Parcelforce to Norway

[luddite]

Can someone help please, 15kg parcel containing motorcycle parts packed into a hard plastic box and sent to Norway.
Parcel returned stickered up as 'surface mail only', 'will not fly' and 'dense'. I was told that PF will not deliver car parts (motorcycle) so I sent again and stated contents were machine tools, no oil, no sharp objects.
Parcel returned again with the same stickers.
Does 'dense' mean contents can't be scanned?
Is the plastic box the problem?
Is flying the problem and if so what service do I ask for if I want surface?
I phoned the PF helpline and asked all the above but was told to contact my local deliver office? When I asked what service was surface mail she put the phone down on me!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I will be frank you caused the problem.

Your parcel wasn’t rejected because it’s “motorcycle parts” — it was rejected because Parcelforce’s aviation security screening flagged it as too dense to X‑ray, and anything that cannot be cleared for air transport is automatically labelled “SURFACE MAIL ONLY / WILL NOT FLY”. That’s why it keeps bouncing back.

Let me break down each part clearly and practically.

1. What “dense” actually means

“Dense” is an aviation‑security term. It does not mean dangerous, illegal, or prohibited.

It means: 1. The X‑ray machine cannot see through the object 2. The contents appear as a solid black mass 3. Security staff cannot verify that it contains no prohibited items

Therefore it fails security screening for air transport. Motorcycle parts (especially metal gears, hubs, brake components, engine parts) are classic “dense” items. A hard plastic box can make this worse because 1.It creates a uniform block shape. 2. It prevents visual inspection. 3. It often contains internal ribs that scatter X‑rays

So yes — the density issue is real, and the box may be contributing.

2. Why does Parcelforce keep returning it
Parcelforce’s international services to Norway are airmail by default.

If an item: cannot be X‑rayed or cannot be visually inspected or cannot be cleared by security …it cannot legally go on an aircraft.

When that happens, Parcelforce does not automatically reroute it to surface transport. They simply return it to sender with the stickers you saw.

This is standard behaviour.

3. “PF will not deliver car parts” — is that true? No. Parcelforce does carry car/motorcycle parts as long as they pass security screening.

The issue is not the category of item — it’s the screening failure.

4. Is flying the problem? Yes.
Your parcel is being rejected because it cannot fly. All Parcelforce services to Norway are air services, including:

Global Priority
Global Express
Global Value

None of these is "surface mail".

5. What service should you ask for if you want surface mail?

Royal Mail/Parcelforce no longer offer a true surface‑mail option for parcels to Europe.
Surface mail was withdrawn years ago for most destinations.

There is no Parcelforce surface service to Norway.

If it cannot fly, Parcelforce will not carry it at all.

6. So what can you actually do?
You have three realistic options:

Option A — Repack so it can be X‑rayed
This is the most reliable fix.

Use a cardboard box, not a hard plastic case

Wrap parts individually

Add padding so the X‑ray shows separate shapes, not one solid block

Avoid tightly packed metal-on-metal contact

This usually solves the “dense” problem.

Option B — Use a courier that offers road transport
Examples:

DPD Classic (road service to Europe)
UPS Standard (road)
GLS / EuroParcel
DHL Economy Select (road)

These do not require aviation screening.

Option C — Declare the contents accurately and Do not disguise the contents.

Security staff don’t care what you write — they care what the X‑ray shows.

Parcelforce’s own rules: engine parts are allowed as long as they contain no fuel, oil, or other hazardous residues. It also gives guidance on engine parts at https://www9.parcelforce.com/sites/parc ... 110825.pdf

[luddite]

Ok, prob go with Fed X
It would be good if the PF helpline was actually helpful
I explained all above to PO counters and they told me my parcel would be fine, that's £98 I won't see again