How to Find Very Cheap Flights Online

Did you know that you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on international flights by booking through airline consolidators?

Booking through airline consolidators is a great way to find very cheap flights, in is probably one of the best kept secrets in travel.

Who are Airline Consolidators?

Airline consolidators can help you to find very cheap flights because they buy seats from airlines in bulk and then sell them onto discount travel shops, or “bucket shops” as they are often referred to. In some cases, airline consolidators sell the seat allocations directly on to the general public.

Because the seats are originally bought in bulk, they can to be sold on to the end customer at a substantial discount to regular retail prices.

When booking with an airline consolidator, there is no need to go searching all over the internet for the best deal available online because they will find the absolute best deal for you. This takes some of the stress out of arranging your vacation.

How Much Money Can I Save?

If you are considering purchasing an airfare from an airline consolidator then it is quite possible to get a much better deal than could be offered by the airline itself, and so this could result in huge savings.

Generally speaking, airline fares offered by consolidators could save you between 10% to 70% in comparison with regular airfares. The amount of savings really depends on the airline, the consolidator, the destination, and the time of year.

Isn’t that great news? Finding very cheap flights is possible after all!

Some airline consolidators will also handle bookings for hotels, cruises, and even rental cars. You might save hundreds or thousands of dollars on all your travel needs.

Things to Consider

There are a few things to bear in mind, and maybe even a few sacrifices that you might have to make in order to find very cheap flights.

If you are willing to book quite far in advance, and if your dates are very flexible, then this will give you the best chance of being offered very cheap flights. It is recommended that contact an airline consolidator no more than three months before you intend to travel. If you try to book any further in advance than that, then you will most likely find that the consolidator has not yet started making arrangements for seat bookings with the airline. They might still be able to sell you a seat, but the price will possibly be higher than if you simply wait until your travel date is within 12 weeks.

Another thing to consider with airline consolidators is that usually the bookings are considered to be on a “request only” basis. This essentially means that the airline consolidator must first check your request with the airline before you get a confirmation, and this process might take a few days.

Because booking airfare with an airline consolidator is still a rather unconventional way of finding very cheap flights, it is important to check their terms and conditions before booking. Some consolidators will expect payment immediately after confirmation and might levy penalties for cancelling or changing your flight after booking.

In the United States, it is advisable to use a consolidator who is a member of the United States Air Consolidator Association (USACA) because they are required to meet certain standards and will give you better peace of mind that you are dealing with a legitimate company.

So, if you are looking for very cheap flights and don’t mind being a little flexible in your travel plans, then it’s definitely well worth considering contacting an airline consolidator, and save some money on your next vacation.