Flying courier
 

Is that for real or is it a scam???

To what are you referring?

flying as a courier.. I want to try out this summer to europe but all websites charge a fee to register.

Does anybody know how to find a company or if its for real?

Sounds kind of iffy to me if they charge a fee to register.

Hi A,

It's for real.

Lot's of companies are willing to pay your coach airfare if you will take only carryon and let them use your check in baggage allowance.

Lot's of young folks are willing to do this. That's why, unless you already have contacts, you have to register with a broker.

((I))

Do you know where i can register to be one. Im trying to find one but so far no luck

What about all those questions at airports about "Has anyone else had access to your bags?" or similar?

Does it involve swallowing anything wrapped in a condom?

The part that sounds iffy to me is asking you to pay just to sign up rather than after you get a job. Maybe that's how it's done but I wouldn't pay anything until I got the gig.

Not too long ago, my husband had an interesting coversation with a "courier" as they were traveling from Houston to NYC. It seemed that the young fellow was transporting "cheese" from S. America to a hamlet north of where we live. "Cheese" in his luggage -- interesting...

You pay in order to receive the upcoming flights/routes that will need a courier so you can make your requests. I imagine it is partly a way to cull out the curious from the serious.

Here is an explanation of how it works:

http://www.gonomad.com/transports/00...r_courier.html

I flew as a courier years ago and it was great. It was done out of a cargo company at JFK airport. I think NY times ran an article about it a few years ago.

When I was younger I did a few courier flights. Essentially you get the flight free or at a dramatically reduced rate. The negative is that you must be willing and able to travel at almost a moments notice.

You do not make money doing this, but you could get a fairly cheap vacation.

dave

Oh and normally you are carrying business documents that are very time sensitive.

dave

I imagine you'd carry the usual things: business documents, bombs, drugs . . .

No way would I do this unless I got to inspect everything I was expected to carry. And if you have to pay to join, my scam alarm bells start clanging.

It is not anything mysterious. The down side today is that you do have to pay something for your flighs, you do not get to check your own luggage, you fly at the last minute, and you often have only a few days at your destination.

http://www.courier.org/

Sorry I posted in US and wanted to see if anyone her has done this recently

Its been done for years and is legit. As others have said, it can be anything from documents to a painting to jewelry,etc. It has all the documents and there are some companies that have regulars do it for them. Before 9/11,some couriers had access to the cargo area to make sure that the "stuff" wasn't stolen or lost.
In my years of flying, most of the couriers got very bored of the constant flying,little luggage or time spent in the city they flew to.

A little long courier story:

Years ago, when I was more adventurous, I flew a few courier flights to Germany. I think it was called "World Courier" out of Queens NYC. Anyway, at that time the deal was I showed up at their office about 3PM. At the end of the work day (5 PM) they drove me over to JFK. They handled all the check in procedures. I was allowed one "check in" on bag. Now the fun begins!

We land in Geneva where I meet a "Man wearing a World Courier hat" who will 'escort' you to the baggage claim area! After he removes the 'courier packet' we get in the 'courier' van and I was taken to a small room where I was on my own till 5 pm Geneva time.

At 5PM I was picked up and taken to the airport where 'another courier packet' was checked in along with my 1 pc of luggage and we took off for Munich.

In Munich the plane(Prop-jet) stopped just before the passenger gate and the 'World Courier and airport security' agents came on the plane to 'retrieve ME'!! I had my own personal escort thru customs (very James Bond..ish!!)

Now it is gettin late but there is one more leg to Frankfort and another 'courier packet'.

Finally arrive about midnight, tired and weary, but I still had to meet my 'final contact' and make the final 'courier packet drop'

I am given a ride to a small hotel near the airport, handed a return ticket dated a week later, for a nonstop back to JFK. Ordeal over, Free trip to Europe!!

This, of course, was before 9-11 and I am sure the deal today is totally different!

John

oops That of course was "Final stop FRANKFURT GERMANY.

Sorry, It is a bit early and I am watching the snow fall here in New Jersey that was not suppose to happen till later tonight!!

bmw732002,
I liked your story! I had been a courier with them years ago. The place in Queens was easy to get a flight on but now after 9/11 it seems complex.

Connie
I was using my Dads computer and posted under his screen name.

Flying courier. I flew eight courier flights LAX HNL SYD HNL LAX and LAX AKL SYD LAX plus LAX SYD LAX in the heydey of courier travel (1985 2000) Another two were with my wife following the next day LAX AKL SYD LAX. The business plan was that courier companies could get same day customs clearance of their freight as "passengers' baggage". That all evaporated when the airlines struck their own deal with the courier companies and the down under Customs Services to get immediate clearamce for their (courier companies') freight.
Also, 9-11 didn't help, as courier companies increasingly turned to their own employees for courier services.
The best bet now I believe is to join the "International Association of Air Couriers" . I was once a member and got regular newsletters on opportunities, plus access to a website which showed late-breaking opportunities.
There are no "questionable" shipments with the widely know courier companies, many of whom act as consolidators for small freight forwarders, otherwise they wouldn't stay in business.
I don't know what opportunities are out there today ... but I sure saved a bundle and had some fun trips, including a once-in-a-lifetime SYD-LAX biz class ride, a $4,000 +/- value!!!!