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KNOWN SHIPPERS
Per TSA Guidelines, airlines will not accept packages weighing in excess of 1 pound from unregistered shippers. This applies to ALL shippers. You must apply to be a known shipper for EACH airline.
Learn more about the Known Shipper Program at the bottom of this article
The following is a listing of known airline requirements for shipment of human remains and/or cremated remains. This list will be updated as NFDA learns of any changes however requirements/procedures may have changed since publication. NFDA recommends you check with airline on their procedures as well. If you learn of a change from this guide please contact NFDA at 800-228-6332 so the change can be made.
AER Lingus Cargo (EI)
PH: 800-223-7660
AMB Cargo Center - Area "D",
Bldg #75,
North Hanger Road,
JFK Intl. Airport,
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
AER Lingus Serves:
Aero Mexico (AM)
PH: 305-526-5870
Fax: 305-871-5157
Miami International Airport
Building 700
2261 NW 67th Ave
Miami, FL 33122
Requirements
AEROMEXICO Serves:
Air Canada Cargo (AC)
PH: 800-688-2274
Fax: 718-899-9128
Hanger 5B
LaGuardia International Airport
Flushing, NY 11371
Requirements
Air Canada Serves:
Air France (AF)
PH: 800-556-9000
Fax: 718-632-8209
JFK International Airport New York
Cargo Bldg 261
N. Boundary Road,
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Air France Serves:
Air Jamaica (JM)
PH: 718-917-6171
JFK International Airport
Cargo Building 87
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Air Jamaica Serves:
Air New Zealand (NZ)
PH: 800-421-5913
LA International Airport
5325 W. Imperial Hwy
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
Air New Zealand Serves:
Alaska Airlines Cargo (AS)
PH: 800-225-2752
PO Box 68900
Seattle, WA 98168
Requirements
Alaska Airlines Serves:
Alitalia Cargo (AZ)
PH: 800-221-4745
JFK International Airport
Cargo Building 79
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Alitalia Cargo Serves:
American Airlines Cargo (AA)
PH: 800-228-7878
Email: AATrustCargo@aa.com
Requirements
American Airlines Cargo Jim Wilson Service®
American Airlines is very serious about the care and sensitivity of transporting departed loved ones to their final resting place. Advance arrangements must be made prior to shipping Human Remains; therefore we have established the Jim Wilson DeskSM with product specialists to assist funeral homes and mortuaries with their worldwide shipping needs.
CALL 1-800-AA-TRUST.
American Provides:
Customer Service:
After Hours Release
Alitalia Cargo Serves:
British Airways (BA)
PH: 718-425-5063
Website: www.baworldcargo.com
British Airways World Cargo
Bldg 66
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
British Airways Serves:
British West Indian Airways (BW)
PH: 718-656-5355
Cargo Building 87
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
British West Indian Airways Serves:
China Airlines (CI)
PH: 800-421-1289
11201 Aviation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
China Airlines Serves:
Continental Airlines (CO)
PH: 877-878-7826
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
Requirements
Continental Airlines Serves:
CSA-Czech Airlines (OK)
PH: 718-656-9100
Hanger #9
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
CSA-Czech Airlines Serves:
Delta Airlines (DL)
PH: 800-352-2737
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, GA 30320
Requirements
Delta Airlines Serves:
El AL Israel Airlines
PH: 718-244-3191
15 East 26th St # 6,
New York, NY 10010
Requirements
EL AL Serves:
FINNAIR (AY)
PH: 718-917-6361
Cargo Building 151
East Hanger Road
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
FINNAIR Serves:
Iberia Airlines (IB)
PH: 800-221-6002
6065 N.W. 18th St
Cargo Bldg. 716 D
Miami International Airport
Miami, FL 33159
Requirements
Iberia Airlines Serves:
Japan Air Lines (JL)
PH: 718-656-9801
JFK International Airport
JAL Cargo Terminal Bldg 151
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Japan Airlines Serves:
KLM Cargo (KL)
