Educate me, please: What IS a Consolidator and which is the best? What are the risks?
Aug 27th, 2006, 05:51 PM
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Educate me, please: What IS a Consolidator and which is the best? What are the risks?
Hello all:
I travel to Europe a lot on business and have only ever used my company Travel Agent, who is brilliant: I check out my options from the airlines’ websites, give her the details, she gives me options at different fare points and routings, I generally buy tickets that can be changed/refunded, because that is the nature of business travel – I have to be flexible. I also use her for my own inter-Europe travel arrangements, prepared to pay the fee, because she has been able to match any fares I found on the airlines’ own website and Expedia.com and has pulled me out of a few jams on occasions. I occasionally have used the airlines’ own travel sites to book tickets.
I am a complete neophyte when it comes to booking through a consolidator and am not even sure what they are, who they are and how they work. The topic came up with a recently retired friend, who wants to travel a lot, but obviously has a restricted budget, because of a fixed income. Of course, I am also thinking about my own traveling future, when I have to stretch the travel budget and wish to educate myself on the options. I would appreciate some input from those of you that have used consolidators and your experiences.
I did some research on this site and have found lots of information, but am still a little confused as to whether or not consolidators consistently offer better fares than the airlines’ own websites and if they offer the same degree of “flexibility” and customer service that booking through a TA or directly through the airlines’ websites.
I found the following websites from my research:
www.1800flyeurope.com
www.expedia.com
www.kayak.com
www.mobissimo.com
artisantravel.com
www.itasoftware.com
www.onetravel.com
www.faremax.com
www.orbitz.com
http://www.farecompare.com
Here are my questions, after reading several posts:
- Are all of these companies “consolidators”?
- What is the definition of a “consolidator” and how do they work?
- Is one better than another?
- In your experience, do they offer better fares than the airline websites?
- Are they able to offer low fares by routing passengers through circuitous routes?
- What about customer service? Not that Airline customer service is brilliant, but if problems occur (e.g. a missed connection on one leg of the journey because of one airline’s fault), who do you contact? Do you have the same “rights” as a passenger that booked through a TA or the Airline direct?
- Are there consolidators that specialize in or can offer reduced Business Class fares?
My advice to my friend was to check every option and understand the trade-off between low-cost and flexibility/security, but I am talking about something I know nothing about!
Sorry for the long post, but given the number of posts on the topic, I think that many posters would be interested in specifics and personal experiences.
I look forward to your responses and thank you in advance for taking the time to educate the neophyte.
Best regards … Ger
I travel to Europe a lot on business and have only ever used my company Travel Agent, who is brilliant: I check out my options from the airlines’ websites, give her the details, she gives me options at different fare points and routings, I generally buy tickets that can be changed/refunded, because that is the nature of business travel – I have to be flexible. I also use her for my own inter-Europe travel arrangements, prepared to pay the fee, because she has been able to match any fares I found on the airlines’ own website and Expedia.com and has pulled me out of a few jams on occasions. I occasionally have used the airlines’ own travel sites to book tickets.
I am a complete neophyte when it comes to booking through a consolidator and am not even sure what they are, who they are and how they work. The topic came up with a recently retired friend, who wants to travel a lot, but obviously has a restricted budget, because of a fixed income. Of course, I am also thinking about my own traveling future, when I have to stretch the travel budget and wish to educate myself on the options. I would appreciate some input from those of you that have used consolidators and your experiences.
I did some research on this site and have found lots of information, but am still a little confused as to whether or not consolidators consistently offer better fares than the airlines’ own websites and if they offer the same degree of “flexibility” and customer service that booking through a TA or directly through the airlines’ websites.
I found the following websites from my research:
www.1800flyeurope.com
www.expedia.com
www.kayak.com
www.mobissimo.com
artisantravel.com
www.itasoftware.com
www.onetravel.com
www.faremax.com
www.orbitz.com
http://www.farecompare.com
Here are my questions, after reading several posts:
- Are all of these companies “consolidators”?
- What is the definition of a “consolidator” and how do they work?
- Is one better than another?
- In your experience, do they offer better fares than the airline websites?
- Are they able to offer low fares by routing passengers through circuitous routes?
