MilesBuzz! - Being a Courier for Mileage Runs?

I saw this article in a recent Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43444-2001Dec14.html

So I am wondering whether or not I can use this for a mile run. I'm thinking that if I go from IAD to NRT as a courier, stay one night, and then fly back the next day, that's 17,000 miles in one shot. And it's dirt cheap, too. Looks like the fares will run around $200 and they may be even lower if I'm willing to fly out at a moment's notice.

Some companies let you get the miles, others do not. Obviously, I'd go with one that gives miles.

Talk about a cheap way to get miles fast!

courier fares are really quite good, but you have to be able to fly on a day's notice... might not be enough for some people... plus you have to arrange your own hotels, etc when you're there... so it may be good for some people, but it's definitely not for all mileage runners

One question: do you get to keep the points?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tfung:
...but it's definitely not for all mileage runners</font>

I have friends who have earned miles/points on courier tickets. The only problem is you have no clue which airline you will be on...

I'd hate to fly all the way to Timbuktu and back only to end up with orphan miles in a program I'll never use.

Say I bring just a little carry on like they say, Once the cargo is dropped off at the destination, can I buy luggage and goods and bring that back with me without paying extra, assuming its what is allowed per pax

TrojanHorse - The courier service would be using your baggage space on the return trip also. You are allowed carry on only.

Years ago I was lucky enough to travel internationally with DHL (in the USA) for free. I was so appreciative that I didn't even think about frequent flyer miles!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mdtony:
...I'm thinking that if I go from IAD to NRT as a courier, stay one night, and then fly back the next day...
</font>

I have never flown as a courier, but several years ago I did some research on it for the same reason you are considering courier travel: mileage runs. I believe that in most instances, your overnight plan will not work. You may have to stay at the destination for a fixed amount of time because the company needs you for transport in both directions. In the Washington Post article, the trip was for 3 days, but I have found that most trips are 7, 10 or 14 days.

The companies find it a bit too much trouble to allow couriers to select their own return dates. It's more convenient for them if they select the return dates. This was the primary impediement to me for courier travel. I had no problem complying with the carry-on luggage rule, and no problem traveling as a solo passenger, but the rigid return dates made courier travel for me unattractive. They might work better for a true vacation, but not a mileage run.

Of course, if you are truly interested, do some research. You may get lucky and find a courier company that can be flexible on the return date.

I have travelled as a courier half a dozen times. I have always been able to keep my miles and I have always known in advance which airline I will be flying on. I have not done courier flights lately, because I usually want to travel to SE Asia and right now the courier companies are using Japan Air Lines. When I last flew I was flying United.

You can choose your return dates, usually you will have a flexible return between 7 and 30 days after departure. However, you must choose your return date in advance of your departure and you may not change it without possibly losing your deposit.

Many of the courier flights will allow for one piece of checked baggage, however on a 747 I never have any problem with using just overhead space.

So yes they will work for mileage runs, however, you will probably need to spend at least 7 days at your destination.

There are good organizations out there that you can join that act as a clearing house for courier companies. If anyone is interested in a recommendation please email me privately.

For the people that have travelled as couriers, I've a few questions:

- How are the goods you're transporting actually carried? Do you check it in as you'd normally do with your luggage, or does it get handled through the cargo dept?

- If it's checked as regular passenger baggage, when they ask if you packed your own bags, if they've been with you the whole time since packing, and if anyone unknown to you gave you something, how to you respond?

- At Customs at the destination country, how do you declare the goods? Presumably, much of the stuff is subject to duty. Are you given a list of items so you know what to declare?

In the article it mentioned that it's best to work out of either coast.
IS there something similar in the DFW area?
Ideas?
I'll look into it --

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TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steve M:
For the people that have travelled as couriers, I've a few questions:

- How are the goods you're transporting actually carried? Do you check it in as you'd normally do with your luggage, or does it get handled through the cargo dept?

- If it's checked as regular passenger baggage, when they ask if you packed your own bags, if they've been with you the whole time since packing, and if anyone unknown to you gave you something, how to you respond?

