From: jellinek@rutabaga.parc.xerox.com (Herb Jellinek)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: US West Coast/Asia Courier Companies
Date: 26 Aug 92 18:18:45 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Xerox PARC, Palo Alto, CA

I stole the following from the August 2, 1992 San Jose (California)
Mercury News travel section.  Since questions about courier
travel and cheap US <-> Far East airfares crop up regularly here, I
thought this article might be of interest.  If someone else has posted
this information recently, my apologies.  There look to be some good
bargains available, though it's possible that the uncertainties of
courier travel might make up for it.

All prices are in US dollars, of course.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Courier Travel lets you fly abroad at big discount

[Mercury News Staff and Wire Report]

It seems too good to be true: They pay you to travel.  Almost.

It's the world of courier travel, where travelers with free time and a
yen to see the world work as free-lance couriers, and get discounted
air tickets in the process.

Most courier services sell discounted seats on flights to free-lance
couriers -- only one to a flight -- and use the couriers' baggage
space to send luggage.  Thus, the courier generally can take only
carry-on baggage.

Here are some courier services that operate from the West Coast to
Asia and use free-lance couriers:

* Way to Go, 6679 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90028; (213) 466-1126.  It
represents a number of courier companies that fly between the West
Coast and the Far East, with some flights to Mexico and London.

From Los Angeles, flights go to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala
Lumpur, Penang, and Singapore.  Prices in the summer are as high as
$725 round trip and during the rest of the year are around $400 or
$450 but can be as low as $150 on short notice.  There is a membership
fee of $75 a year.  Members can ask to be informed of cancellations
and can take flights on short notice for $150 to $300.  Way to Go also
has offices in San Francisco, (415) 292-7801, and San Diego, (619)
224-0252.

* UTL, (415) 583-5074, represents several courier companies that fly
between San Francisco and Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila.  the cost
of a round trip is $450 to $550, depending on the destination and the
courier company; minimum or maximum stays and deposit requirements
also vary.

* Jupiter Air, (310) 670-5251, flies round trip from Los Angeles to
Seoul ($350), Singapore ($500) and Hong Kong ($480).  The company has
a San Francisco office, (415) 872-0845, and offers courier flights
from San Francisco to Singapore ($535), Hong Kong ($515) and Manila
($550).

A $200 deposit is required for all flights; to fly to any location
except Manila, couriers must pay a $35 three-year membership fee.
Couriers may stay for up to one month, with a one-week minimum for
Seoul.  Reserve two or three months ahead.

* Polo Express, (310) 410-6822 or (415) 742-9613, offers round-trip
flights from Los Angeles to Hong Kong ($350), Sydney and Melbourne
(each $499).  Flights are available from San Francisco to Singapore
($350), Bangkok ($400), and Hong Kong ($350).  Reservations should be
made six weeks to three months ahead.  There is no deposit or fee.
Couriers must stay three weeks in Australia and two weeks in the other
destinations.
Newsgroups: rec.travel