- What about customer service? Not that Airline customer service is brilliant, but if problems occur (e.g. a missed connection on one leg of the journey because of one airline’s fault), who do you contact? Do you have the same “rights” as a passenger that booked through a TA or the Airline direct?
- Are there consolidators that specialize in or can offer reduced Business Class fares?
My advice to my friend was to check every option and understand the trade-off between low-cost and flexibility/security, but I am talking about something I know nothing about!
Sorry for the long post, but given the number of posts on the topic, I think that many posters would be interested in specifics and personal experiences.
I look forward to your responses and thank you in advance for taking the time to educate the neophyte.
Best regards … Ger
Aug 27th, 2006, 06:27 PM
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I might not be knowledgeable enough to answer this, but I think that almost none of these is a consolidator. I'm not sure about 1-800FlyEurope.com - - they might be. On the other hand, in a vague sense of the word, maybe all the big online ticjeting websites are (expedia, travelocity, orbitz, etc).
On one level, a consolidator is simply a travel agency - - but they buy tickets in blocks at reduced prices from the airlines, and cross their fingers that they can sell them at a profit. I don't think they actually "take inventory" of any seats, though I assume that they guarantee the airline that will sell so many seats (perhaps systemwide).
I have used http://www.the-joy-of-travel.com with one good experience.
www.affordablepoland.com (also doing business as Sophisticated Traveler, Inc.) might be another. Never bought anything from them, but I had quite a good telephone chat with the owner once.
Doing a Yahoo! search led me to this company - - http://www.air-supply.com/air-supply/html/about_us.asp - - and they seem to say outright that they seek to provide "a quality travel web site for consolidated airline tickets"... - - I don't know anything about them.
In the (print edition) of the NY Times, there have always been a lot of ads for consolidators, or at least I thought so, in the travel section.
Hope you get other answers.
Best wishes,
Rex
On one level, a consolidator is simply a travel agency - - but they buy tickets in blocks at reduced prices from the airlines, and cross their fingers that they can sell them at a profit. I don't think they actually "take inventory" of any seats, though I assume that they guarantee the airline that will sell so many seats (perhaps systemwide).
I have used http://www.the-joy-of-travel.com with one good experience.
www.affordablepoland.com (also doing business as Sophisticated Traveler, Inc.) might be another. Never bought anything from them, but I had quite a good telephone chat with the owner once.
Doing a Yahoo! search led me to this company - - http://www.air-supply.com/air-supply/html/about_us.asp - - and they seem to say outright that they seek to provide "a quality travel web site for consolidated airline tickets"... - - I don't know anything about them.
In the (print edition) of the NY Times, there have always been a lot of ads for consolidators, or at least I thought so, in the travel section.
Hope you get other answers.
Best wishes,
Rex
Aug 27th, 2006, 06:56 PM
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Rex's definition is spot on.
Do consolidators offer better customer service than ______________. Well, probably not. I think you'll only get anecdotal information on this.
I've heard of people getting FF miles on tickets bought through consolidators, but it never happened for me, on 4 consolidator purchased flights.
One of those, by the way, was through a good TA. But that was back in the days when TAs made money.
I have found recommended consolidators through guidebooks. Fodors and Frommers, and Steves,too. I think that some European flight consolidators specialize in certain destinations (see Rex's reference above to Poland) and if I need a consolidator, I look in the "Getting There" sections of specific guidebooks for their consolidator recommendations. It has worked well on the occasions that I've done it.
I notice that now that so many people by tickets on the 'net, that I don't hear as much talk of consolidators as I used to. But I think if I needed to, I would use a consolidator again.
Do consolidators offer better customer service than ______________. Well, probably not. I think you'll only get anecdotal information on this.
I've heard of people getting FF miles on tickets bought through consolidators, but it never happened for me, on 4 consolidator purchased flights.
One of those, by the way, was through a good TA. But that was back in the days when TAs made money.
I have found recommended consolidators through guidebooks. Fodors and Frommers, and Steves,too. I think that some European flight consolidators specialize in certain destinations (see Rex's reference above to Poland) and if I need a consolidator, I look in the "Getting There" sections of specific guidebooks for their consolidator recommendations. It has worked well on the occasions that I've done it.
I notice that now that so many people by tickets on the 'net, that I don't hear as much talk of consolidators as I used to. But I think if I needed to, I would use a consolidator again.
