I’ve been writing about buying discount airline tickets from consolidators for nearly 25 years now, but many travelers still view it as something of a mystery–and possibly as vaguely shady. A few sensationalist writers still treat consolidators as an insider secret. The truth, of course, is much more prosaic. Like any other class of travel supplier, consolidators sometimes give you a good deal and sometimes they don’t. Here are some consolidator FAQs I get from travelers–and the answers I give.
Q: Just what are consolidators?
A: Consolidators are “outlet” wholesalers of the airline business–a channel through which airlines sell some tickets at prices below their lowest regular advertised prices. Some consolidators are strictly wholesalers, selling only to travel agencies, while others are also retailers–discount agencies–that sell to the public.
Q: Why do airlines sell through consolidators?
A: Airlines use consolidator marketers as a way of cutting prices on some seats while continuing to sell other seats at list prices. They also use consolidators to cut prices on international routes where they’d need government approval to cut prices openly–approvals that might be withheld, or at least delayed so long that the cuts would become moot.
Q: Do consolidators sell tickets for travel within the United States?
A: Sometimes. Consolidators usually can’t beat the lowest advertised prices from a low-fare line or sale fares during a fare war among the big lines. However, consolidators can often sell cheap tickets on which the big lines waive or ease the usual advance-purchase or minimum-stay limitations. At least one consolidator currently offers discounts of at least 20 percent on virtually any TWA ticket, including the cheapest. If you’re interested in that option, have your travel agency contact Global Discount Travel Services.
Q: Do consolidator tickets always cut the cost of international air trips?
A: Not always, but discounts are usually pretty good on routes from the United States to Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Travelers routinely report saving $100 to $300 per ticket. Savings on tickets to Europe are best in the peak seasons.
Q: Where can I buy a consolidator ticket?
A: Any retail travel agency can get one for you. Alternatively, you can try a discount retail agency–they typically publish small ads in weekend travel sections of big-city papers.
Q: Is there a risk in buying a consolidator ticket?
A: Sometimes. Unfortunately, the retail discount ticket market has more than its share of shady operators. If you decide to shop the discount market, stick with agencies in or near your home city. If something goes wrong, you can lean on the agency in person–and, in the worst case, you can haul it into small claims court. Set a deadline to get your ticket far enough in advance of departure that you have time to make an alternative arrangement if your first deal fails. And, if possible, buy with a charge card.
Q: Is there a risk in using a consolidator ticket?
A: No. Once you have a ticket and a confirmed reservation, there’s no risk. Some of the world’s biggest and most honored airlines sell through consolidators, at least some of the time. However, you may have to accept a few tradeoffs to get the best price–connecting flights rather than a nonstop, for example, or no frequent-flier credit.
