I.  Travel as an air courier - Airlines need couriers and will give you a great fare for acting as such. Cargo traveling as cargo may take up to a week or more to clear customs so packages that have to get to their destination as soon as possible are sent with a courier as personal luggage, which clears customs immediately. You will carry the paperwork for the merchandise and turn it over to an agent of the airline when you reach it's destination. I said (it's) not yours as you may continue on to a further destination. Most of my packages ended up in Japan while I continued on to Bangkok and Singapore.

1a. The main problem, with this type of travel, is that your restricted to the airlines hub cities. In Southeast Asia they are Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok.

1b. You will be responsible for your own arrangements to your final destination. i.e. round trip Bangkok to Bali. roundtrip because you have to fly back from their hub as you will probably be carrying a package on your return to the U. S.

1c. You'll be restricted to (carry on) luggage as their package will take the place of yours. 

1d.  You'll have to fly alone as the airlines only use one courier per flight.

   1d 1. You may be able to go with a friend by flying on consecutive days i.e. You fly on Friday, they  fly on Saturday and you meet them at the airport. Flying back the same way. 

1e. You must meet the airlines schedule or will be penalized. 

  1e1. that also means length of stay, you'll have to check with your agency for duration of your trip.

   If you can take your vacation without advanced notice you may be able to take advantage of free flights. Check agencies often for notices, keep your vacations open & just go where the airlines need you. Have fun, Al.

                  Here is a list of Links to courier agencies: click photos