Consolidator Watch
 

Some of you may use them, some may not. I have had a bad experience with Pan Express of NYC and suggest you do not do business with them. I was denied boarding on a biz class ticket. Hey! It was too good to be true. I feel like a jerk.

If you don't mind, I'd like to know more details.

Please let us know why you were denied boarding. Thanks.

Did you call the airline to confirm few days before the flight?

Were you able to check-in on-line 24hrs before your flight?

What happened after you were denied boarding? And what was the reason for non-boarding?

I was denied boarding because the airline said my reservation had been cancelled for lack of ticket numbers. I guess they issued tickets on a cancelled booking? I SHOULD have reconfirmed, but haven't done that in a long time. Paper tickets so no on line check in. Live and learn. I am now in the tedious process of trying to get a refund, but keep getting told that it's the airlines fault. I wish I lived in NYC so I could visit them personally. I just don;t want this to happen to any of you.

Lack of ticket numbers ... a common happening with airlines which are not major and the ticketing is done on a computer system which is NOT the native system of the airline. For example a travel agent issues tickets on Sabre for Air MiniCountry but AMC is on, say, Amadeus.

The two reservation systems do not always communicate properly so, after the tickets are physically issued, the AMC computer comes along and cancels because it doesn't "know" that the tickets were really issued and it needs the seats for others.

This rarely happens with major carriers, if at all, but is the reason one must always reconfirm all international flights.

Now, when the airline's computer cancels the booking it sends a message to the issuing agency (well, most of the time!). So although Pan Express was probably not at fault initially, they most probably ignored that message. But you will never be able to prove it either way.....

Always reconfirm!

My TA rarely advises using a consolidator.Too many times they are so busy they cant see straight.Many times they do not return calls.They are under pressure to issue tickets,boom boom boom.So attention to detail is lost.

Actually this sounds as though you were the victim of a scam. The consolidator took your money, made a reservation and either never processed the reservation or - since you had paper tickets - processed then voided the transaction. This is a major problem with airline travel that is not purchased from a known and reputible source. Using an experienced travel agent means they have consolidators they know and trust - and there are some good ones - and they know who they cannot trust. A good travel agent will always check on the reputation of the consolidator and get references before working with them. I would like to know the airline and why you had paper tickets and where the consolidator advertised to get your business. Any progress on a refund?