Airline Consolidators - How to get the Best Consolidator Ticket Deal

Consolidator tickets are tickets on airlines that are for international travel. Flying with consolidator tickets is pretty much the same as flying with standard tickets, with the primary difference being that consolidator tickets are cheaper. This is because consolidators get discounts from airlines for buying tickets in large volumes.
This is how it works: The airline sells empty seats to consolidators to fill up the flight. If the plane flies with empty seats, it is lost profit for the airline. Consolidators market these "cheap seats," and the airline returns the favor by giving low contract rates.

How Consolidator Tickets Help You

Air travel consolidators help you to compare flight fares between airlines for a specific flight route during the same period, allowing you to save time and money. You can also decide which airline and flight schedule suits you best. Securing a consolidator ticket generally cuts between 10% and 70% or more off the airlines’ selling prices. At airfare sales, you can get a cheaper ticket with a published rate, although this does not happen all the time since fares go up during the summer and holiday seasons.

Consolidator tickets normally do not have the same restrictions that airlines have on advanced air fare purchases. By using a consolidator ticket, you can fly into one city and exit from another. Moreover, consolidator tickets do not require advance purchase and are refundable with little penalty.

How to Use Consolidator Tickets

1. Find an online consolidator you trust, because the relationship counts a lot. When you work with a consolidator you trust and who trusts you back, it is possible to get a fair deal. Inquire about the yield management system that is used to calculate your airfare. A yield management system computes the selling price of an airfare based on factors such as season, point of departure, time, local and international events, and market forces.

2. Make sure to find out the rules before you buy your ticket. Consolidator tickets are treated the way standard tickets are treated, but there may be special rules that apply in certain situations.

3. Ask about the details of the seat and the flight in general. When you fly with a consolidator ticket, you are supposed to get meals and other benefits you would normally get with a standard ticket.

4. Buy your ticket as early as possible. The population of online travel consolidators is growing, and the result is a vibrant online travel industry. Because of this, there is pressure on offline travel consolidators to go online as well. When you use an online air travel consolidator’s service, you can compare air fare prices between airlines and consolidators as well. This will allow you to get the best deal to suit your needs.

Where to find consolidators

Most Sunday travel sections of big news newspapers publish consolidator contacts and links. In the United States consolidator centers are located in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Portland, Honolulu, Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis. International consolidator hubs are also based in England, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel, Australia, Thailand, and Canada.

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Saving Time and Money with Alternate Airports in the US

Airport alternatives provide options to travelers based on what is most convenient for them. Choosing an alternate airport can save you a significant amount of money from your airfare.

San Francisco Alternate Airports

1. San Francisco International Airport — this airport is located about 9 miles south of the main city. Almost all international airline carriers have scheduled flights to San Francisco every year. Some of the major airlines served by the airport include Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Northwest Airlines.

Although this airport enjoys a great location at the rim of the San Francisco Bay, the place can be foggy at times, which often reduces visibility on the runways, resulting in flight delays when only one of its two runways can be used. Because of the potential delays at San Francisco International, international travelers often choose alternate airports. Flights to alternate airports can be less expensive, but just as convenient.

Taxis are available at the designated taxi zones near the Arrivals and Baggage Claim Areas in all terminals. The airport also has “air trains” which are free of charge.

2. San Jose International Airport — located 60 miles south of San Francisco, this airport is another alternative for those traveling to the city. Although quite far from the center of San Francisco, this airport is a good pit stop if you will be traveling down to Carmel, Monterey or any area south of San Francisco. You only have to rent a car or take a shuttle to your destination. Major airline carriers that have regular trips to the airport include Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Air.

3. Oakland International Airport — this airport is located about 25 miles from the city of San Francisco. The airport is easily accessible for locals through shuttle buses and taxis. Major airlines such as Delta, Alaska Air, United, Southwest and America West have regularly scheduled international flights to this airport. This is a good starting point for those who plan to travel to Yosemite, Sequoia, Napa and Lake Tahoe.

Los Angeles Alternate Airports

1. Los Angeles International Airport — this is the main airport serving Los Angeles, California. It is located 16 miles from the downtown core. Since it is the most famous among all airports in Los Angeles, it is easily accessible by bus or taxi cab. Flights are sometimes delayed due to passenger traffic, as it serves around 60 million passengers every year. Some of the major airlines that the airport serves include Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Avianca, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Northwest Airlines, TACA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Volaris and WestJet.

2. Long Beach Airport — relatively smaller than the main international airport, the Long Beach International Airport is located about 11 miles from the city’s core. It has limited daily flights, and most of them are 90 percent on time. Good shuttle and taxi services are available, although there are very limited domestic and international passenger flights served by the airport.

3. Ontario International Airport — this is another one of the alternate airports surrounding Los Angeles, although it is quite far from the center of the city. It is located 35 miles from the center of Los Angeles, or approximately a 30-minute drive from L.A. It has poor shuttle and taxi services compared to the two previously mentioned airports. Some of the airline carriers that fly to the airport include United Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Us Airways, Aeromexico and Horizon Air.

