Travel: Departures: Brought to book

ANYONE thinking of spending pounds 11.95 on the new edition of The Insiders Guide to Air Courier Bargains, by Kelly Monaghan, should consider whether it is worth the investment - for courier flights out of the UK at least.

Keith Madden, office manager of Courier Travel Services, says that there are now only three companies in the UK offering cut-price courier flights to the general public. 'We and Polo Express provide couriers for British Airways, while Bridges Worldwide provides couriers for Virgin Atlantic. And that's it. I'm not sure it's worth buying a book to find that out,' said Mr Madden.

Nor is courier travel quite the bargain it was. Ten years ago, couriers could hope to get a Concorde flight to New York for next to nothing. A return subsonic flight to New York now costs pounds 165, barely less than a fare from Trailfinders or STA Travel.

For information on courier flights, send an sae to: Bridges Worldwide, Unit 61G, Building 521, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 3UJ (081-759 5040, 081-759 8069 fax); Courier Travel Services, 346 Fulham Road, London SW10 9UH (071-351 0300, 071-351 0170 fax); Polo Express, 208 Epsom Square, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 2BL (081-759 5383, 081- 759 5697 fax).