Some of the info is out of date.
This game is much tougher now.
It's harder to find opportunities.
But here are the basics:
THE world has shrunk in recent months for those who travel as couriers, escorting packages overseas in exchange for discounted tickets. After Sept. 11, many routes were put on hold by the Federal Aviation Administration for security reasons. But trips to London and the Far East are still available, and bargain seekers heading to those destinations or looking for a quick last-minute getaway may find courier travel a rewarding way to get where they are going.
Courier travel, which has been around since the 1970's and is regulated by the F.A.A., is a way for companies to assure the timely arrival of goods. Some courier companies only do business with shippers like the United Parcel Service and Federal Express, who use the service when it's not practical to send a whole plane; others do business with ordinary companies that need items ferried from here to there as fast as possible -- which means as checked luggage, because items shipped as cargo can sit around for days waiting to go through customs.
In exchange for giving up some or all of the checked baggage allowance, a passenger can buy a ticket for 40 to 85 percent off the regular fare, depending on time of year and destination. (In addition to suspending certain routes for security reasons, the F.A.A. has boosted security measures for courier travel; however, the changes affect the companies, not individual travelers, and so are not being publicized, said Rebecca Trexler, a spokeswoman.)
Flights can usually be booked up to three months in advance; the closer to departure, the cheaper, and last-minute tickets can even be free, with spending money and hotel thrown in to sweeten the deal. Most tickets are round trip and allow for stays from a few days to six months -- and usually passengers can keep the frequent flier miles. The deal is for one person, so a travel companion must buy an ordinary ticket or, with some of the more regular flights, fly in the next day or two as a courier. (On the return flight, when the passenger is usually not acting as a courier, the two travelers can often fly home together.) The company, not the passenger, is responsible for the goods being shipped, mainly documents or computer-related gadgets, and most companies X-ray all packages before accepting them.
To qualify, you must be at least 18, in some cases 21, and have a valid passport. It is the traveler's responsibility to obtain any necessary visa. Tickets can be purchased through courier companies themselves or through clearinghouse organizations that charge a fee. Members of these clubs get access to available flights for the next month or so and are then put in touch with the appropriate courier company.
Either way, passengers end up doing business directly with the courier company. It usually works like this: You choose a flight; the company sends you a contract; you fill it out and send it back with a certified check or money order for the agreed amount; you arrive at the airport two to three hours ahead of time and meet an agent from the company; the agent hands you the ticket and helps you check in (the airlines are often well acquainted with these companies and know the drill); you meet another agent at the destination, hand over the baggage ticket and manifest, and go on your way.
The Clubs
Following are the two most recognized clubs that set people up with courier companies. They suggest you agree on return dates and luggage allowance before booking.
The Air Courier Association offers members ($29 a year, $99 for life) a schedule of courier flights on its Web site. Most are round trips, but ask; current destinations include Bangkok, Hong Kong, London and Manila, with departures from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Also available are courier flights from foreign cities like Montreal, Buenos Aires, Sydney and Seoul. Prices fluctuate but now range from $50 to $1,200 a round trip for advance purchase (up to 60 days ahead of time). Incredibly cheap, even free, last-minute flights are posted on the Web site and go to the first taker. Because the number of destinations offered since Sept. 11 is limited, A.C.A. is offering noncourier round trips from London to most major European cities for $99. Information: 350 Indiana Street, Suite 300, Golden, Colo. 80401; (800) 282-1202; www.aircourier.org.
Founded in 1989, the International Association of Air Travel Couriers charges $45 a year to link you to the 30 or so courier companies it works with. The Web site offers members a list -- updated twice daily -- of so-called last-minute specials, though many are good for months. (When I clicked on ''Advance U.S. Departure Schedules,'' it hadn't been updated for ages -- although the company insists it will be any day). Members also receive a subscription to the association's monthly magazine, with courier tales, news and tips. Most trips these days are to London and the Far East, but flights to South America and Mexico, suspended after Sept. 11, could be reinstated at any time, according to Bruce Causey, president. Current prices include New York to Hong Kong for $300 round trip and San Francisco to Singapore or Manila for $400. The courier association provides telephone numbers for the appropriate courier company or airline, and calls members willing to take spur-of-the-moment trips when last-minute requests arrive. Information: Post Office Box 980, Keystone Heights, Fla. 32656; (352) 475-1584; www.courier .org.
Courier Companies
These are two of the companies the clubs use that allow you to contact them direct, with no membership fee. But the prices are sometimes no lower than a deeply discounted regular air fare.
Air Cargo Partners offers round-trip courier flights from major U.S. cities to London through an exclusive deal with Virgin Atlantic.
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