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If you’re prepared to be a courier for the airline industry you can snap up some super-cheap bargains on long-haul flights. A courier flight is when you accompany a vetted package on a flight, allowing you to buy heavily-discounted flights to certain long-haul destinations.

Once a widespread phenomenon, courier flights have become extremely rare as companies like DHL and UPS find ways to reduce their transport costs without using couriers.

In fact, so far we’ve only found one flight that you can do as a courier – that’s Tokyo with British Airways. We hope more will come back and if you know of any, let us know in the comments below.

What’s involved?

Courier companies often find that sending a package with a passenger is cheaper than sending it as an unaccompanied shipment. It also allows them to bypass a lot of typical customs delays.

So – they purchase economy class tickets and resell them on to ‘air couriers’ who accompany the package. You pick up the package from the airport from the company representative, take it on board your flight and store it as hand luggage, or occasionally as main luggage.

At your destination you take the package and hand it over the the representative on the other side. Job done – and you have a cheap flight for your troubles. And there’s always a return flight as part of the deal, on which you may not have to pick up a package at all.

How do I do it?

British Airways Travel shops are one of the very few players still left in the air courier market. They sell discounted tickets from Heathrow only one destination now – Tokyo.

There have two flights a day to Tokyo and the maximum stay is three weeks. You pick up the package, usually some documents, from their desk at the airport.

Just call them on 0870-320-0301, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm and tell them when you want to go.

How much can I save?

British Airways Travel Shop offer return flights to to Tokyo for £300 upwards depending on when you go.

They require you to stay for two weeks or less, but for £55 you can stay for a third week. That’s still up to a 50% saving on flights booked using ebookers for the same time slots.

Things you should know…

To be a courier you have to be over the age of 18, and there is usually only one seat per flight, so it’s more suitable for solo travellers.

Be aware too, that many air courier websites, which ask for a fee to sign up to courier flight alerts, no longer accept new customers, or have closed down.

Is it dodgy?

No, don’t worry! We’re talking about reputable courier companies here, not drugs cartels. The packages are fully vetted beforehand, and under international shipping law the courier company, and not the courier, is liable for the contents of the package.

On arrival at the destination, the documents are passed to the agent of the courier company who then takes the material from the baggage claim area and clears it through customs. A courier is never personally liable for the contents of the cargo.

So there you go – super cheap flights. If you find any more destinations you can fly to as a courier, let everyone know in the comments below.

Have you been a courier? Do you know of any other destinations you can pick up cheap flights to? Tell us about them on the Moneymagpie Facebook page.

30 Responses to “Get 50% off flights – Be a Courier”

Sara says:

March 26, 2012 at 10:32 am

I just contacted BA and was advised that the lowest fair will be £800 from April until December for flight couriers. Getting normal tickets is cheaper…..im confused. They wont budge on this.

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Sanjay says:

January 30, 2012 at 4:11 pm

I paid £650 for a RTW ticket just after 9/11. I got 13 flights!

Gonna get on this Courier flight to Japan this year also.

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- Mike says:
  
  February 7, 2012 at 5:59 pm
  
  I used to work in this BA courier department soon after the Millennium.
  
  In those days, we used to sell New York, Miami, Tokyo, Bangkok and Buenos Aires but, with the exception of Tokyo, there was never any actual courier work to be done so it was discontinued largely.
  
  One tip, if you fancy a bit of brinkmanship, the closer to the date you want to travel, the better the fare you tend to get as they’ll likely reduce them in order to sell them – which they must!
  
  Good luck.
  
  Reply
Fredy says:

December 22, 2011 at 4:00 pm

Do they only do couriers to Tokyo now, BA that is, and not to anywhere else, ie. North America?

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Jackthesmilingblack says:

July 28, 2011 at 3:12 am

I’m up for a courier flight from Tokyo to London, return. Have been a courier before so I know the ropes. This year (2011) would be good. Not burdened by gainful employment, so as soon as you like.
Brit on UK passport.
Get pack to me on this page.

