flights

[Michael W Blackman]

Something I came across todat that may interest....

--------
Matthew Johnston from Melbourne wrote and asked Getaway about courier flights, and if it is true that you can fly overseas for next to nothing just by taking a package for someone.

That’s pretty much the way it is. An air travel courier is someone who carries shipping documents on international flights for a courier company in exchange for a discounted air ticket. You don’t get paid much – the reward is the cheap flight, normally 50%-85% off the full fare. Sometimes courier companies do offer free flights, but this is only when they are in dire need of a last minute courier.

Freight companies need couriers because it’s often cheaper for a courier company to have a person check freight through as luggage than it is for them to ship freight as air cargo. Clearing customs is a lot quicker too, as cargo can often sit for days. It is for this reason you are not allowed to take luggage – just a carry-on bag so that the shipping material becomes your check-in bags. Most trips require that you return with 7, 14 or 21 days, most companies insist that you don’t drink “on-the-job” and you must dress appropriately – that can mean a suit. Accommodation at your destination is your own responsibility.

Virtually anyone can be a courier, but some companies require couriers to be at least 21 years old.

Usually in Australia courier flights operate from Sydney to London, but some flights from New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong do round trips to Sydney. Some flights out of London do round trips to Melbourne and Adelaide and there is one out of New York that does a round trip to Brisbane. The busiest cities with the greatest demand and biggest variety of destinations are New York and London. Airlines used by companies include United, American, British Airways and you fly economy and the ticket is always return.

Companies such as FedEx and UPS have their own aircraft so do not need the services of casual couriers, but if you want to be put on the books of IAATC – International Association of Air Couriers – who look after companies needing one-off couriers, you should contact them at Box 1349, Lake Worth, Florida 33460 USA, phone them on 0011 1 561 582 8320, Fax 0011 1 561 582 1581 or visit their website - www.courier org.