Other Things to Know About Being an Air Courier

How Long Can I Remain Abroad?  Just how long you will be allowed to remain abroad is a matter for you and the company to decide in advance and always forms part of your contract. Departure and arrival dates and times are agreed prior to the flight and might only be changed in exceptional circumstances.

So if the contract says you arrive in Paris at 1pm and depart thirty minutes later, that’s exactly what you must do.

You’re unlikely to get more than a free lunch from that experience but thankfully few courier companies operate such tight schedules. Your job is to be flexible yourself and find a company willing to match the gesture.

What If I Can't Fulfil My Obligations?  None of us is perfect, and there will be times when family or personal problems mean you have to cancel your flight, just as ill health and unexpected emergencies might prevent you from travelling. In such cases, your contract will normally provide for a charge to be levied against you for cancelling your flight, the actual amount depending on notice given to the company. If you cancel at the last moment you will probably forfeit the entire cost of your flight.

For obvious reasons, the would-be ‘professional’ or full-time courier should try never to cancel a flight and only for the most urgent of reasons.

Do I Need Extra Travel Insurance?  All travellers should have insurance against loss or damage to possessions and illness or injury to themselves.

Sometimes insurance will be offered or provided by the hiring company, sometimes not.

If the company provides insurance, on rare occasions it will be free of charge, but
usually a reduce rate will apply to couriers.

Make sure you are covered even if this reduces an already limited budget. The
alternative can be very risky and potentially life-threatening not to mention very
expensive if you are taken seriously ill overseas or your expensive belongings are stolen or lost.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Being an Air Courier?  Potentially the biggest drawback is that sometimes you will be restricted to hand baggage only on your journey, since the courier company’s packages are effectively using what would otherwise be your space as passenger.

Sometimes you will be allowed to use some part of hold storage space where your baggage will be included alongside the courier company’s items. If not a hold-all or sports bag should carry enough clothing and personal items to provide for most short stays abroad.

Couriers, normally, are expected to travel alone, so holidays with family and friends might seem out of the question where you travel as courier.

But it might be possible to book a cheap flight for others on the same aircraft or have them take another flight with plans to meet you at the other end. Check this with the courier company (in case it compromises your contract) and make early plans for others to travel before accepting your assignment.