- At Customs at the destination country, how do you declare the goods? Presumably, much of the stuff is subject to duty. Are you given a list of items so you know what to declare?</font>

You either check in as normal or at a special desk. Actually the airlines treat you very well because the courier company is a significant account to the airline. I was even upgraded once on Northwest and was told it was because I was a courier. You never see the goods the courier company and the airline take care of it all.

Not applicable.

You meet a courier representative at the destination and give him a packet of paperwork. They take it through customs.

As an aside in all the courier trips I have made, only once have I actually had to stop at customs with the cargo representative. The entire process is pretty much on auto-pilot, and many times they have nothing for you to carry.

Do you get Q miles though? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

If couriers are of such importance to airlines, why are we told at AA to direct them to use air cargo rather than check baggage? And to what extent to you want to check in bags subject to CTX inspection without knowing the contents?

Are there perhaps more than one type of courier, official v. non-official?

[This message has been edited by FoothillFlyer (edited 12-18-2001).]

This is interesting to me, as a poor student. If you are lucky enough to find one of these flights for free, do you get the miles? It seems from reading the article that the company thats needs the courier has bought an unrestricted fare for you and then "sells" it to you. If they give the ticket to you, they have still paid for the original ticket, so you still get miles, right?

The thing is that the original ticket is most likely not under your name so I am not sure how the FF points would work. Maybe they are already getting the miles themselves! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I've flown courier before to London (Jupiter/Micom from JFK, on UA). I signed a contract that specifically excluded frequent flyer miles. The box on the ticket where you would ordinarily see your FF# instead said "NO MILES". Although I saved about $100, the savings did not make up for the loss of the miles (or, in my current case, double miles). I have not flown courier since. My understanding is that some courier outfits offer miles, and others don't. You just need to check before booking something.

The better courier deals are for those that can fly last minute, as they are heavily discounted (I've seen some for free, or $100).

I have sporadically traveled as a last-minute courier out of LAX for almost a decade. I have always known which airline and flights I'd be on, and all of my runs have been to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Seoul, all via NRT. Sometimes I have had a one-bag luggage allowance in addition to the carryon. My shortest return time was five days and my longest was two weeks.
The gravy days of being a courier are pretty much over, but it is still possible to do last minute runs for little money.
When IBC was still using couriers, mileage could be racked up on UA. It used to be quite the adrenalin rush to get a phone call from them saying, "Can you go to Bangkok tomorrow?" Then I'd negotiate the best deal I could wrangle...sometimes free, close to it, or even get paid for it. My carryon was always ready to go. ::sigh::
Jupiter/Micom, the remaining bigshot out of LAX, uses JL, and sometimes they say you can't get miles. You can, though. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
The problem is that Jupiter and others like them have turned the courier business into something resembling a travel agency. They now charge relatively high fares for dates that you arrange in advance. They only give deals when they are desperate, such as when someone cancels and there's a load that must go out. Consolidator tickets can be a more attractive option. And of course with consolidator tickets there aren't luggage or advance-arrival-at-airports issues.
IMHO, the two courier organizations in FL and CO aren't all that useful for someone based in SoCal. This is because I can personally call Jupiter to learn what's available out of LAX. Since they are the main game in town, I don't need to pay IAATC or ACA for what I can just check myself. New York offers more opportunities as a last-minute gateway, and there is something to be said for the convenience of daily computer updates when a variety of choices is available. If I were living in New York and had the time and inclination to be a last-minute courier over the course of a year, then I'd join IAATC. Otherwise, it may be just as productive to simply call the courier companies in your gateway of choice, and see what they've got going.
It is common for the travel sections of major newspapers to occasionally have an article about being a courier. If you can access such an article in the archives of your own paper on the net, then you can save yourself some time, as they usually list names and numbers of local courier companies.
With luck, some of them might still be in business.

Earthcrclr:

I did several gigs with IBC in the early 90s but lost touch with them. What happened that they no longer use casual couriers?

As with all mileage runs, do your own research first!!