PH: 800-556-9000
618 S. Access Rd.
Chicago, IL 60666
Requirements
KLM Serves:
Korean Air (KE)
PH: 310-417-5200
6101 Western Imperial Highway
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
Korean Air Serves:
LAN-Chile (LA)
PH: 800-735-2445
6740 N.W. 22nd Bldg. 707
PO Box 520846
Miami, FL 33152
Requirements
LAN-Chile Serves:
Lot Polish Airlines Cargo
PH: 718-656-2674
Fax: 718-656-6063
Cargo Building 21 B
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Lufthansa Cargo (LH)
PH: 800-542-2746
Fax: 718-289-7238
3400 Peachtree Rd NE
Lenox Towers Ste 1225
Atlanta, GA 30326
Requirements
Lufthansa Cargo Serves:
Mexicana Airlines (MX)
PH: 310-215-5058
5795 W. Imperial Hwy.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
Mexicana Airlines Serves:
Olympic Airlines (OA)
PH: 718-656-5565
JFK International Airport
Cargo Building 151
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Olympic Airlines Serves:
Pakistan International Airlines (PK)
PH: 718-656-4040
Cargo Building 77
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Pakistan International Airlines Serves:
Philippine Airlines Cargo (PR)
PH: 650-877-4830
16 McDonnell Rd SFIA
San Francisco, CA 94128
Requirements
Philippine Airlines Serves:
Qantas Airways Limited (QF)
PH: 800-227-0290
6555 W. Imperial Hwy.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
Qantas Airways Serves:
Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ)
PH: 800-221-0746
Cargo Building 67
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Royal Jordanian Airlines Serves:
Scandinavian Airlines (SK)
PH: 800-742-0727
SAS Cargo
Building 340
Airis Drive
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark, NJ 07114
Requirements
Scandinavian Airlines Serves:
Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ)
PH: 310-646-6200
6181 W Imperial Hwy
Los Angeles, CA 90045-6305
Requirements
Singapore Airlines Cargo Serves:
Swiss World Cargo (LX)
PH: 800-221-4740
776 R & R Plaza 7th Floor
dale, NY 11556
Requirements
Swiss World Cargo Serves:
Thai Airways International (TG)
PH: 800-426-8678
Fax: 310-670-1057
6501 W. Imperial Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Requirements
Thai Airways Serves:
United Airlines (UA)
PH: 800-468-1800
Web: http://www.unitedcargo.com/services/SpecHuman.jsp
United Airlines Cargo
P.O. Box 66100
Chicago, IL 60666-0100
Requirements
United Airlines Serves:
US Airways (US)
PH: 800-852-3333
Web: http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/cargo/default.html?re=1#
US Airways
400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85834
Requirements
US Airways Serves:
Varig Brazilian Airlines (RG)
PH: 800-221-4748
Cargo Building 21 B Cargo Area B
JFK International Airport
Jamaica, NY 11430
Requirements
Singapore Airlines Cargo Serves:
Known Shipper Information
Background on the "known shipper" policy
The TSA's "known shipper" policy is not new; Congress just recently mandated TSA and the airlines to strictly enforce it.
TSA originally developed the "known shipper" policy in 2004 as a way to "impose significant barriers to terrorists seeking to use the air cargo transportation system for malicious purposes." As this policy was being developed five years ago, NFDA Advocacy Division staff met with TSA representatives to discuss the potential security threat presented by the shipment of human remains by air. NFDA staff outlined the typical procedures and chain of custody involved in preparing human remains for air shipment. At that time, TSA agreed that the "known" status of the funeral homes that ship by air, the limited access to the preparation room and the transportation procedures used created a minimal security risk.
Congress and TSA have revised their assessment, however, and have identified the shipment of human remains as a potentially serious security risk requiring stricter security measures.
