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What does the balloon surcharge apply to?

  1. Heavier packages over 70 lbs

  2. Packages with large cubic size but lightweight

  3. Overnight delivery options

  4. Foreign shipments only

The correct answer is: Packages with large cubic size but lightweight

The balloon surcharge specifically targets packages that have a large cubic size despite being lightweight. This means that even if a package does not meet the traditional weight thresholds commonly associated with surcharges, its volume can still incur additional costs due to the space it occupies during transport. Carriers need to manage their shipping logistics efficiently, and large but light packages can take up proportionately more space in transport vehicles, thus the balloon surcharge helps to account for that space usage. The other options do not accurately represent the nature of the balloon surcharge. For instance, heavier packages over 70 lbs are typically subject to a different type of surcharge based on weight rather than cubic size. Overnight delivery options do not directly relate to the concept of a balloon surcharge and usually have their own pricing structure based on speed and service level. Lastly, foreign shipments do not specifically invoke a balloon surcharge unless they also conform to the criteria of large cubic size and lightweight characteristics; therefore, they do not exclusively fall under this surcharge category.