When looking for travel deals, those rock-bottom prices from airline consolidators may seem like a dream come true. But exercise caution—if an offer appears too good to be true, there’s a possibility it might be. Airline consolidators often buy tickets in bulk to offer savings, but scams are increasingly common, especially around peak travel times like the holidays.
In fact, airline fraud makes up around 46% of all digital transaction fraud, costing travelers, airlines, and legitimate agents billions of dollars each year. By partnering with a reliable provider like TBO Holidays, travel agents, OTAs, and distributors can avoid these risks.
TBO Holidays offers a secure platform with thoroughly vetted consolidators, providing added assurance for both agents and their customers. This guide will equip you with tips to identify trustworthy consolidators and recognize red flags, helping you secure travel bookings confidently and steer clear of potential scams.
Understanding Flight Consolidator
Flight consolidators act as airfare retailers, buying large blocks of airline seats at discounted rates and reselling them to travel agencies. Airlines associate with consolidators to increase sales and fill seats on less famous routes, offering travel agencies several key benefits, such as:
- Access to discounted fares
- Ticketing capabilities without requiring IATA accreditation
- Modern, efficient booking engines and tools
Private fares, often called bulk or consolidator fares, are negotiated between airlines and consolidators at significant discounts, typically ranging from 30-60 percent off standard rates. Consolidators apply a small premium to each seat and distribute this inventory to retailers (travel agencies).
Travel agencies then resell these seats to travelers, adding their own markups for profit. Now, let’s explore some common red flags to watch out for when dealing with flight consolidators.
How to Identify Red Flags in Flight Consolidators?
Triangulation Scam
While exact numbers on fake travel agency websites are unknown, it’s clear there are many fraudulent sites targeting travelers. These websites often use automated systems to alert fraudsters whenever a potential customer attempts to book a flight. In response, the fraudster quickly books a legitimate flight using false payment information, selling the ticket to the unsuspecting traveler at an unusually low rate. This practice, known as a triangulation scheme, involves three victims: the passenger, the airline, and potentially an intermediary travel agent.
Fake Travel Websites
This travel scam lures unsuspecting travelers with fake websites offering tickets at prices that seem almost too good to pass up. If you book through one of these sites, you’ll receive no real confirmation or booking details. Scammers design websites that closely mimic legitimate airline or travel agency sites, complete with heavy ticket discounts. Some fake sites may even send a confirmation email, but in reality, no flight exists. Instead, these scams harvest sensitive personal information, including credit card details, phone numbers, addresses, and more. According to IATA, the global average rate of bookings lost to suspicious payments is 3.8%, with North American airlines facing double that rate.
Flight Confirmation Scams
It’s not just false tickets you need to be focused about; another airline travel scam attacks your email inbox. In the weeks leading up to your trip, you might receive an email asking you to “Confirm Your Flight.” This scam can be particularly deceptive because airlines frequently send similar emails prompting online check-in. Therefore, it’s essential to stay alert. Avoid clicking any links in these “Confirm Your Flight” emails, as they could direct you to a fraudulent website. There, you may be prompted to confirm your name and itinerary through your frequent flyer account. This could allow scammers to steal your frequent flyer points or even hijack your ticket.
How to spot a Reliable Flight Consolidator?
Gaining and maintaining the trust of both airlines and travel agencies is vital for the financial success of airline consolidators. Let’s break down this trust into its key components and analyze them:
Years in the Industry
In a mature and well-established consolidator market, older businesses tend to be the most reliable due to their extensive experience and robust relationships with carriers and agencies. Typically, these established consolidators have acted as intermediaries between airlines and travel agencies for decades, improving their credibility and expertise.
Available Technologies
Larger consolidators often provide proprietary booking engines that enhance their operations with Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). Important characteristics that are now common for a reputable business include the ability to create complicated flight itineraries, produce Passenger Name Records (PNRs), and automate ticketing procedures. Depending on the consolidator’s focus, additional features may include car rentals, hotel bookings, cruises, package tours, and other related services. TBO Holidays stands out in this space by offering advanced technological solutions that assist numerous travel agents and OTAs in streamlining their operations.
Physical Offices and Customer Support
If you encounter a fully online consolidator, it’s wise to be cautious. Reputable companies that originated before the internet era typically maintain physical offices that customers can visit or contact by phone. Established global consolidators also prioritize providing round-the-clock customer service in multiple languages to ensure comprehensive support.
Conclusion
Spotting a reliable flight consolidator is essential to avoid scams that can disrupt your travel plans. By recognizing key indicators—such as the company’s experience, available technologies, and robust customer support—you can make informed choices. Partnering with reliable providers like TBO Holidays improves your experience, as they offer a secure interface customized for OTAs, travel agents, and distribution platforms. With their substantial industry expertise and commitment to customer service, TBO Holidays entices you to navigate the complexities of flight consolidation confidently and securely.
Reliable Flight Consolidator FAQs
A1: To ensure a flight consolidator is trustworthy, you can take various steps: check if they are associated with reliable travel industry like IATA (International Air Transport Association), check online reviews, verify the professionalism of their website, call the airline directly to verify your ticket, and ask about their refund and cancellation policies before reservation. If you have any booking, it’s best to steer clear of making a reservation with them.
A2: Yes, consolidators can be a safe option for international flights.
A3: Yes, you may earn frequent flyer miles on tickets obtained through a consolidator, this is not guaranteed and largely depends on the specific contract between the airline and the consolidator. Tickets purchased through consolidators often feature “private fares,” which may not qualify for full mileage or any miles at all. Therefore, it’s important to verify mileage eligibility with either the airline or the consolidator before making your reservation.
Pratyush Kumar Srivastava is a seasoned expert in B2B travel writing with years of experience in the industry. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of travel technology, supplier relationships, and market trends, Pratyush offers valuable insights to help businesses optimize their travel booking strategies. Passionate about innovation and efficiency, he is dedicated to guiding travel agencies through the complexities of modern distribution channels to achieve growth and success.