I flew courier twice several years ago between Miami and Madrid on Iberia. Worst flights of my life and only saved about $100-200 (charged 2 different prices in same month). Although miles could be eanered, the passenger name on the ticket was LHS Courier and not in my name= thus no miles on second trip and only 30% AA miles on first.

What to watch out for:
Some couriers disclose which airline you will be on and others tell you whether or not you earn FF miles.
In other courier flights, upgrades only come if overbooked so don´t expect it as a right.
Best courier deals are to Asia, ie. the article mentioned the person got to travel JAL with a paid overnight in Tokyo. The free layover and paid hotel is worth $$$ as you generally can´t put this in on a discount mileage run.

If you are flexible and looking to save money, go courier. If you are looking for multisegments and prefer flying JFK-MIA-LHR r/t instead of JKF-LHR as courier, go with booking online. Great deals are out there, you are not restricted to carry on luggage and can return with your dates instead of say a 21 day stay.

I may not be a good fan of couriers however I still keep it in my list of mileage run opportunities just in case as occasionally an offer to good to resist may pop up. It is all about supply and demand and when they can´t put people in seats, they offer incentives- ie. drop price, waive registration fee, allow 1 piece checked luggage, change of return date, etc.
Good luck and happy flying.



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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

If you live in or near LAX, SFO, MIA or NYC you're in luck, as the vast majority of courier flights go from there and you almost have to be in those areas to go last-minute.

Used to be that you almost always earned miles, but more companies in recent years have yanked them away. Definitely check first.

I've flown courier 3 times, all to Asia on conventional, fixed length vacations. It's been awhile, though - last one was in 1994.

Comparing now to then I find the couriers offer about the same or even slightly worse deal than 8 years ago, while other deals (paid tickets or mile awards) have slowly but steadily improved.

I have only flown as a courier once, JFK-LHR
and it was on Concorde! I sat two seats behind Steve Martin. I did get my mileage in
my BA Exec. Club acct. and I got to keep my
ticket receipt showing full fare paid. They
flew me back on 747. Total cost: $600

(When it absolutely, postively has to be there before it left!)

If you are in WAS, you can fly IAD to LHR on Virgin. But that's it.

Uggh. I wanted so badly to go to other cities and I wanted to do it on a Star Alliance airline.

I'm so disappointed.

And the fare of around $400 isn't really all that cheap.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by erdoc:
Earthcrclr:

I did several gigs with IBC in the early 90s but lost touch with them. What happened that they no longer use casual couriers?</font>

I was told that they had worked out a way to do "internal contracts" with UA about two years ago.

I see. What they told me was they did not want people traveling from outside the LA area because they were likely to miss flights. That said I did have trips to Japan, Taiwan, and HongKong that are firmly rooted in my memory banks and have been the basis of later trips.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ErthCrclr:
I have sporadically traveled as a last-minute courier out of LAX for almost a decade. I have always known which airline and flights I'd be on, and all of my runs have been to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Seoul, all via NRT. Sometimes I have had a one-bag luggage allowance in addition to the carryon. My shortest return time was five days and my longest was two weeks.
The gravy days of being a courier are pretty much over, but it is still possible to do last minute runs for little money.
When IBC was still using couriers, mileage could be racked up on UA. It used to be quite the adrenalin rush to get a phone call from them saying, "Can you go to Bangkok tomorrow?" Then I'd negotiate the best deal I could wrangle...sometimes free, close to it, or even get paid for it. My carryon was always ready to go. ::sigh::
Jupiter/Micom, the remaining bigshot out of LAX, uses JL, and sometimes they say you can't get miles. You can, though. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
The problem is that Jupiter and others like them have turned the courier business into something resembling a travel agency. They now charge relatively high fares for dates that you arrange in advance. They only give deals when they are desperate, such as when someone cancels and there's a load that must go out. Consolidator tickets can be a more attractive option. And of course with consolidator tickets there aren't luggage or advance-arrival-at-airports issues.
IMHO, the two courier organizations in FL and CO aren't all that useful for someone based in SoCal. This is because I can personally call Jupiter to learn what's available out of LAX. Since they are the main game in town, I don't need to pay IAATC or ACA for what I can just check myself. New York offers more opportunities as a last-minute gateway, and there is something to be said for the convenience of daily computer updates when a variety of choices is available. If I were living in New York and had the time and inclination to be a last-minute courier over the course of a year, then I'd join IAATC. Otherwise, it may be just as productive to simply call the courier companies in your gateway of choice, and see what they've got going.
It is common for the travel sections of major newspapers to occasionally have an article about being a courier. If you can access such an article in the archives of your own paper on the net, then you can save yourself some time, as they usually list names and numbers of local courier companies.
With luck, some of them might still be in business.</font>

