Cheap Flights for Flexible Couriers

Flying as a courier can reduce your costs considerably, but it’s a method that’s best suited to flexible travelers, according to the Shoestring Traveler, a bimonthly newsletter published by the International Assn. of Air Travel Couriers (IAATC).

In a recent edition, 11 couriers told their tales and offered tips to other travelers. Phil from Boston, who has taken six trips in three years, explained that he liked “winging it” and the element of surprise--hoping to come up with a great destination at a cheap, last-minute price. His last trip was the first one with a glitch.

First, the takeoff for his $200 flight from New York to Mexico was delayed by 90 minutes, then when he reached Mexico City the courier company representative didn’t show up at the appointed place. When he finally located the representative he asked for a lift to the city because the courier representative was going that way. “Imagine my surprise when we pulled up in front of the Hotel Monte Carlo and he asked me for gas money!” he said.

Air couriers get reduced air fares by carrying shipping documents on international flights for legitimate courier companies. The trade-off is that they usually have to give up their baggage allowance and carry only hand luggage. The courier company uses the space for time-sensitive items and articles that would be more expensive if shipped as cargo. Generally, to be a courier, you need to be 21, have a passport and a clean-cut appearance.

IAATC membership is one way to tap into information on courier companies around the world, routes they cover and fares that they charge. The association, which is headquartered in Lake Worth, Fla., was founded in 1989 as a clearinghouse for consumers who want to travel as couriers to foreign destinations.

They track the courier companies and post last-minute flights and courier updates daily on computers, which members can access by fax or computer 24 hours a day, for a $45 annual fee.

Members also receive bimonthly publications, the 60-page Air Courier Bulletin, which lists courier companies, their destinations, rates and whether they have extra charges and the Shoestring Traveler, the newsletter that includes budget travel tips and firsthand reports by courier travelers.

Air fare discounts for flying as a courier range widely and are influenced by season and demand. Gateway cities in North America that have recently had daily departures include: New York, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto (via Montreal), Montreal and Vancouver. Frequent foreign courier departure points include Britain (London Heathrow) and airports in Argentina, Australia, France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Trinidad.

In the Shoestring Traveler the IAATC reports that opportunities for courier travel have grown by 25% in the last three years. Most of the growth has been on routes to Asia. Flights have also increased to South America.

There were last-minute flights to Hong Kong from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles ranging between $200 and $400, and courier flights to Venezuela from New York were plentiful at a round-trip rate of $200. This fall they predict that availability for last-minute flights to Europe will rise and that Hong Kong and China will remain the top bargain courier destinations for the remainder of 1997 and well into 1998.

The 24-page Shoestring Traveler also offers information about places to stay.

For budget travelers of any age, the Shoestring Traveler includes suggestions for things you can do for free in foreign destinations, such as visiting the Louvre Museum on the first Sunday of the month.

For further information and membership, contact the International Assn. of Air Travel Couriers, P.O. Box 1349, Lake Worth, FL 33460; tel. (561) 582-8320, fax (561) 582-1581.

*

Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. She can be reached at https://www.izon.com