Cheap airfares on the internet - are they for real, or is it just hype?
The world of buying and selling airfares, especially discount airfares, was complicated as it is, before adding the internet to the mix. That is why you will hear different stories and different opinions. Please regard the information on these pages as just another piece to add to the puzzle.
In the real world you can buy air tickets direct from the airlines, or through travel agents, or resellers known as “consolidators” and “bucket shops”. Travel agents are for those who prefer to have the leg-work done for them, and a good travel agent will get you a good deal.
Consolidators are for those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach. Consolidators buy tickets (usually for international flights) in bulk from the airlines at about half the full price, and sell them to consumers at a markup. You can expect to save 20-30% off the full fare, however consolidator tickets usually come with more restrictions. It’s a good sign if your consolidator is approved to issue tickets directly, as they have shown financial means and ticketing experience to do so. In the real world, if you choose the latter you need to have done your research to know what you are getting and who you are dealing with. You can get lucky, or you can get stung. The same goes for the internet.
However, the internet does offer some advantages that we can see.
1. It is easier to do your research: for example, to find discounts, to compare prices, especially within the USA, and to find out what other consumers are saying.
2. World-wide reach: comparison shopping can be “world-wide” perhaps allowing people to take advantage of the “global” nature of the “bucket shop” system and those international agreements that ensure “a customer in country W can buy a ticket from a travel agent located in country X for a flight from country Y to country Z.”
3. Convenience: Being able to book tickets 24 hours a day.
4. Late booking. A noticeable change pre-and post-Internet booking is that booking well in advance does not necessarily equate with getting the best deal.
The “best of both worlds” occurs when you can achieve the advantages of booking consolidators online with the customer support of travel agents. I have found 3 different online travel sites that I believe provide all of these benefits. The first site is www.airgorilla.com. They specialize in cheap airfare to Europe. The second site I recommend is www.asia.com. As the name implies, they specialize in cheap airfare to Asia. My favorite site of the three is www.travelation.com. www.travelation.com not only has cheap international fares but they also have some great domestic consolidator airfares as well. Also, when I had a problem with a ticket to Paris the agent I worked with was extremely helpful.
I hope that this information helps you to find a great airfare. Good luck and good travels!
Author: Mickb
