Consolidator Airline Tickets

Consolidator Airline Tickets and Wholesalers of Flights

Airline ticket consolidators equal bulk airfare discounts

Working on national and international trips and vacations, airline and travel wholesalers buy huge blocks of airline tickets at massive discounts and resell them to consumers at significantly lower rates that the airlines themselves are able to charge. And it’s not just travel wholesalers, also known as “consolidators”, who work this market; there are specialized travel agencies who do nothing but buy and sell consolidated airline tickets.

The options are almost limitless in terms of destinations and carriers, but there are, like most deeply discounted airline ticket opportunities, some restrictions. Because consolidators must pretty much sell-out every seat on an aircraft, they need to know well in advance that their aircraft will be full upon take-off, and so they insist on minimum advance purchases, between a month and a couple of weeks (it varies from one to another). Because of this, if you want to take advantage of an airline ticket at a rate reduced as much as 70% off retail, you need to plan early and be sure of your plans, and be flexible as to the dates you travel; once you’re booked, you’re locked in.

Some seats on these special bulk-booked flights (commonly in executive class) may be sold at premium rates. These regular priced airline tickets don’t directly affect what you pay, but they result in potentially limited seating being available at the heavily reduced prices.

The deals that the consolidators get by wholesale, bulk purchases of airline seats on flights around the globe will reflect upon the amount of money you can save on your purchase of individual airline tickets, but you can be sure that their large-scale buying will drop the rate you pay for your flight.

Reputable consolidators warn travelers to avoid one thing: if you are encouraged to book such cheap airfares online, that’s fine, but if the airline ticket consolidator or wholesaler does not provide a telephone number, preferably toll-free, then find another place to buy your ticket. You need to be able to speak to someone if plans change or flights are delayed or canceled.

If you take the necessary precautions, have the patience to wait for the right deal and are flexible as to your travel dates, consolidator airline tickets can be your best travel companion.