Compliance with the "known shipper" policy
Funeral homes will be required to register as a "known shipper" with each airline they use to ship bodies; the application process might include an inspection and payment of an inspection fee. While registering with multiple airlines can create an administrative burden on funeral homes, TSA and the airlines have told NFDA that it must be done.
Each airline has their own procedures for both the application and inspection process and may charge a nominal fee to cover their costs.
According to TSA and the airlines, no inspection will be necessary if the applicant is already in the TSA "known shipper" database; however, even if a funeral home is a "known shipper," owners might still be required to submit an application with each airline the firm uses. Most C corporations are in the TSA database, making the application process relatively simple; other funeral homes that are not C corporations may also be in the TSA database.
If a funeral home is not in the TSA database, the airline might be required to conduct an inspection to ensure the legitimacy of the business.
NFDA will continue to work with TSA and the airlines to refine the process to reduce the potential compliance costs and administration burdens for its members.
Becoming a "known shipper"
If a funeral home owner wishes to become a "known shipper," TSA officials tell NFDA they must contact each air cargo carrier directly to begin the application process. Below is information NFDA has collected from the major airlines to help funeral home owners establish their firms as a "known shipper," or, at the least, inquire about each airline's process.
Alaska Airlines
Call 800-225-2752 or visit the Alaska Airlines Website
American Airlines
Call 800-227-4622. You may also visit www.aacargo.com; select "Getting Started with AA Cargo" (right-hand side of page). Follow the instructions under "Step 1 - Set Up Your Shipping Account" to complete a Precise Account Locator (PAL) application. They have also prepared an online resource to help you navigate the changes ahead. For more information, please visit www.aacargo.com/shipping/humanremains.jhtml.
Continental
In order for a funeral home to become a known shipper, an application must be completed and a site inspection conducted. If you are already a known shipper with another airline, you may not need a site inspection; however, Continental will still need an application. A blank application can be found on the Continental Website (Click on the "Book" tab, and then "Establish an Account"). Funeral directors may also call 877-878-7826 for more information.
Delta
Call 1-800-DL-CARES (1-800-352-2737) or visit the Delta Website
Frontier Airlines
Call 800-394-2158 or visit the Frontier Airlines Website
JetBlue
Call 954-385-3409 or toll-free 866-287-2583.
Northwest
Call 800-441-1122 or visit the Northwest Website
United
Call 800-468-1800.
US Airways
Call 888-300-0099 or visit the US Airways Website (download the appropriate form in the "Known Shipper Validation" section)
TSA Information & Resources
If you have any questions about complying with the TSA "known shipper" policy, please contact your personal Member Services Representative at 800-228-6332.
TSA Known Shipper Regs: Compliance Services
Recently, several NFDA members have reported receiving calls from companies offering a "one-stop known shipper compliance service." This service is provided at a cost to the funeral home and includes sending an inspector out to complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) site inspection, and filing all the necessary paperwork with all airlines. While this is an option for funeral homes that wish to use it, please note that you might be charged airline inspection fees in addition to the fee charged by the compliance service; also, these service providers do not guarantee quicker service.
Please be aware that if you already have a known shipper number with a particular airline, you do not need to have a site visit from that same airline. The decision to require a site visit is made by the individual airlines. Not all airlines require a site visit; each airline has its own procedures for both the application and inspection process and might charge a nominal fee to cover their costs. For example, American Airlines first checks the TSA database to see if a funeral home is listed. If the funeral home is in the TSA database, American Airlines does not require a site visit. However, other airlines, such as United Airlines, require a site visit prior to checking the TSA database.
It should be noted that per TSA requirements, having a known shipper number with one airline does not transfer to any other airline. Therefore, NFDA members are encouraged to apply for a known shipper number with ALL airline carriers they use prior to the TSA known shipper compliance deadline of August 1. For information about the known shipper regulations, visit NFDA's Website at http://www.nfda.org/tsainfo or call your personal NFDA member services representative at 800-228-6332.