Technology, Attacks Leave Courier Travel Up in the Air

Once upon a time, a person who had flexible travel plans and the ability to cram a week’s worth of gear into a carry-on bag could save up to half off international air fares acting as a shipping company courier, considered one of the great travel bargains. But the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the subsequent travel industry downturn, changes in customs regulations and increased security measures have dealt a near knockout punch to courier travel.

“It’s effectively dead,” says Kelly Monaghan, author of several books on discount travel, including “Air Courier Bargains: How to Travel World-Wide for Next to Nothing.” “I am not even tracking it anymore.”

A few routes with decent fares remain, mostly to the Far East, but they often are not much cheaper than discounted consolidator prices, Monaghan says.

Delivery companies use couriers when they need to get shipments between international cities. In the past, shipments often cleared customs faster as checked baggage than as cargo, an incentive for companies to use couriers to accompany their shipments. In return for low-priced round-trip seats, couriers usually gave up their baggage allowance and were limited to a carry-on.

But computers have streamlined some customs clearance procedures, so companies may not save much time by buying a passenger seat.

Bruce Causey, president of the International Assn. of Air Travel Couriers (www.courier.org) in Florida, still sees consumer interest in courier travel, but “there are not as many good deals out there.” Though many companies have gone out of business, the market is rebounding, he says, with more flights out of the West Coast than from New York.

The dwindling number of companies offering courier fares and routes has forced the Air Courier Assn. (www.aircourier.org), based in Golden, Colo., to look for other ways to help its dues-paying members save on air fares by offering a combination of courier, consolidator and space-available fares. It offers half a dozen courier routes, down from 15 a year ago, says Nat Stein, its president. “We’re positioning ourselves for the budget-minded” traveler, he says.