could you possibly post the contact info for jupiter?


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The three words I never want to hear: 'Full Y Fare'

I have flown courier many times out of LAX in the 1990's to all parts of Asia until I stopted flying COACH!!!! Had a few upgrades and aved money on flights. Even make Gold Elite on NW. With so many miles, I prefer to upgrade to BF, now.

Here I sit at the new JW MArriott 5 Star rsort on Phuket Island for their soft opening. Wonderful Tropical setting with many palms, rocks, and Marine Naitional Park ocean beach 60 km from Patong. Only 20% occupancy, so very private and relaxing. Many complimentary drinks and sushi treats at cocktail hour. Wonderful sunsets and points for Timeshare intro. This would be the one, if you have 80 years to use it or will it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ad removed...

The above is more like a classified ad than a discussion of courier flights. IMHO, not suitable for this thread.

And, the offer to pay on arrival sets off bells. With all respect to the offering party, couriers generally get their tickets paid for up front and, sometimes, pay for some portion of the ticket, before departure.

How do we know that there are actually hats in the packages? I suspect that this offer could lead to big problems at security. ("Did you pack all the bags yourself").

And, on a slightly different topic, I looked into courier flights a while ago and concluded that it was pretty much a dead end, in large part because international fares have gone down so much that it just wasn't worth it. The glory days of courier flights were when prices were controlled at high levels.

And, the offer to pay on arrival sets off bells. With all respect to the offering party, couriers generally get their tickets paid for up front and, sometimes, pay for some portion of the ticket, before departure.

This person is not a courier company so it would be easier for them to pay where they can meet.

Given the FT community and this poster's FT reputation, I would have no doubt of getting paid.

I wonder what the TSA would have to say about this these days.

This person is not a courier company so it would be easier for them to pay where they can meet.

Given the FT community and this poster's FT reputation, I would have no doubt of getting paid.

I certainly did not mean, in any way, to say any thing negative about derpelikan who is, no doubt of very fine, FT, charactor.

But, I think the security issues may put the kibosh on this idea.

It is kinda sad really. When I lived overseas, years ago, I would often ask someone at the airport who only had one bag to check one of my extras to save a few bucks. Never had any problems doing so and met some very nice people. Now, I suspect that folks would be calling security.

"Did anyone unknown to you pack these bags?"
"Uhhhhhh...kind of."

DINGDINGDINGDING

hi,

wow , never thought i would actually pay someone for this kind of job :)

i have to sent 49 hats from the US to munich.
these hats are samples and therefor there should be no problem with the customs.

fedex did quote me 490USD, UPS 330USD.

its 3 boxes around 60cm x 50cm .
weight around 40KG.

if any mileage runner is planning to do a mileage run and could use a payment to get his total cost for the ticket down, we would pay you 200USD upon arriving in munich in cash.

obviously this can only be done by a STAR GOLD who can carry 40KG of weight.

please pm me if you flying out to munich next week .

cheers dp.


$200 sounds little steep. Why Staralliance Gold? Wouldn't any elite with luggage allowance greater than 40kg qualify to do this?

http://www.jupiterair.com/

How does someone find or register to be a courier?

http://www.jupiterair.com/

I did courier with them once before: no miles. It was my one and only courier trip. The savings didn't make up for the loss of miles and better flight times.

Just noticed this thread that was bumped up is from 2001. I'm sure we have a lot more recent courier threads than it.

I'm going to go ahead and close this 6 year old thread..

Regards,

Flipside