Aug 27th, 2006, 07:41 PM
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A consolidator can be online and off. And their fares often can still earn FF miles. Often even elite-qualifying miles.
rex has given very good description about consolidators. Another way to look at it is that a fare is a consolidator fare when it's not published and cannot be obtained directly from the airline.
A lot of agents (online and off) sell both types of tickets. And sometimes there's no hard distinction between a consolidator fare and a published fare. Also, whenever you buy a ticket through an agent (published or not), you still have to deal with the agent to make any changes to your itinerary before your flight; after travel has commenced, then you deal with the airline.
In general, whoever you buy your ticket from, you should understand:
- find out the final price including all taxes, fees and shipping charges (in case a paper ticket is issued)
- refund and exchange rules
- whether the fare class gives you FF miles and/or elite-qualify miles (if that's important to you)
- upgrade rules (if that's important)
rex has given very good description about consolidators. Another way to look at it is that a fare is a consolidator fare when it's not published and cannot be obtained directly from the airline.
A lot of agents (online and off) sell both types of tickets. And sometimes there's no hard distinction between a consolidator fare and a published fare. Also, whenever you buy a ticket through an agent (published or not), you still have to deal with the agent to make any changes to your itinerary before your flight; after travel has commenced, then you deal with the airline.
In general, whoever you buy your ticket from, you should understand:
- find out the final price including all taxes, fees and shipping charges (in case a paper ticket is issued)
- refund and exchange rules
- whether the fare class gives you FF miles and/or elite-qualify miles (if that's important to you)
- upgrade rules (if that's important)
Aug 27th, 2006, 08:08 PM
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You've had a pretty good definition of consolodators - they buy in bulk from the airlines at reduced prices not available to the public and then re-sell at a markup. Airline reservation personnel call this fare class "bulk". Back in the days when there were still empty seats on most flights, it worked out well. These days, with flights so full, the deals are not as frequent, and what many consolidators are selling is just a reservation service. When you look at many/most of the online consolidators you get only the same fares that are available elsewhere, including on the airline website itself, and usually have to pay an additional processing fee.
Re: FF credit - it depends on the airline, but most will not give full, sometimes any credit for bulk tickets, and very few allow EQM on bulk. If you buy a ticket from a consolidator and get FF credit (esp EQM) it is likely either airline error or that you did not buy a bulk ticket, but a published fare class.
You asked an imporant question not yet addressed - about customer service. Most airlines will tell you that you need to speak with the agency where you bought the ticket if you want to make changes. Once you have begun your journey, handling things such as delays or flight cancellation is still the airline responsibility.
Re: FF credit - it depends on the airline, but most will not give full, sometimes any credit for bulk tickets, and very few allow EQM on bulk. If you buy a ticket from a consolidator and get FF credit (esp EQM) it is likely either airline error or that you did not buy a bulk ticket, but a published fare class.
You asked an imporant question not yet addressed - about customer service. Most airlines will tell you that you need to speak with the agency where you bought the ticket if you want to make changes. Once you have begun your journey, handling things such as delays or flight cancellation is still the airline responsibility.
Aug 27th, 2006, 08:21 PM
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From your description you seem to be so well served with your current set-up, you have no need to look into consolidators.
When doing business with consolidators (the real ones), it's a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Either they have a ticket for you at the time when you need it, or they don't. It either gives FF miles or it's a Q fare or such where you don't get the miles. And it may not be refundable. You'll know in advance and you make the decisions accordingly.
If they have what you need and it's at a price that's way better than what you have seen elsewhere, snap it up or let it go. The real ones are for real, but don't expect handholding and such from them - don't expect to call them at 2AM USA time if something goes wrong at an airport in Europe.
Some consolidators may protest at what I just wrote and say they also have a full-service TA service - but that's not the norm.
The names you list are not consolidators in the true traditional sense - the real consolidators were around long before the internet became viable for travel bookings.
I have flown many times (but not recently and they may have moved or "consolidated" with another firm) with Flight Coordinators out of Santa Monica in LA, and sometimes shifted my travel by a day to get an unbeatable fare they offered, mostly to Australia.
