must cite the appropriate Foreign Trade Regulation exemption on the Universal Air Waybill, e.g. ‘No EEI 30.37(a)’ for the exemption being claimed.
For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Commerce—Bureau of the Census—for SED information and exemptions at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/regulations/forms/qna.html or http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/regulations/forms/.
Shipment Tender Times
While we are proud to have some of the shortest cut off and recovery times in the industry. International shipments are more complex than domestic shipments and require additional time to process the air waybill and required documentation. Shipments should arrive with sufficient lead-time to complete all steps of the tender process to be accepted before the cut off time of the desired flight. "Time of acceptance" is the point in time when shipments have completed all the steps of the tender process as detailed below. The time of acceptance is used to determine whether shipments have met the "cut off time".
All steps of the tender process must be completed before the time of acceptance, including but not limited to the following:
Inspection of shipment:
a) Packaging is in good condition
b) Each piece is accurately marked and labeled
Inspection of documentation:
a) Air waybill is completed correctly
b) Air waybill and other necessary documentation (SED/EEI – Commercial Invoice) is complete
c) Air waybill matches commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions of the shipment tendered
Verification of security:
a) Determination of shipper's security status
b) Acceptance per TSA-mandated process for status type
c) Inspection and screening of shipment contents as required
d) Sign-off and execution of air waybill
Minimum Connect Times
Shipments bound for San Juan, P.R. require a minimum 3 hour connection time at the last point of departure from the Continental US in order to complete US Customs manifesting. Shipments arriving in the United States from San Juan do not require additional connection time.
Shipments subject to Inspection upon arrival in San Juan
Cargo which contains plants and plant products (e.g., trees, shrubs, vines, vegetables, cereals, leaves, stems, branches, roots, fruits, flowers, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, buds, grafts, and seeds cultivated, maintained, or capable of propagation, distribution or sale) is subject to inspection by the Puerto Rican Department of Agriculture before it can be released to the consignee. The Consignee is responsible for arranging for the inspection of these articles.
For further information, please refer to this link http://nationalplantboard.org/docs/summaries/puerto_rico.pdf.
Cargo which contains live animals (e.g. turtles, snakes, insects, aquatic animals, live seafood, mammals, etc.) is subject to inspection by the Puerto Rican Department of Agriculture before it can be released to the consignee. The Consignee is responsible for arranging for the inspection of these articles.
For further information, please refer to this link http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/downloads/pr.html.
Shipments Subject to Inspection prior to departing SJU
Air cargo leaving Puerto Rico for the United States is subject to inspection prior to departure. Cargo which contains plants and plant products (e.g., trees, shrubs, vines, vegetables, cereals, leaves, stems, branches, roots, fruits, flowers, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, buds, grafts, and seeds cultivated, maintained, or capable of propagation, distribution or sale) is subject to inspection by the U. S. Departure of Agriculture. Shipper must receive a stamped approval on the outbound air waybill before tending cargo to Southwest Airlines. For further information, please refer to this link http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/content/wp_c_puerto_rico.shtml.
Charges
Accessorial Charges
Southwest Airlines Cargo has selected Ground Motive Dependable Airline Services (GMD) as our Cargo Handler in SJU. GMD Airline Services publishes the following accessorial charges:
Storage Charges
GMD will assess a Storage Fee of $0.03 per pound with a minimum of $15 for shipments not recovered within 24 hours of Customer notification of shipment arrival. Saturday, Sundays and/or legal holidays are considered free periods. The 24 hour free storage period does not commence on multi-lot shipments until the shipment is complete at GMD and the Consignee is notified.
Cooler Storage Charges
GMD will assess a Cooler Storage Fee of $0.06 per pound with a $60 minimum per day when requested. Refrigerated storage space is subject to availability.
Charges Collect Fee
GMD will assess a Charges Collect Fee of $6 per air waybill for any SJU destination shipment for which freight charges are not prepaid.
Import Service Fee
GMD will assess an Import Service Fee of $20 for each SJU destination international Master Air Waybill. Import Service Fees are not levied against House Air Waybills.
GMD Airline Services accepts Debit Cards, Visa, Master Card, American Express, cash, money orders and/or Manager's or Certified checks for these charges, which are paid by the Consignee in SJU. For additional information, please contact GMD Airline Services at (787) 791-5838.