Added: 06/17/2005 |
Airfare Consolidators Will Help You Save Your MoneyAirfare consolidators offer huge savings on airfare and overseas excursions.
Do you want to take a trip abroad but don't think you can spring for the airfare and hotel costs? Discount travel and airfare consolidators may be your solution.
Airfare consolidators are companies that buy large blocks of seats from airlines at steep discounts. They then sell those tickets to the public at prices below the published fares. Some consolidators also offer discounted hotel rooms and car rentals.
Airlines sell discounted tickets to airfare consolidators because they know that they probably will not be able to sell all of their seats at the published fares. Thus, selling to airfare consolidators enhances the airlines' chance of having full flights and enables them to get cash in their hands right away.
Airfare consolidators generally beat the prices offered by discount travel agencies, though some airfare consolidators actually have agency status - because many of the discount travel agencies rely on consolidators for tickets. Essentially, the discount travel agency is serving as a middleman, selling tickets only to the general public. Airfare consolidators, on the other hand, might sell to the public as well as to travel agencies. Just remember: it is best to use consolidators during the height of the travel season and for last-minute trips when published air fares are at their peak and seat availability is low.
"We have consolidated rates with 26 major airlines and offer international rates year-round substantially lower than those published," boasts one of the managers of Economy Travel Agency. Such agencies may offer a flight on United from New York to London for nearly 40% off the published fare. So do not miss your chance to travel for a less price and put your dream into life.
You will ask:"How can I connect with these discounted rates?" Most airfare consolidators have Websites that list reduced fares for various destinations on major and smaller airlines and allow you to book reservations. For example, OnlineTravel, a Rosemont, Illinois-based consolidator, recently listed discounts on flights to South America from several major U.S. airports for as much as 60% off published prices. It also offered savings of up to 67% on business class and first class seats to London from New York.
Bargains always come with a price, so before rushing to the Internet or the travel section of a major newspaper for the airfare consolidators of your choice, be aware of a few potential drawbacks. For example, many consolidators deal with somewhat obscure foreign airlines. If you prefer to travel only on large domestic or international airlines, your choices could be limited and you may have to pay more. The advice here is obviously to only travel with airlines with which you are comfortable.
Second, once you buy a ticket on a particular airline through an airfare consolidator, you are typically locked into that airline. Very few consolidator tickets allow you to change airlines. Also, refunds are not always available to the traveler and, if they are, they are usually through the consolidator only.
There are remedies to ease your travel fears. First of all, use a credit card to pay for the ticket to allow for a "stop payment" should problems arise. Secondly, find airfare consolidators close to your home and take out travel insurance to cover losses in the event you can not travel due to some unforeseen circumstance and your ticket is nonrefundable. Thirdly, ask your friends and acquaintencies about airfare consolidators they have applied to. These safety measures should prevent you from getting into the trouble with air tickets.
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