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m k mirza says:

January 13, 2011 at 6:29 pm

could u send me courier advise for pakistan thanks
m k mirza

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lol says:

December 29, 2010 at 6:25 am

ps i was a twenty something at the time and was probably the only way i could of got down there on my salary etc … so its sad that most people get the granny smashed out of them now wen trying to travel… this world just 4 privelaged … sick

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lol says:

December 29, 2010 at 6:22 am

lol

funny aint it all the little things used to be able to do all shut down by big business, they jst wanna screw every penny out of u , i did a flight to sydney few years ago , was so jet lagged nearly left it on plane haha that wud of been a giggle,, good old days

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Tokyo Courier says:

October 29, 2010 at 7:26 pm

Did a courier flight Mar 2010.
LHR to NAR
BA Only Operate this flight.
You have to sign a contract and fax it back to World cargo in Hamburg.
£320 including taxes is what it cost me.
Get you own insurence.
Met by 2 members of BA world cargo staff.
20 Min wait at Narrita.
Then Get asked to speak to Customs/Immigration.
They thank you and free to go.
23kg full baggage allowance.
That’s the truth and its so simple you would be stupid to miss out. If you want to do it phone BA world Cargo and state when you want to goand they will fix you up.
Thanks and good luck.

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- Joe says:
  
  May 18, 2011 at 4:03 pm
  
  Hi,
  
  I did a courier flight in 2004 out of LAX. It only costed me $400 round trip to Singapore. But now I want to go from NY or as close to NY as possible (maybe Chicago) to the Philippines as close to Daveo as possible maybe Cebu? Whatever I can get. I will make arrangements to get me to the final destination.
  
  Please anyone email me if you have some info.
  
  Reply
  - ARNY CHAPMAN says:
    
    January 21, 2012 at 5:53 pm
    
    I SEE ON COURIER WEB SITE U WANT TO GO TO PHILIPPINES AS A COURIER…..ME TOO!
    10 YEARS AGO I WAS A COURIER FOR JUPITER & FLEW JAPAN AIRLINES INTO NARITA & THEN ON TO HK.
    I SLEPT OVERNITE IN HK AIRPORT & THEN CAUGHT AM FLIGHT ON CATHY PACIFIC TO CEBU OR MANILA.
    
    BUT…..I WAS TOLD ALL OF THIS WAS ELIMINATED AFTER 911, SO BE CAREFUL OF SCAM COMPANIES TRYING TO SELL U WHORTHLESS MEMBERSHIPS OR TRAVEL BOOKS.
    
    IVE GONE TO PH 10 TIMES & AM NOW PLANNING MY 11TH VISIT THERE.
    
    Reply
varun says:

September 11, 2010 at 9:47 pm

need to travel to India on Christmas day.,..any cheap courier flight option’s available?
thanks
v

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- Jasmine Birtles says:
  
  September 12, 2010 at 12:53 pm
  
  Frankly I think it’s unlikely although it’s always worth asking. However, travelling on Christmas Day is usually a cheap option anyway. Try various flight comparison services and see what’s out there. You could be surprised!
  
  Reply
JW says:

August 23, 2010 at 9:13 am

I’m looking to fly from Tokyo to Europe. Does anyone have any information regarding such flights? Tokyo-Frankfurt would be best but London would be fine too. I called BA and they informed me that they only sell couriers tickets originating in England, but not Tokyo.

Any help would be appreciated!

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Dr Patrick Bower says:

June 24, 2010 at 5:50 pm

Travelling to MCO orlando international on the 14th of Aug return on the 21st of August. Willing to be a courier what are the chances and cost of a flight

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Melanie Salminen says:

May 15, 2010 at 12:29 am

Hi there could I quote some of the content from this post if I link back to you?

