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If I were to sign up for this I would make it clear that it is not my luggage. In fact it is the first thing I would say to the airport staff: that I'm carrying

If I were to sign up for this I would make it clear that it is not my luggage. In fact it is the first thing I would say to the airport staff: that I'm carrying this package on behalf of this company and everything is supposed to be arranged an in order. If anything is off and airport security would decide to confiscate / disallow the package, that is not my problem. I'd shrug and say "do what you've got to do". It's the Airmule's responsibility to make sure that whatever papers need to be filed are filed.

camillomiller 9y ago
I think that it can't work like that. Checked bags are tied to your ticket, so you're responsible for them.
paganel 9y ago
>It's the Airmule's responsibility to make sure that whatever papers need to be filed are filed. As the article says, it doesn't work like that in countries like China (and I suppose it doesn't work like that in many other countries). You're 100% responsible for the package you're carrying unless this happens: > One of those exceptions is to be the authorized representative of a “common carrier.” These are companies like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or the airlines themselves So, as the article says, if someone decides to fill your bag with heroin up to the top Airmule will have nothing to do with it, the death-sentence will be all yours.
- ptaipale 9y ago
  In fact, it doesn't work like that in any country. For a good reason, when you come to think of it. What you bring in to the country is yours, you can't escape responsibility except by becoming a freight company which is then subject to entirely different responsibilities (and lack of rights).
- gus_massa 9y ago
  > it doesn't work like that in countries like China It doesn't work also in countries like USA. (I think we agree.) And it doesn't work in other countries where the security is not so tough like Argentina. [Hi from Argentina!] It's not exactly the same case, but ... from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/magazine/the-professor-the-bikini-model-and-the-suitcase-full-of-trouble.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/magazine/the-professor-the... > [...] but when he arrived at the airline counter, he was greeted by several policemen. Asked to identify his luggage — “That’s my bag,” he said, “the other one’s not my bag, but I checked it in” [...]
- LeifCarrotson 9y ago
  >> These are companies like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or the airlines themselves The question that needs to be asked is "Is Airmule one of these companies, and are Airmule couriers authorized representatives of Airmule?". The distinction is not that Airmule is a company that provides services in the manner of a common carrier. It's whether they're recognized as such by the government. This is probably done by filing papers in the US and in China. Then they could answer "We are a common carrier, license number XYZ. Users sign form ABC to become an official Airmail representative." A slightly less important but still relevant question is whether operating a courier service using an airline which itself offers the same service is a violation of the airline's TOS.
  - zyx321 9y ago
    The article gives an example of why that wouldn't work either: Certain items (e.g. alcohol) would not be legal for a common carrier to import, but you can take small amounts with you for your own consumption.
rwallace 9y ago
If you're planning to trust that strategy with your life, first check with a lawyer to make sure it will actually work. Remember, making an argument about how you think the law should work, and a prediction about how it will work, are two completely different activities that it's very easy to get confused.
qaq 9y ago
if you think about it for 1 sec you will realize why it does not work like that.
briandear 9y ago
You can make whatever you want “clear.” But if it’s on your ticket, it’s your bag.
quickben 9y ago
There are countries that do not care what you think. In the same fashion they will shrug, say, we don't care, and throw you in jail or take your life away.
skinnymuch 9y ago
Yeah I don't think it's going to down like that. It's still your baggage in a way. You announcing it's not yours before it possibly having illegal things in them isn't likely to magically make security be cool with you and let you off the hook. Chances are pretty good for the opposite.

camillomiller 9y ago

I think that it can't work like that. Checked bags are tied to your ticket, so you're responsible for them.

paganel 9y ago

>It's the Airmule's responsibility to make sure that whatever papers need to be filed are filed. As the article says, it doesn't work like that in countries like China (and I suppose it doesn't work like that in many other countries). You're 100% responsible for the package you're carrying unless this happens: > One of those exceptions is to be the authorized representative of a “common carrier.” These are companies like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or the airlines themselves So, as the article says, if someone decides to fill your bag with heroin up to the top Airmule will have nothing to do with it, the death-sentence will be all yours.

ptaipale 9y ago
In fact, it doesn't work like that in any country. For a good reason, when you come to think of it. What you bring in to the country is yours, you can't escape responsibility except by becoming a freight company which is then subject to entirely different responsibilities (and lack of rights).
gus_massa 9y ago
> it doesn't work like that in countries like China It doesn't work also in countries like USA. (I think we agree.) And it doesn't work in other countries where the security is not so tough like Argentina. [Hi from Argentina!] It's not exactly the same case, but ... from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/magazine/the-professor-the-bikini-model-and-the-suitcase-full-of-trouble.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/magazine/the-professor-the... > [...] but when he arrived at the airline counter, he was greeted by several policemen. Asked to identify his luggage — “That’s my bag,” he said, “the other one’s not my bag, but I checked it in” [...]
LeifCarrotson 9y ago
>> These are companies like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or the airlines themselves The question that needs to be asked is "Is Airmule one of these companies, and are Airmule couriers authorized representatives of Airmule?". The distinction is not that Airmule is a company that provides services in the manner of a common carrier. It's whether they're recognized as such by the government. This is probably done by filing papers in the US and in China. Then they could answer "We are a common carrier, license number XYZ. Users sign form ABC to become an official Airmail representative." A slightly less important but still relevant question is whether operating a courier service using an airline which itself offers the same service is a violation of the airline's TOS.
- zyx321 9y ago
  The article gives an example of why that wouldn't work either: Certain items (e.g. alcohol) would not be legal for a common carrier to import, but you can take small amounts with you for your own consumption.

rwallace 9y ago

If you're planning to trust that strategy with your life, first check with a lawyer to make sure it will actually work. Remember, making an argument about how you think the law should work, and a prediction about how it will work, are two completely different activities that it's very easy to get confused.

qaq 9y ago

if you think about it for 1 sec you will realize why it does not work like that.

briandear 9y ago

You can make whatever you want “clear.” But if it’s on your ticket, it’s your bag.

quickben 9y ago

There are countries that do not care what you think. In the same fashion they will shrug, say, we don't care, and throw you in jail or take your life away.

skinnymuch 9y ago

Yeah I don't think it's going to down like that. It's still your baggage in a way. You announcing it's not yours before it possibly having illegal things in them isn't likely to magically make security be cool with you and let you off the hook. Chances are pretty good for the opposite.