Returned to Shipper
The shipment has been sent back to the origin airport and returned to the custody of the original shipper, typically due to customs rejection, unpaid import duties, or refusal by the consignee.
What Does RET Mean in Air Cargo?
The status code RET (representing Returned to Shipper) is a standard milestone defined by the IATA Cargo Interchange Message Procedures (Cargo-IMP). It serves as a key check-in event scanned by airline personnel or cargo terminal operators. Tracking this event provides shippers and logistics providers with end-to-end visibility, ensuring that transit connections, cargo transfer, and customs clearance proceed in an orderly manner.
What to Do Next? (Consignee Advice)
Recommended Steps:
Inspect the returned goods at the origin cargo terminal, complete any return customs formalities, and resolve the documentation errors.
Carrier-Specific Naming Quirks
Although the IATA Cargo-IMP standard prescribes the status code RET, different global airlines and cargo handlers often display this milestone under customized labels. Here is how major carriers translate it:
FedEx Cargo refers to this as 'Return to Sender', Delta Cargo labels it 'Returned to Origin', and Qatar Airways shows 'Shipment Returned'.
Typical Next Status Milestone
In the standard lifecycle of an air freight shipment, once the cargo passes through the Returned to Shipper (RET) milestone, it is expected to transition into the following phase:
➡️ DLV (Delivered Back to Shipper)
Frequently Asked Questions
On your Air Waybill (AWB), the status code RET represents Returned to Shipper. This status notifies shippers and consignees that The shipment has been sent back to the origin airport and returned to the custody of the original shipper, typically due to customs rejection, unpaid import duties, or refusal by the consignee.
The time a shipment remains in RET depends on carrier schedules and transit phases. Typically, it transitions within 12 to 36 hours. If a shipment remains in this status for several days without updates, we recommend contacting your freight forwarder or broker for clarification.
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