In international air freight, 'rating up' is a billing method primarily applicable to the air freight rates of general cargo. Typically, air freight rates are divided into different classes based on the weight of the goods, such as M (Minimum Charge, minimum freight), N (Normal Rate, generally referring to prices for less than 45 kg), Q (Quantity Rate, applicable to goods over 45 kg), and Q can be further subdivided into +45, +100, +300, +500, +1000, etc., with lower rates for heavier weights.
When the actual weight of a shipment is close to the minimum weight of a higher weight class, and the freight calculated at the higher class rate is less than that calculated at the actual weight, 'rating up' can be used. This means calculating the freight according to the minimum weight and rate of the higher class, thus saving on freight costs. For example, if the actual chargeable weight of the goods is 98 kg, and the +100 class rate is 9 yuan/kg, while the +45 class rate is 10 yuan/kg, then the freight calculated at the +100 class rate for 100 kg and 9 yuan/kg (900 yuan) would be less than the freight calculated at the actual weight of 98 kg (980 yuan). Therefore, rating up can be applied, and only 900 yuan would need to be paid.
It should be noted that the use of rating up must meet two conditions: first, the freight calculated by rating up must indeed be lower than that calculated at the actual weight; second, the airline must allow rating up. Not all airlines accept rating up, so in practice, it is necessary to understand the specific regulations of the airline.
In addition, the concept of rating up may appear in different ways on the air waybill, such as Rate Class marked as S or C, which represents Specific special cargo and Specific Commodity Rate, respectively, no longer within the scope of general cargo discussion. In actual air freight operations, rating up cases may be very rare, but when applicable, rating up can save freight costs for customers.