Thomas

There is a long thread in the travel agent/tours forum.<BR><BR>There's major food fight between travel agents and one of the agents is giving away all their secrets.

Owl

Thanks, Thomas, but it would be simpler if you just told us what the big secret is supposed to be (look for companion tickets, book on line, use Southwest when possible). That's a very, very long thread with all kinds of poison and quibbling and who needs it?

Thomas

Actually a lot of good info is in this thread<BR><BR>Many WEB specials not available to TRAVEL AGENTS<BR>

an Agent

They are available to Smart Agents who know how to book them.<BR>I book Web Fares all the time.

calli

He is talking about booking back to back fares..using Expedia for one set and Travelocity for the other. Vic is the one giving the information out..it is no secret. The Airlines are aware such practices take place and call it "illegal". Is Vic a travel agent?

Georgia

How "illegal" is illegal? This practice has been discussed here before, and I had to use it for a series of about 8 12-hr. turnaround trips from one city to another to get 1 hr. medical treatment and then get back to work. No way could I have afforded walk-up unrestricted fare with no Sat. stay-over, and the medical treatment was crucial.<BR><BR>The gate agents sometimes seemed to have figured this out, but I never had to turn in a ticket or explain myself or pay a fee. But I was always afraid I would.<BR><BR>Has anyone ever been "caught" and if so, what happened to them.

Phil

I've done it a few times with no problem. But don't try it through a travel agent they won't do it for you. If they get caught, it's curtains for them.

calli

The airlines say you must adhere to the rules of the ticket..regardless! The way I look at it, how are they to know if I book one set of tickets with Expedia and the other with Travelocity! Or with the airline direct. They don't "talk" to eachother.

LISA

The computers do speak to each other. If you book with one airline that is. Even though its two different computers, its one computer system for them. So you can be found.!! I had a client who did just that, they caught him, and took away his frequent flyer miles (over 2 million) , his frequent flyer status (gold elite for life), and made him pay the full coach fare for both tickets. Buyers beware. However, I do issue these tickets for clients if they request it, just do it on 2 different airlines...no one is none the wiser... So yes....travel agents do use this practice still....its not big secret!!!<BR>

reply

What VIC forgot to tell folks in that thread is that back to back tickets are illegal.<BR><BR>Now the airlines have computer software that catches these types of tickets. And the penalties are very very stiff. Usually minimum of $1500.00 per ticket.<BR><BR>As for the poster who believes the airlines do not talk to each other. Better think again. Years ago that was true. With the huge developement in computer software, it is now NO LONGER TRUE. They know exactly who is buying, how much you are buying, what times of the day you prefer to fly, what your seat preferences are, and they also know you address and phone numbers. So you change those up you say. Oh well, they cross-reference them. So don't think you can hide. It just isn't possible. And each of the web sites post the rules and conditions of carriage. That is all they are legally obligated to do. Whether you choose to read and understand the 60 pages or more is entirely up to you. But don't think you will whine and cry your way out of having to pay the difference if you choose to book back to back and get caught.<BR><BR>To the man who did it for medical reasons. They probably saw on your face or in your body language that you weren't feeling well. And they more likely than not felt sorry for you. They are human's and when you work with human's long enough in this industry you can tell who are the crooks and cheap skates and who are the disadvantaged. Hope you are doing better now.