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Flying to and from China just got significantly cheaper.
We’re talking USD199-400 for roundtrip airfare between China and the US on major commercial airlines. And yes – it’s legal.
Thanks to Airmule, a new web app built in Los Angeles that launched this past March, travelers can now sell their luggage space to certified shipping companies for cash.
It works like this: list your flight info on airmule.com (or opt to book a flight directly through the site) and if there’s a demand for a courier on those flights, you may choose to sell one or both of your allocated spaces for checked bags, earning USD150 per bag. Sell both of your luggage spaces flying to and from your destination and you will earn up to USD600.
Cofounded by Rory Felton and Sean Yang in late 2015, Airmule is currently available for anyone flying out of Beijing or Shanghai to the US or vice versa. In the near future, the service will expand to include Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as more cities worldwide.
“Our mission as a company is to be global, so within a short period of time we hope to be servicing many countries all over the world,” Felton told us over a WeChat call. “We’re trying to enable everyone to travel the world for the lowest price possible.”
Airmule lets travelers act as couriers on behalf of TSA certified shippers, which have actually been transporting goods on commercial airlines for years – this is nothing new.
The experience for travelers is a breeze: prepackaged, inspected luggage is handed to you at the airport and is 100-percent guaranteed safe for travel. When you arrive at your destination, a shipping representative will meet you at the airport to receive the luggage. And that's it!
You’ll find a chunk of money deposited into your bank account within 24-48 hours of completing the trip.
Felton says the web app – which is currently only available in English and US dollars – will soon be localized to include Mandarin and offer payments in renminbi. A mobile app is also in the works.
For anyone concerned about applying for a Chinese visa – or traveling in country upon arrival – Airmule can help with that too.
“We’re trying to help our travelers to make sure they have a really great experience,” says Felton. “We’ve already brought thousands of Americans out to China who had never thought they would go. And so, I feel like we’re almost creating this cultural bridge between the countries – or just contributing to the bridge that already exists – and it’s been so exciting to do that.”
Want to give Airmule a try? Visit airmule.com to get started.
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