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In recent years there has been an explosion of airfare wars and airline bankruptcies. There is increased pressure on the airlines to sell all of their available seats. An airline consolidator provides the airlines with the opportunity to "sell out" seats on their schedule which they were unable to accomplish through their normal outlets. Buying a ticket through a consolidator can often save the knowledgeable traveler 10-40% off published fares.
A consolidator is an airline ticket wholesaler. The consolidator obtains unsold tickets below published fares from an airline, adds a commission, and resells the tickets. A substantial amount of the consolidators' savings is passed along to the ticket purchaser. The airline, of course, is not about to publicize this situation, and asks the consolidator to be "low key" and not use the airline's name in advertising these bargain fares. As competition among the airlines has increased, more and more of these "bucket-shops" — a term initially given to the numerous consolidators in London (on Earls Court Road)— have sprung up around the international hubs such as New York and San Francisco.

There are several different types of consolidators. There are consolidators who specialize in tickets to, or from, certain specific locations. Some specialize only in selling to travel agents, and others concentrate on selling directly to the public. The part-time traveler needs to become aware of, and include, these consolidators in their travel plans. While both economy and first-class tickets are available from the consolidator, the savings are usually greater on coach class.

CAN I TRUST A CONSOLIDATOR?

Given all the advantages of booking through a flight consolidator, your question should be, "Why doesn't everyone use one? " Well, as with everything in life, there can be drawbacks. The potential for savings has to be balanced against the possibility of a problem.
If you decide to work through a flight consolidator, you will quickly learn that they do not provide the same level of service as travel agents. Their business is selling airline tickets, not helping you plan a trip. If you are looking to have all of the work done for you, select a good travel agent. The flight consolidator is for the energetic, flexible, independent traveler.

In the past few years, airline consolidators have had their reputations tarnished by a series of bankruptcies. We have all heard stories of travelers stranded in some foreign city unable to return home. While the possibility of being cheated by an unscrupulous or unreliable consolidator is small, it is a risk the wary traveler is always alert to avoid. In a later section of this book, a series of tips will be presented to help you avoid contact with these disreputable salesmen. However, as with any other business transaction, the rule must always be, "Let the buyer beware." The best way to beware is to be knowledgeable.

HOW SHOULD I SELECT A CONSOLIDATOR?

How do you go about selecting any product you are about to purchase for several hundred dollars? Begin by shopping around to find the best price for a comparable product. The second step is to check out the dealer or seller of the product.

As you begin to shop around, you will notice that the fares for a particular destination vary between every "shop" you call. Make sure you are shopping for comparable products. Does the quoted price include all fees and any applicable taxes? Will you receive frequent flyer mileage with your purchase? Are you flying on a regularly scheduled airline or as a passenger on a charter flight?

Are your tickets non-refundable or non-transferable in the event your flight is delayed or canceled? What are the charges to cancel or upgrade your ticket? How soon will you receive your tickets after payment?
No discussion of selecting a consolidator would be complete without an answer to the question; "May I use a credit card to make the purchase? " AL WAYS use a credit card to purchase your tickets. In the unlikely case of a problem, you have the backup as assistance (and a possible refund) from your credit card company.
After you are satisfied that you have selected the best price for the product, it is time to move to step two. Now it is time to check out the reputation of your consolidator. There are several ways to accomplish this task. If you live near the physical location you can drive by and check their offices. If this is not possible, you can always call the Better Business Bureau in their vicinity and ask if they have received any complaints about the company. In addition, it never hurts to ask how long they have been in business.
This would be a good time to visit your local library or bookstore. Locate the travel section. Find some books about travel to your destination and see if you can locate a list of consolidator references. In the travel section locate a Fodor or Frommer guidebook and check their recommendations. Usually, they only list consolidators with good reputations who have been in the travel business for a number of years. Just because you cannot find a recommendation does not mean the company is unreliable, but it is a decision ultimately left to the consumer.