When it comes to shipping, storing and installing high-end furnishings and priceless art, there can be no room for error. Perhaps no company takes this responsibility more seriously than AirSea Packing—a white-glove logistical firm with offices in 16 cities across the US and Europe, including Los Angeles, New York, London, Dallas, Miami and Paris. “What sets us apart is the people who work for us, as well as our global reach,” says LA General Manager Ben Flashman. “It’s our combination of experience, expertise, innovation, personal touch and collaborative approach that has made us a staple among discerning clients around the world.” And with weekly air-ride shuttles between major cities and expert handling from pickup to delivery, AirSea Packing ensures that every detail is managed with the ultimate precision and care. Here, we checked in with Flashman to learn more. airseapacking.com
How would you describe AirSea Packing?
We’re a one-stop shop for high-end logistics. We specialize in the transportation, installation and storage of high-value items—from fine art to antiques to designer furniture. Here in LA, we serve a diverse group of clients: private collectors, auction houses, homeowners, interior designers and global luxury brands. Whether it’s installing a new window display on Rodeo Drive, warehousing for a gallery exhibition or coordinating a complete installation for a new home, we can do it all.
How do you specifically service private residences?
We recognize that households these days are run like businesses. Working with house managers, financial advisors and personal assistants, we can help to organize complicated logistics into a clear and concise plan. For example, a client might be planning a renovation project at their LA residence. We work with contractors’ schedules, coordinate onsite visits to assess the scope, document and catalog furnishings, pack onsite and collect and store at our facility. Our online inventory access allows clients total visibility. When the jobsite is ready, we jump back into action, returning everything to its place. Ultimately, it’s about delivering a seamless, stress-free experience, with the utmost regard for privacy and a concierge-level approach to every single move.
How would you describe your Los Angeles headquarters?
Our Los Angeles hub is the bustling operational center of the West Coast. It forms a strategic link that connects our broader network to San Francisco, Hawaii, Las Vegas and beyond. Each of our three LA warehouses are climate-controlled and feature high-level monitoring and security systems.
What are some of the most exclusive services that you offer?
We cater to some of the world’s most discerning clients—these are individuals whose lives are built around travel. They maintain multiple properties around the globe. For example, a movie executive in Brentwood might need an important work of art sent out to their yacht for a meeting while at the Cannes Film Festival. That almost sounds like a scene from a movie itself! But this is where we shine. We can handle every detail—collection, custom packing and crating, export documentation, airfreight, delivery from Nice to Cannes, all while coordinating with the client’s team both in the US and on the boat. Our VIP services are all about delivering results with absolute peace of mind.
How do you coordinate with a client between multiple properties?
When a client splits time between, say, Los Angeles, New York and Europe, we become their single point of contact for everything—from inventory cataloging and custom crating to international shipping and installation. The goal is to handle all of these moving parts behind the scenes, so our clients can focus on their important work rather than worrying about the logistics. By centralizing everything through AirSea Packing, they know that each piece—whether it’s a priceless painting or a custom credenza, arrives exactly where it needs to be, on time and without issue.
What is the process of working with interior designers to do a full install?
Working with interior designers is one of the most rewarding parts of our job. Many of these designers have gained incredible notoriety and acclaim for their vision and detailed execution—think AD100 and Elle Décor A-list. When we are brought into a project, we like to think of ourselves as an extension to their firm. We discuss the budget, floorplans, timelines, costs and ultimately client expectations. During the project, we receive and inspect all furniture, art and accessories as they arrive from various locations. We consolidate these fixtures in our climate-controlled facilities until the project is ready for installation. Once the designer gives us the go-ahead, we schedule a dedicated install day (or days) to unpack, assemble and place every piece according to their detailed plans. Working with designers at this level is truly a collaborative dance. It’s a partnership built on precision, professionalism and a shared commitment to excellence.
What is your art service like?
