I saw this article in a recent Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...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?

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!

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.

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?

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!