If you’re desperate for a hot Euro summer but your empty bank account is screaming at you, there’s a way to get that flight for cheap or even free.
An Aussie start-up called Juurnee has created a way for folks to get paid while taking flights to locations such as Paris or London, but you will have to work on the flight over. And no, I don’t mean serving wine or jumping into the pilot seat!
Let me explain: it’s kind of a matchmaking solution. You see, there are a bunch of people who need an extra pair of hands while travelling on long-haul flights.
It could be parents needing help with their kids, elderly, injured or disabled people, unaccompanied minors or even anxious flyers. The platform simply pairs up those looking for help on the flight over with savvy travellers who want a bargain.
Those seeking a Juurnee companion can offer a fee from $500 to $1200 plus a 10 per cent commission, with those working receiving the full amount minus a three per cent fee. Considering some of the routes can mean a 25-hour journey, a $1200 fee is decent, ending up at $48 per hour.
“If it’s to help with children, people typically pay a bit more,” Juurnee founder Rachel Crampton told Seven News. “If it’s someone who is elderly or an anxious traveller, you might pay a bit less.”
The service can be booked one way or return, and the start-up has a particular focus on the Sydney to London route at the moment.
I’m intrigued by the whole idea, but I’m also not enamoured with the thought of taking care of a screaming baby for an entire flight. I find it hard enough to deal with when it’s not my own baby, let alone one I’m partly responsible for!
I was also wondering about the whole safety issue… like, how do you know if you can trust somebody with your unaccompanied minor or your kids? The start-up has a review system, similar to something like Airbnb, where you can get a glimpse into their previous work before choosing them.
Juurnee also says it offers 24/7 five-star support, and the company actually keeps the payments for 48 hours after the trip ends. That way, if the trip isn’t completed, the companion doesn’t receive payment.
And look, there’s always a catch when the word ~free~ is involved… but having to work an entire flight, along with layovers, is a pretty big sacrifice. If anyone gives Juurnee a go, could you slide into my DMs and let me know how it went? I’m not sure I’m game enough to risk it for the biscuit.
Lead image: Getty
The post This New Aussie Start-Up Lets You Fly To Europe For Free Or At A Lower Cost But There’s A Catch appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
