After an AliExpress package leaves the sorting center of origin, it’s taken directly to the airport.
Sometimes, it takes longer before it’s loaded into a plane. If several hours or a day passes without getting loaded, AliExpress uses the words “Your Package Arrived at airport. Awaiting transit.”
What Does “Your Package Arrived At Airport. Awaiting Transit” Mean On AliExpress?
This AliExpress tracking status means that an item has arrived at an airport after getting sorted from the center of origin, but it will take some time there for export customs clearance.
If, after customs clearance, there is no available flight to proceed to the destination country, you will see the tracking page showing “Awaiting Flight” which we tackled in detail.
Reasons Why My Package Is Stuck On “Your Package Arrived At Airport. Awaiting Transit”
The Export Customs Clearance Office Is Backed Up
The first thing that happens after AliExpress items land at the airport is export customs clearance.
Sometimes, though, the clearance doesn’t happen as fast due to overwhelmed staff, especially during the peak times such as around Black Friday sale, Christmas Day, New Year, and the Chinese New Year holiday.
Depending on how far your package is in the clearance queue, several hours or days might pass before you see any update.
The Tracking Page Didn’t Update As Required
AliExpress users are aware that the tracking system isn’t the most sophisticated, and as such, you can sometimes fail to get real-time updates whenever your item moves.
While your parcel might be stuck on this update, it could be that it’s an issue to do with a clumsy system and your item is actually in your country.
What Should I Do If My Package Is Stuck On This Tracking Status For Long?
Track The Package Again
Free third-party websites and apps such as Parcelsapp or 17track offer more detailed and real-time updates than the default Cainiao tracking.
We recommend that you begin by using such sites to know the real situation surrounding the delay. You would be surprised to find that your item has already reached the airport in your country.
Contact The Seller
Since the seller is contracted to AliExpress and not you, it’s always great to raise your issue with them to escalate it with Ali.
Once the other apps confirm that your item is indeed in an airport in China, we recommend you let the seller know at their earliest convenience, especially if it’s past the delivery date they had mentioned before placing your order.
Open A Dispute
If working in tandem with the seller didn’t yield any fruit for whatever reason, you can also consider asking for a refund if it’s applicable.
This is especially appropriate after it has taken more than 60 days after placing your order and the item didn’t move past “Your package arrived at airport. Awaiting transit.”
If you check your order details and find that the system has confirmed delivery yet your item is still stuck, you can open a dispute using “Returns/Refunds” for non-delivery.
That way, you will be reimbursed instead of waiting for a package that doesn’t come.
Depending on the value of the package, the seller can let you keep it if it shows up eventually, albeit later than you need it.