AOL File Library: 2,401 to 2,500/aol-file-protocol-4400-2401-to-2500.zip/AOLDLs/Travel Library/Air Courier FAQ/COURAD4.txt

Text File | 2014-09-23 | 8KB | 203 lines

Dear Fellow Traveler,

Thank you for your interest in traveling as an air courier.

One of the biggest points of confusion I have to explain is
that traveling as an air courier is NOT a job you get paid for.
Independent Air Couriers get to travel at a substantial discount,
and sometimes for FREE just for carrying shipping documents
for a courier company.
Traveling as an air courier is fun and exciting.
It's a great way to see Europe, Asia, South America or
Australia on a budget.

Here are some common Questions and Answers
about traveling as an AIR COURIER
provided by:

The International Association of Air Travel Couriers
Lake Worth, Florida
(Reprinted here with permission)


 What is an air travel courier?
An air travel courier is a person who carries shipping
documents on international flights for a courier
company, and forfeits his baggage allowance in
exchange for a discounted air ticket.

 Why do freight companies need couriers?
It is 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. Plus, shipping material as
luggage helps it clear customs quicker, instead of
sitting for days in customs as cargo often does.

 Why be an air travel courier?
Traveling as an air courier gives you a chance to see
the world! Jet to exotic places you could never afford
to see before. Explore the globe and widen your
knowledge of the world.

 Who can be an air courier?
Virtually anybody can be a courier, however some
companies require couriers to be at least 21 years old.

 What do I give up as an air courier?
Usually you are not allowed to check through any
baggage, or are allowed just one bag in some cases.
You are allowed however, to carry on as much lug-
gage as the particular airline will permit. If you're
only acting as a courier on the outbound flight you
can check baggage as normal on the return trip.

 Where do I sit and what airlines are used?
Air courier companies utilize major airlines like TWA
United, American, British Airways and other interna-
tional airlines. You fly like any other passenger in a
regular seat in the "tourist" or "coach" section of the
aircraft. Couriers have been allowed on occasion to
upgrade to first class at their own expense.

 Are the tickets one-way or round trip?
All tickets are round-trip tickets except in rare cases.

 How much do I have to pay, if anything?
Usually you save up to 85 percent of the regular
airline ticket price. And in some instances you can
fly free. The range is all over the board, depending
on the season and demand, but the discount is sub-
stantial. Recent bargain fares for couriers include
trips to the Orient for $250 round-trip, Europe for $99
to $199, South America for $150. During the sum-
mer, rates are generally higher than any other time of
the year, but you still fly cheaper as a courier than
with other discount fares. In short, traveling as an air
courier will save you hundreds of dollars on each trip
you take. Some courier companies maintain a list of
couriers who they can call at the last minute in the
event of a cancellation, and let the courier fly free in
exchange. Free flights are extremely rare, but super-
discounted last-minute flights are more common.

 How far in advance do I have to schedule?
If you wanted, you could probably be on a flight to
some foreign country within 24 hours of receiving
our information, especially if you're interested in
Central or South America -- or Europe during the
winter. Flights to the most popular destinations usu-
ally require at least a 2-week advance reservation,
especially during the summer when advance booking
can be 4 or 6 weeks or more to guarantee a seat.
Most people advance book in order to make sure they
get the flights they want. When courier companies
are short of couriers for particular runs, the price
usually starts dropping the closer it gets to the day or
hour of takeoff.

 How long can I stay where I'm going?
The length of stay which is permitted varies accord-
ing to the ticket. Nearly every flight allows you to
stay at least 7 days. Some tickets are for a 7-day
trip, other tickets allow you 10 days, 14 days, 21 days
and up to 6 months if you desire in some cases.
Fixed stays of one week or two weeks are common
on the European trips. Oriental and South American
flights generally allow longer stays as a rule, and
often require no minimum stay.

 Where can I fly as an air travel courier?
Air travel couriers are needed for flights to every con-
tinent except Antarctica. Common destinations
include Paris, Rome, London, Frankfurt, Madrid,
Milan, Brussels, Mexico City, Tel Aviv, Honduras,
Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Caracas,
Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama City, Rio de Janeiro,
Buenos Aires, Quito, Manila, Montevideo,
Melbourne, Sydney, Santiago, and other locations in
Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

 How do I know I'm not escorting contraband?
Air courier companies are established firms that deal
in legitimate air freight. They have to sign docu-
ments which are presented to customs officials when
the baggage is checked through. For their protection
- as well as yours - you are generally not allowed
to touch the baggage. When you arrive at the desti-
nation, you generally hand the "manifest" to the agent
for the courier company who then takes the material
from the baggage-,e claim area and clears it through
customs. You are not personally liable for the bag-
gage. Before you make your flight you can verify
with the company what precautions they take on
behalf of couriers such as bonding and insurance.

 Where do I stay when I arrive?
You book into a hotel, motel, youth hostel, bed &
breakfast inn or with friends and family at your own
expense. Once you complete your duties you are on
your own and have no need to stay in contact with the
air courier company unless you're acting as a courier
on the return flight.

 Do I have to fly alone?
Yes and no. Courier companies usually have just one
courier on each flight. But that doesn't mean there is
no chance of traveling with a partner. Occasionally
you can fly as couriers for different companies on the
same day - and sometimes on the same airline.
Other times, you can arrange to both be couriers on
consecutive days. For instance, one of you might fly
as a courier to London on Monday, get the hotel and
other arrangements in order, and then join up with
your partner who flew in from Los Angeles as a
courier on Tuesday. Another possibility is that your
partner could buy a ticket on the same flight that
you're acting on as courier.

 Do I serve as a courier on the return trip?
Usually. But sometimes just on your flight out.

 Do I get to keep my Frequent Flyer Mileage?
Yes, except in rare cases.

 From which cities do courier flights originate?
At this moment, courier flights currently take off for
foreign destinations from the following North Ameri-
can gateway cities: New York, Miami, Chicago, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and
Montreal. (The majority of courier flights originate
in New York, Miami, L.A. & San Francisco.) Once
overseas you can also link up with foreign courier
companies & fly courier out of London, Frankfurt,
Paris, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore,
Sydney, Auckland, Caracas, Guatemala & Buenos
Aires, and many others. You must get to the origination
city at your own expense.


 I just published a new book, "How to Save Big Bucks
 Traveling as an Air Courier."

 It has current listings of both US and foreign courier
 agencies, phone numbers, contacts, instructions, etc.,
 plus sample printouts from the two major courier newsletters
 and information clearing houses, plus, applications to
 join the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIR TRAVEL COURIERS.
 If you are unfamiliar with traveling as an air courier,
 my book is a great place to start and is available from
 the publisher, NORTHWOODS MEDIA, PO Box 502, Antigo, WI
 54409, for $14.95 plus $3.00 S&H. OR for a limited time
 You can order direct from the Author, (me), for just
 $6.00 plus $3.00 S&H.
You may contact me at [e-mail]

Happy Traveling!
Dave Bancroft
Gainesville, Florida