Our Fine Art Services division is a dedicated team of specialists who handle every aspect of art logistics—from designing custom crates to orchestrating complex installations. Whether we’re dealing with a single masterpiece or an entire collection, we recognize that each piece has unique qualities and is treated with the highest degree of care and precision.
What are some of the steps that you take to protect an artwork?
We take a holistic approach to protecting artwork, starting with a thorough assessment of each piece. We make packing, transport and storage considerations based on size, weight, fragility, medium and provenance. Often custom crates are made to protect works through the process.
What are some things clients can do to protect their art or valuable furnishings during shipping and installation?
Communication with your logistics partner is absolutely essential. Share every relevant detail about the piece—its value, fragility, etc. —so that the proper packing and transport measures can be put in place. Next, consider climate conditions: if your piece is sensitive to temperature or humidity swings, make sure you’re using climate-controlled transport and that the receiving location has stable environmental controls. Insurance coverage is another must-have—verify that you have the right policy in place and confirm that it covers your pieces in transit as well as a storage location. Finally, take the time to document your artwork’s condition before it leaves your hands, and again once it arrives. This adds an extra layer of protection and peace of mind throughout the entire process.
Do you have any fire-safe measures with your work, and is there anything that homeowners can do to protect in case of a fire?
We take fire safety very seriously, starting with our warehouses, which are outfitted with advanced fire suppression systems, temperature controls and 24/7 monitoring to reduce risk. When it comes to in-home installations, we generally defer to the homeowner’s or estate manager’s existing fire protection strategies—for instance, sprinkler systems, fire-retardant panels or specialized alarm setups. Ultimately, it’s about combining professional safeguards with the homeowner’s comprehensive plan to ensure complete peace of mind.
What was your experience during the LA fires? Did you do any emergency evacuations or go to any lengths to help protect any art or furnishings?
The LA Fires were definitely a tense and tragic time. We had some longstanding clients reach out for immediate assistance in various capacities. In a few cases, we were able to mobilize a crew to safely pack and transport items out of high-risk areas.
How does international shipping or transit work?
We handle international shipping from start to finish, so our clients never have to stress about the details. Thanks to our global network of partners and own facilities abroad, we’re able to coordinate everything from customs clearance to the specialized crating of artworks and designer furnishings. We tailor the process to each shipment, whether it’s sea freight in temperature-controlled containers or an airfreight for time-sensitive or high-value pieces. For imports, our in-house customs brokers streamline the paperwork, ensuring every form is filled out correctly and complies with local regulations. Essentially, we provide a door-to-door service—so if a piece needs to travel from a gallery in Paris to a home in Brentwood, we arrange everything, soup to nuts.
What are some of the most notable pieces you have worked with?
We once coordinated a complex multi-floor installation at a brand-new flagship boutique on Rodeo Drive—without naming names, let’s just say it was a global luxury label. The entire process involved custom crates, specialized rigging and precise scheduling to fit the boutique’s build-out timeline of just 48 hours. Seeing everything come together in such a landmark location was pretty thrilling. One piece in particular on that job was a 30-foot-tall ceiling element that drops down in the foyer two stories. We sent it to site on a flatbed semi-truck at 3AM, uncrated it and walked the frame down the middle of Rodeo Drive. To get it inside the store, we literally corkscrewed it through the front door. It was a site to see!
On another occasion, we shipped John Lennon’s piano in the UK—a piece of pop culture history that required meticulous care and special permission just to handle. Those are the moments where our team really shines, tackling intricate, high-stakes challenges with a calm and methodical approach. We feel privileged to play a role in such great feats of architecture and artistic endeavors. And we love it.
"We cater to some of the world’s most discerning clients—these are individuals whose lives are built around travel. Our VIP services are all about delivering results with absolute peace of mind."
"Those are the moments where our team really shines, tackling intricate, high-stakes challenges with a calm and methodical approach. We feel privileged to play a role in such great feats of architecture and artistic endeavors."