Searching for airline tickets costing a fraction of normal discount tickets? They exist, and Jeffrey Strain shows how to get hold of them



Everyone is always on the lookout for the best deal on international airline tickets. For many, there is one option allowing you to purchase tickets at significantly reduced prices in comparison to any discount tickets advertised in the newspaper. The main requirement is you have to be willing to travel light and have a flexible schedule. Welcome to the world of air travel courier services.

Air travel couriers are people who carry shipping documents on a flight for a courier company in exchange for a discounted ticket. These companies need couriers because it' often faster and cheaper to ship freight as luggage than as air cargo, or time sensitive materials such as business documents or medicines are being sent. Since these companies need your baggage allowance for these materials, you're not allowed to check through any of your own luggage. You must therefore travel with only the airline's allotted amount of carry-on baggage.

Since it's difficult to find people willing to travel overseas with only carry-on items, these companies must discount their tickets to find a courier. Although at peak travel times it's sometimes possible to find only minor reductions, 50% discounted tickets are widely available during most other seasons. Super-discounted tickets of 85% or more for last-minute flights (24 to 48 hours advance notice) are also common for those with truly flexible schedules.

Courier tickets are regular round-trip coach tickets. They are almost always non-refundable and nontransferable, so if there's any chance your plans will change, these aren't the right tickets for you. It depends on the courier company as to whether or not you can keep the frequent flier mileage earned, but the current trend is toward not allowing you to do so. Courier tickets vary in length of stay, but generally allow for at least a seven day stopover. On rare occasions they may be open-ended up to six months. It's common for the courier company to require you to be a courier on your return flight too, so this travel plan isn't for those wanting to do a lot of foreign shopping.

Due to the type of supplies being shipped, courier routes are limited to the world's main business centers. You won't find these tickets for any exotic getaway islands. For those travelling with a partner, it's usually possible to arrange courier flights within a day of each other to your desired destination, but rarely will you find courier seats on the same flight. Again, the more flexible both of your schedules are, the better the chance you'll both arrive at your destination on the same day.

For both your and the freight company's protection, you're not allowed to handle the baggage the freight company is shipping. This ensures that if for some reason something illegal was being shipped, you wouldn't be held responsible in any way. A courier company employee will meet you at the airport, go to the check-in counter with you and check the freight onto the plane. Once you arrive at your destination, you will give the shipping documents to another courier employee and he will take the freight from the baggage claim area and process it through customs. Once you've given the shipping papers to the courier company employee at your destination, you've finished your job and are free to do whatever you'd like. You only need to contact the company again if you'll be a courier on your return flight.

Although it's possible to reserve tickets with individual courier companies, it can be time consuming and difficult, although there are many companies offering tickets over the Net. Any search for "air courier flights" will come up with numerous links. For example, the International Association of Air Travel Couriers (www.courier.org) offers a convenient online bulletin of available courier destinations and reservation numbers. (You must register first. The form is available online and registration costs US$50.) Otherwise it is best to contact individual airlines directly.

There are round-trip courier flights from Tokyo to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Chicago, London and Singapore. If you're seeking a ticket for a friend to come and visit you in Japan, there are round-trip tickets originating from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and, increasingly, on less well-travelled routes too. Courier routes frequently change, so it's worthwhile checking for new services every month or so. With a bit of effort and a little persistence, you could be taking advantage of one of the few remaining bargain opportunities available for serious shoestring travel.

Reproduced by permission of Kansai Time Out.