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Sarah Cleaver says:

April 5, 2010 at 8:05 pm

Hi…

Can anybody please tell me if its possible to go to Johannesburg from London using courier flights?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

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chris says:

January 15, 2010 at 11:49 am

Sorry guys, BA only fly to Toyko now, just called them for BKK, so got the info from the main man!!

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- Jasmine Birtles says:
  
  January 15, 2010 at 1:34 pm
  
  What a shame! Thanks for the update
  
  Reply
Oliver Saunders says:

December 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Would like to travel from London to Jamaica as a
courier. How do I go about it please?
Many thanks,
Oliver

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- Jasmine Birtles says:
  
  December 12, 2009 at 9:19 pm
  
  Get in touch with British Airways Travel Shop and ask them if they have flights to Jamaica and if they take couriers on them. They should let you know who to get in touch with if they do.
  
  Reply
Michael says:

November 5, 2009 at 1:11 pm

Amy: Travel insurance, hotels, transport, meals – it’s all paid by you. This is all just like booking any ordinary flight. The only difference is you help the airline with courier duties on arrival. So, in that regard it is no different to going on expedia and booking a flight to wherever – if it’s just the flight you are booking, you have to sort everything else out yourself. There are certainly no ‘courier package deals’ or the like.

Sue Andrew: To my knowledge there is only one airline and route from the UK which offers courier flights anymore, and that is British Airways – London Heathrow to Tokyo.

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- Sue says:
  
  March 25, 2010 at 8:37 pm
  
  Hi
  I am trying to get a telephone number or e-mail address for the BA courier service to Tokyo .
  Do you have it?
  
  thanks
  
  Sue
  
  Reply
  - Paul Prowse says:
    
    March 26, 2010 at 12:12 pm
    
    You should be able to contact them on: 0870 320 0301
    
    You can try and save on your phone bill by using http://www.saynoto0870.com
    
    Reply
- w chia says:
  
  October 21, 2010 at 9:56 am
  
  hi michael,
  
  i weekly fly from london en frankfurt to japan (tokyo narita)
  
  how can i work as a courier please advise me…
  
  Reply
Derek says:

October 22, 2009 at 2:24 pm

We operate onboard couriers to all business hubs in the world. Booking courier flights is not as easy as you think. The information on th einternrt regarding onboard couriers in outdated and from the eighties.

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Tamsin says:

October 13, 2009 at 8:40 am

Could you please send me any information you have on being a courier from Sydney to UK (do the trip about twice a year).
Thanks

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Straight talk says:

August 28, 2009 at 10:51 am

You bunch of idiots – read the article. They won’t pay for your hotels, meals, insurance, etc. They buy a flight and then sell it on to you!

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jimmy batten says:

June 3, 2009 at 9:17 am

Would like to fly to chicgo at low cost as courier

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Michael says:

May 15, 2009 at 7:58 pm

I recently did this with BA from London to Tokyo (the only route they now offer it on).

It’s best to book at least a month or two in advance, depending on the popular seasons (like Cherry Blossom Season Japan or Summer).

You check in like normal at Heathrow, get on the flight, fly to Tokyo and then get met at Narita Baggage Hall by the company representatives. They ask you to sit over at the side and they bring over a bunch of documents from the baggage reclaim. You sit with them for about 30 minutes while they fill in paperwork and after a while a customs officer comes over, looks at your passport and immigration form and tells you to go.

That’s it.

I was worried at the time that I hadn’t done it correctly – it was too easy. Yet there was nothing weird at all. I returned 10 days later to Narita for my flight home, checked in, got on board and came back. Completely easy and hastle free.

My flight cost £320, and I know from travelling to Japan before the lowest you’d ever normally get is about £500. More often than not it’s £600-800. So this is an excellent way of going cheap to Japan, which by the way is an awesome place to visit.

As the writer of the article said, there is a restriction on the time you can stay – and you have to travel solo (unless someone books onto the same flight as you on a full ticket). But if you’re flexible it’s really the best way to go.

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