In this age of flying with full planes on most flights, I don't know how the real consolidators can still do business, I wonder if airlines still pursue the same practice of yesteryear of selling seats in blocks and long in advance?
Can we hear from a travel-industry insider specializing in consolidators?
Anyhow, you're doing so well by all accounts, I'd say stick with what works for you.
When doing business with consolidators (the real ones), it's a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Either they have a ticket for you at the time when you need it, or they don't. It either gives FF miles or it's a Q fare or such where you don't get the miles. And it may not be refundable. You'll know in advance and you make the decisions accordingly.
If they have what you need and it's at a price that's way better than what you have seen elsewhere, snap it up or let it go. The real ones are for real, but don't expect handholding and such from them - don't expect to call them at 2AM USA time if something goes wrong at an airport in Europe.
Some consolidators may protest at what I just wrote and say they also have a full-service TA service - but that's not the norm.
The names you list are not consolidators in the true traditional sense - the real consolidators were around long before the internet became viable for travel bookings.
I have flown many times (but not recently and they may have moved or "consolidated" with another firm) with Flight Coordinators out of Santa Monica in LA, and sometimes shifted my travel by a day to get an unbeatable fare they offered, mostly to Australia.
In this age of flying with full planes on most flights, I don't know how the real consolidators can still do business, I wonder if airlines still pursue the same practice of yesteryear of selling seats in blocks and long in advance?
Can we hear from a travel-industry insider specializing in consolidators?
Anyhow, you're doing so well by all accounts, I'd say stick with what works for you.
Aug 27th, 2006, 08:21 PM
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I can only speak for our experience with consolidator fares from Houston to Hong Kong on Continental.
We always get full FF miles. EQM depends on fare class. Some consolidator fares earn 50%, some more expensive ones 100%. These are all lower than published fares. We can still do all the other stuff like looking up the itinerary online, pick seats online (including elite seats), online check-in, chance of automatic upgrade for domestic legs, etc...
The only thing I discover that the bulk fare doesn't allow is mileage upgrade for the international leg.
We don't deal with a consolidator directly, but via a Chinese travel agent here in Houston that has connections to those consolidators.
YMMV.
We always get full FF miles. EQM depends on fare class. Some consolidator fares earn 50%, some more expensive ones 100%. These are all lower than published fares. We can still do all the other stuff like looking up the itinerary online, pick seats online (including elite seats), online check-in, chance of automatic upgrade for domestic legs, etc...
The only thing I discover that the bulk fare doesn't allow is mileage upgrade for the international leg.
We don't deal with a consolidator directly, but via a Chinese travel agent here in Houston that has connections to those consolidators.
YMMV.
Aug 28th, 2006, 01:03 AM
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Sites such as mobissimo and www.itasoftware.com (add it to your list) are actually aggregators, not consolidators. When you use these sites and find a fare that is to your liking these sites RE-direct you to the provider (airline) offering the fare and you can buy directly from the airline's website.
Aug 28th, 2006, 01:28 AM
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My experience of FF miles on flights bought from consolidators varies. I live in UK, where rules may be different from those based in the States, but generally I was able to get mileage credit on almost all fares. The deciding factor wasn't whether the flight in question was bought from consolidators or direct from airlines, but what booking class it was. Some consolidators let you know the BC when you buy a flight through them, others don't and you have to ask the airlines direct. But regardless of the origin of a fare, I got FF miles that corresponds to the booking class, as published by FF program. The same with upgradable fare.
Aug 28th, 2006, 03:27 AM
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When I've used a ticket bought from a consolidator I simply contacted the airline directly and made sure my FF # was added to the record.
In my experience, the airline didn't care WHO sold the ticket but rather that I was the one actually using it and getting the FF credit.
In my experience, the airline didn't care WHO sold the ticket but rather that I was the one actually using it and getting the FF credit.
Aug 30th, 2006, 06:26 PM
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Thanks to all that responded. This is valuable information indeed.
Regarding buying through the Airlines’ websites, I got really excited about a 12 Euros fare on Iberia.com, from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid. When I went through the entire booking process, I discovered (in fairness, before I put my money down) that with booking fees and taxes, it was actually 45 Euros! Still cheap, of course, compared with the full Y class fare of 200+ Euros, but a tad misleading, don’t you think?
