From: 34AEJ7D@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Air Courier FAQ - sort of
Date: 23 Jul 92 19:46:13 GMT

Several people have asked me for copies of this, so I am posting
the data I have received on this subject here, since I cannot answer
all the inquiries personally. Many thanks to those who provided
this information.

W. K. Gorman

|----------------------------Original message----------------------------
|
|Courier agencies in NY
|-----------------------
|Courier Travel Service
|800) 922-2359
|516) 791-4600
|Offers flights worldwide; I believe mainly to Europe.
|
|Now Voyager, Inc.
|212) 431-1616
|11:30am - 6pm.  Recorded message at other times.
|Seemed to be the most extensive one in terms of flights.  Offered numerous
|flights all over Europe for
|as late as Thanksgiving.  They also offer excellent "last minute" flights.
|You go for either 1 or 2 weeks most of the times, and you "bring" the company's
|luggage for both
|ways (i.e. going to, and returning from Europe)
|
|Halbart
|718) 656-8189
|10am-3pm only
|
|East-West Express
|516) 561-2360
|Flies only to Singapore
|
|World Courier
|718) 978-9400
|9am-noon only
|requires personal interview in NY
|does not fly to Paris.
|
|Jupiter Air
|718) 341-2095
|Only to Hong Kong
|
|Dworkin Cosell
|212) 213-0036
|Israel only
|
|in Miami
|----------------
|A-1 International
|305) 594-1184
|
|Air Facilities
|305) 477-8300
|
|Agencies in Chicago
|---------------------
|TNT Chicago
|312) 453-7300
|
|Agencies in L.A.
|-------------------
|IBC Pacific
|213) 216-1637
|11am-4pm
|
|City link
|213) 410-9063
|
|Jupiter Air
|213) 670-5123
|
|Crossroads International
|213) 643-8600
|3pm-5:30 pm
|
|Midnight Express
|213) 673-1100
|
|Agencies in San Fran
|----------------------
|TNT San Fransisco
|415) 692-9600
|afternoons only
|
|
|Publications
|-------------
|Travel Unlimited
|P.O.Box 1058
|Allston, MA 02134
|attn: Steve Lantos
|$25 for 12 monthly issues
|
|Travel Secrets
|Box 2325
|NY, NY 10108
|$30 for 12 monthly issues
|
|Several people here have mentioned interest in courier travel.  Here is some
|information from an article in the Sunday issue of the Houston Chronicle.  The
|article mentions two courier companies:
|
|Now Voyager, (212) 431-1616, a $50 reg. fee covers 1 year from your first trip.
|Courier Travel Service, (800) 922-2359 or (516) 791-4600, charges no fee.
|
|The article gives an outline of what to expect:
|
|There are no refunds if you cancel and advance notice is generally short --
|less than two weeks. Couriers don't get an airline ticket till arriving at the
|airport.  A representative of the freight company, which has bought the
|ticket, checks in the items to be escorted as the courier's personal luggage
|and gives the claim check, ticket and boarding pass to the courier.  However,
|most of the couriers interviewed had not been met at the airport till just
|before (or sometimes after) flight time.
|
|On arrival, the courier turns over the claim check to a representative of the
|courier company.  He or she does not normally touch the freight.  On return,
|the same procedure is generally followed.  One courier interviewed was not
|met, and had to call for directions and go to the company's warehouse.
|
|The article also mentions two monthly newsletters containing tips on discount
|travel:
|
|Travel Secrets: $30 for 12 monthly issues, Box 2325 New York, NY 10108
|Travel Unlimited: $25 for 12 monthly issues, Box 1058,  Allston Mass. 02134
|
|I have no connection with any of these companies, and no first hand experience
|with courier companies.
|
|
|Travel Unlimited; PO Box 1058; Allston, Massachusetts 02134 publishes a
|newsletter describing opportunities to fly as a courier ( = cheap but carry-on
|luggage only) in a monthly newsletter.  An annual subscription costs $25 ($30
|foreign).  They accept check or money order.
|
|Disclaimer: I have no connection with Travel Unlimited, any airline, or any
|	    courier service.
|
|This is for the person who asked about courier travel information
|(sorry, I don't have the original post).
|
|There was an article in the July 21st San Francisco Chronicle
|(Sunday) about this subject.  At the end of the article, two
|handbooks are recommended:
|
|"The Air Courier's Handbook" ($10 to Big City Books, P.O. Box
|19667, Sacramento, CA, 95819)
|
|"A Simple Guide to Courier Travel" (ordered by calling
|1-800-344-9375, or by writing to Guide, P.O. Box 2394, Lake Oswego,
|OR  97035.  Cost: $15.95)
|
|Some courier flights allow you to take 22kg of your own luggage.
|I guess you will not get much discount in this case. Long Haul
|flights of such an arrangement normally saves you approx 25% of the
|full costs, that is fr London.
|
|There is  a flight guide which may answer some of your questions.
|
|The Air Courier  Guide Hand Book     5.99 Sterling
|
|** A step by step guide to courier Travel
|** Directory of Worldwide Air Courier Companies
|** from John Walker Books,
|        160 Cromwell Road,  LONDON SW5 0TL
Newsgroups: rec.travel