Being an Air Courier

[icemann]

Has anyone become an air courier or known anyone who has ? (N.B. I'm talking about LEGAL courier work with the IAATC)

Is this a good way to get Frequent Flyers points / Status ? How easy is it to get a job as a courier, and have people had problems with going to one place on a job and having difficulties going home (i.e. do they give you return flights or just one way) ?

To me, it seems a somewhat, unknown about area, almost secretive ; not a great deal of people seem to know about it.

Has any ever had any good / bad experiences about it that they would like to talk about ? Some say that whoever you courier for will pay a percentage / some of the ticket price, maybe all, but that's in return for your cargo space.

 

[wleong]

There was an article in Money Magazine (refer link). It was also featured on television about a year ago or so.

http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/money/Other/stories/story_1147.asp

Sorry I do not know of anyone that has done it but I do know that you do not get ff points.

Good Luck!

 

[icemann]

Cheers for that, much appreciated mate.

 

[Rick93]

I once worked for Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. Certain detainees who were to be deported had to have an escort onboard the aircraft. Sometimes it was just one 'security' officer, others required two security staff, and others again, needed two security staff plus a nurse (to administer sedating drugs).
The ACM company paid all expenses, plus paid their staff time and a half while overseas.
I never actually went on escort duty myself...... just my luck! as soon as I commenced work, a female officer was abducted in Nigeria..... the company transferred escort duties to male prison officers from Long Bay for a while until they reassessed security needs.
.....but I don't think the staff could claim the FF points. The airlines involved varied. It was up to the airline that failed in it's internal security procedures (by allowing an Unlawful Non-Citizen to enter Australia without passport / ID etc.) to cover the costs of the deportation..... that is, the total cost including all escort officer's expenses.
I believe ACM is now once again using it's own staff to escort UNCs out of Australia.

regards,