I’m trying to get to Germany this summer on the cheap, so I’ve heard a few brief things about becoming an air courier. Outside of a The Simpsons episode on the topic and some unverified stories about friends that had done so, is being an air-courier still a legitimate possibility for getting to Germany or anywhere else for that matter?
The general story is that businesses need things shipped overnight (these amorphous “business documents”) via regular airlines and that you can trade your space for checked baggage on an international flight for a vastly reduced or even free fare. However, with the broad availability of seemingly dedicated overnight and other air-shipping resources like UPS, FedEx, etc., this strikes me as a bit unlikely. Also, I’d think that some businesses might have learned how to use a fax-machine with an international number, or, even more likely, e-mail.
So, what’s the Straight Dope on the idea of traveling internationally as an air courier?
Well thanks, but you see that website is one of the half-dozen that I’ve looked at that have all said the same thing: give us $25 bucks and then we’ll telly you how to pull this off, search for flights, etc.
I sort of suspect that these sites are kind of scams that offer only a few actual opportunities to travel and are more interested in signing people up for all of their “special information” rather than actually hooking up couriers with shipping companies.
Has anyone ever paid to access one of these sites and what have you found?
Well, there was that time I had to personally carry a new copy of the Times to Rome. They refused it because it wasn’t in italics. That was pretty much the end of my arial courier career. I blame the system.
I paid for one, back in college. Pretty much worked out as you described it. Access to a website, no access to flights. Great way to burn 25 bucks though, if you’re not a drinker.
Also, the passenger airlines can and do transport cargo already, without needing a passengers to give up their baggage allowance. So I’m also dubious that there’s any real need for couriers.
You might want to read the Washington Post article linked off their home page. They sound legit, but not free travel. Read the article, it explains a lot.
Well, many businesses have yet to learn that men’s business attire descended from clothing historically worn in Northern European countries is neither practical nor comfortable in most other places, so you never know.
I was amazed in reading The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit how the title character actually has to fly ahead to a hotel to make sure the mattress in his boss’ room will be firm enough, and to arrange for plenty of yellow longstemmed roses in the suite. You’d think even in 1953 they could have done most of that by phone.
**Bold ** move. I’m going to put you in my Trebuchet and fling you into Georgia where you’ll make an Impact. When you’re at the airport, grab a martini - that bar at the end of the concourse can make one for you with an Antique Olive.
Back to the OP. From what I’ve heard, it’s not a picnic - the first hurdle is that (for going to Europe) you’ll need to get to somewhere like New York City on your own dime, unless there’s a lot of documents being flown from Colorado to Germany that I’m not aware of, so the savings may not be all that much, espcially with the consideration that you’re on their schedule, rather than yours.
Just for giggles, I priced a round tip flight from Denver to Berlin, May 2, returning May 7 and the lowest available fare on Travelocity is $619. Denver to NYC on the same dates is $188. Courier.org says you can save up to 85% of the regular fare. United’s “regular” (ie: walk up to the ticket counter and say "I need your next flight) fare for NYC - BER is $3025, and saving 85% of that is $454.
So, if you manage to snag an 85% discount, the fare will be DEN - NYC $188 plus NYC - BER $454, for a total of $642. Add to that the $25 “membership” fee for the courier firm, and you wind up paying $667 - $48 more than the Travelocity fare at a cost of limited flexibility in your travel plans, plus that “no luggage” thing. And that’s only if you snag 85% off.
If you can plan ahead a month, it’s probably cheaper to buy your own regular tickets.
How do such services get around the ‘did you pack your bags yourself?’ thing? Surely if these business documents are so damned important, they’re not going to let you leaf through them to make sure there’s nothing illicit stashed in a hollowed-out wad of paper?
Well, I was going to try to get on one of United’s direct flights to Munich, but given the relative scarcity of actual demand for couriers, I think I’ll just forget about it. I actually think that I might have been able to arrange two flight segments worth of buddy passes from a family friend, so I might just pursue that option. The other sticking point is packing a road bike. It used to be free on international flights, but now most airlines have started charging a pretty penny for packing a bike, even on international flights.
Also, trips from Denver to Munich can be had for as little as $580 right now, it’s just those damned 30 day max. stay restrictions and trying to book ahead at the appropriate interval, which I presume is about 3-4 weeks instead of the 8 weeks I’m looking at right now.
Thanks for the information from everyone that’s tried out these sites before, and apparently they were a bit too good to be true.
Nothings wrong with saying “no” it just guarantees a search, not the idea if you a real smuggler.
Twenty years I worked for an international freight company and air couriers where definitely legit with members of staff getting free international flights .
The U.S. Government uses couriers for sensitive materials. They are also useful when transporting items that are irreplaceable or need special handling.
Crikey, they do over here, especially on international flights - they ask:
-Did you pack everything in the bag yourself?
-Since packing it, have you left it unattended at any time?
-Has anyone else asked you to carry something?