Regards Ger
Regarding buying through the Airlines’ websites, I got really excited about a 12 Euros fare on Iberia.com, from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid. When I went through the entire booking process, I discovered (in fairness, before I put my money down) that with booking fees and taxes, it was actually 45 Euros! Still cheap, of course, compared with the full Y class fare of 200+ Euros, but a tad misleading, don’t you think?
Regards Ger
Aug 30th, 2006, 06:35 PM
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That is pretty much standard practice now for airlines to not include most taxes and fees. But many European airlines are worse in adding "fuel surcharges" later on. At least US airlines are not doing that, yet.
Aug 30th, 2006, 06:57 PM
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I agree that doesn't seem so unusual to me, I am used to all kinds of websites not including taxes in the listed price. They don't do that on any other website I buy "things" from either. They always add on taxes, if due, and shipping, etc., at the end. So I don't see why it is any more misleading for airlines than anyone else. If you've ever bought a ticket, you know some fees will be added on, so you have to go through a few steps to see the final price, but it should be before you have finalized the sale. Also, if you've ever bought any ticket, you know with the taxes it can never be 12 euro total fare with taxes.
Aug 30th, 2006, 07:23 PM
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Christina, I buy approximately 25 return tickets a year to/inter Europe, so I am well aware of "add-ons", I was being facetious, which is why I added the "smile"!
Rkkwan: AC were adding on a very large surcharge to FF air miles tickets for “fuel surcharge” this/late last year, which meant that it was only worth while to use the air miles for BC tickets.
Rkkwan: AC were adding on a very large surcharge to FF air miles tickets for “fuel surcharge” this/late last year, which meant that it was only worth while to use the air miles for BC tickets.
Sep 6th, 2006, 05:47 AM
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Dukey says he calls the airline after he purchased a ticket from a consolidator and he gets the miles. Not if it is a fare class that doesn't earn miles - there is no magic formula to get miles - if it's Q class or such, there are no miles no matter whom you call - consolidator, airline, ghost busters...
It is never the consolidator's fault if a trip doesn't earn you miles, you can ask at the gate or during check-in, but if it is a fare class that earns no miles, you won't get miles, it is a matter of fare class. And consolidators buy fares they can sell cheaply, so Q class is one that often comes up from a consolidator.
It is never the consolidator's fault if a trip doesn't earn you miles, you can ask at the gate or during check-in, but if it is a fare class that earns no miles, you won't get miles, it is a matter of fare class. And consolidators buy fares they can sell cheaply, so Q class is one that often comes up from a consolidator.
Sep 6th, 2006, 07:04 AM
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Hi,
I work for a travel agency that is consolidator for a few airlines,we dont buy tickets from the airline,we simply sell what is available for the traveler at time of booking,they do offer frequent miles,the client has to tell us their number and we put it in the record or they can do it themself,
there is a certain time of the year that consolidator prizes are the same as when the airline is having a sale,but mostly the prices are better because we can offer 3,6,12 months fares,we sell to the public but some others only sell to travel agents.
Hope you get a better undestanding of the consolidator business.
The american airlines do have fuel surcharges as well in the 150.00 to 180.00 price,some europeans have a price of 230.00 for fuel.
I work for a travel agency that is consolidator for a few airlines,we dont buy tickets from the airline,we simply sell what is available for the traveler at time of booking,they do offer frequent miles,the client has to tell us their number and we put it in the record or they can do it themself,
there is a certain time of the year that consolidator prizes are the same as when the airline is having a sale,but mostly the prices are better because we can offer 3,6,12 months fares,we sell to the public but some others only sell to travel agents.
Hope you get a better undestanding of the consolidator business.
The american airlines do have fuel surcharges as well in the 150.00 to 180.00 price,some europeans have a price of 230.00 for fuel.
Sep 6th, 2006, 08:46 AM
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Liana - do you ever sell tickets in fare classes O and Q (as defined in this quote from AA):
"Tickets between North America and Europe, India, Asia and Latin America booked in O and Transatlantic tickets booked in Q are not eligible." [end quote]
and what do you tell customers when they ask about getting miles?
"Tickets between North America and Europe, India, Asia and Latin America booked in O and Transatlantic tickets booked in Q are not eligible." [end quote]
and what do you tell customers when they ask about getting miles?
