| Unless you happen to be wealthy and have a | | | | Here are some samples of the approximate |
| lot of free time, chances are you wish you | | | | discounts on return fares, obtained through a |
| could fly more often than you currently can. | | | | simple internet search: New York to Paris, |
| Airfare is, of course, the most cost | | | | $250; Los Angeles to Sydney, $400. In some |
| prohibitive element of long distance travel. | | | | cases, if you are on their call list, the |
| Many people find themselves in situations | | | | courier may become desperate with a last |
| where they know someone they could stay with | | | | minute flight and offer it for free. |
| in another city - so accommodations would be | | | | |
| free - but there's simply no way of being | | | | Now, with such extreme discounts, there must |
| able to get there affordably. In terms of | | | | be a catch, right? Of course: courier flying |
| discount travel, there are some solutions to | | | | would be simply too good to be true it didn't |
| expensive airfares that are worth looking | | | | come with an extreme lack of flexibility. |
| into if you are flexible and interested on a | | | | Courier flying works by placing yourself on a |
| short visit rather than a long trip. | | | | list to be contacted by the companies. You're |
| | | | not likely to receive much notice, and until |
| One of the cheapest ways you can fly is | | | | you board the plane, your fate is entirely in |
| called courier flying. How this works is: | | | | the hands of the courier company: if there is |
| courier companies exist that specialize in | | | | a change or a problem with the package, for |
| delivering relatively small packages quickly | | | | example, you're out of luck. |
| - things like important business documents | | | | |
| etc. . . and what these companies want is | | | | More so than other types of discount travel, |
| your baggage allotment on a flight. So they | | | | courier flying is dependant on you being able |
| will offer extremely discounted fares in | | | | to establish a repoire with the company. If |
| order to get your baggage allotment. | | | | you have been flexible and completed flights |
| | | | for a company in the past, you may be able to |
| If you sign up for a courier flight, your job | | | | establish a relationship where they call you |
| will be to show up at the airport with carry | | | | first to offer a flight, in which case you'll |
| on luggage only, meet someone with a package | | | | have some more options. |
| who will check it onto the plane in your | | | | |
| space (you won't normally have to handle the | | | | Regardless, to engage in courier flying you |
| package), and take the flight. In most cases | | | | have to be very flexible, and although it is |
| you are required to take a return flight as | | | | one of the most extreme forms of discount |
| well in a relatively short time (usually a | | | | travel available, it remains fairly |
| few days, and rarely more than a month), | | | | restrictive. If you're interested your best |
| which is why courier travel is more suitable | | | | bet is to try one or two courier flights and |
| to quick cross-country visits than long term | | | | hope that you can establish a good |
| travel. | | | | relationship with the company. |
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