4. Palmdale Regional Airport — this is ideal for domestic flights to Los Angeles. Although located 65 miles from the center of the city, flights to this airport can be relatively cheaper than those offered to the main airport of the city. Plans for expansion are currently in progress, although there is such high potential for the airport because of the land area it covers.

Chicago Alternate Airports

1. O’Hare International Airport — considered “the best airport in North America” for ten years, this airport is located about 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. With an average of 2,500 flights per day, air traffic is sometimes the cause of delay for many domestic and international flights. This airport is accessible by bus or shuttle, depending on your preference. All major airlines from America and many major airlines carriers from other countries have daily scheduled flights to this airport.

2. Chicago Midway International Airport — this airport is known as the Midway Airport or simply the Midway for many locals. It is located 8 miles from the center of the city. This airport is more heavily used by low-cost airlines, although some flights from major international carriers are also available.

Airline traffic is fair, and flights are usually on time. Airlines that are supported by the airport are AirTran Airways, Delta Connection, Shuttle America, Northwest Airlines, Northwest Airlink, Compass Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Porter Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

The airport is served by the Transit Authority of Chicago. Upon arrival, passengers can board the Orange Line trains at the airport terminal bound for several destinations within Chicago.

3. Gary/Chicago International Airport — located 25 miles from downtown Chicago, this airport has inconsistent international flights to a number of destinations. Currently, the airport has temporarily ceased their service for domestic and international flights because of ongoing expansions.

4. Chicago Rockford International Airport — an international airport serving several airlines, this airport is located 68 miles from Chicago. Because of the distance, a small number of international airlines serve the airport. Some of these include Allegiant Air, Aeromexico Travel, Direct Air and Virgin America. Although shuttle buses and taxis are available for passengers, the distance from the center of the city makes it the least preferred airport for travelers bound for Chicago.

New York City Alternate Airports

1. John F. Kennedy International Airport — this airport is located around 8 miles from Manhattan. It is currently the leading gateway to the United States, which is why you can expect that almost all flights bound for this airport can be relatively more expensive than those bound for other airports. It is also the base for major airlines such as JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Flights are 90 percent on time.

You can expect good taxi and shuttle services available from the airport. It is accessible for international and domestic travelers.

2. Newark Liberty International Airport — located about 15 miles from the core of Manhattan, this airport serves good public transport and easy cab access to travelers. Some of the major airlines that fly to this airport include Air Canada, Air Trans Airways, American Airways, United Airlines, US Airways, Miami Air International and JetBlue Airways.

3. LaGuardia Airport — this is the smallest among the three primary airports of New York. It serves international flights from airlines such as Continental Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Air Canada and several other international airline carriers. Taxis that serve the airport are licensed by the city government. As you arrive at the airport, uniformed taxi dispatchers will assist you with your ride.

4. Westchester County Airport — this airport is located 30 miles from the center of Manhattan. The airport has two major runways that serve a number of domestic and international flights. Today, the airport is served by 8 major airline carriers bound to a range of destinations in the US and Canada. Some of the international airlines that it serves include the American Eagle, Air Canada, Cape Air, Delta Connections and United Express Airways.

This airport is ideal for those who are traveling to nearby cities of New York. The airport has a rather poor provision for cabs or shuttles.

Boston Alternate Airports

1. General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport —this is the main airport of Boston. It is located approximately 4 miles from the core of the city. It is simply known as the “Logan Airport” to many locals. Travelers to Boston are most likely to be brought to this airport. It is included on the list of the 20 busiest airports in the United States, with over 27 million passengers every year. It serves almost all major international airline carriers in the world.

Taxis are accessible within its perimeters. All transportation is coordinated and licensed by the airport. Taxis, shuttle buses and limousines are available at their designated terminals.

2. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport — called the “Manchester Airport”, this airport is located 3 miles from the center of the city. It bears the reputation of never surrendering even under extremely bad weather. It serves regional and interstate flights served by the major airlines in the US. Taxi cabs and shuttles are easily accessible.

3. Portsmouth International Airport — this was formerly known as the Pease International Airport before its name was changed. Located 50 miles from the city of Boston, this is also one of the nearest airports from the city. It provides services to international and domestic passengers and offers free parking and no traffic, which means less hassles and flight delays. The amenities of the airport were built according to international airport standards.

4. Worcester Regional Airport — this airport can be found 28 miles from the core of Boston City. The airport has three runways that mostly serve domestic flights within the United States. Passenger flights to a range of domestic and international destinations are being served in this airport. They provide safe, secure and efficient services both for passengers and aircrafts.

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Using Official Airline Route Maps

Seeing the world has become much easier with developments in modes of travel, especially airline route maps that have been made available. This, together with an explosion in disposable income and longer paid time off, vacations for rest and relaxation are one of the largest industries in the world. As there is a whole world out there to see, finding tools to help in navigation has become a premium item for the itinerant traveler. Airline route maps have become indispensable items for the modern explorer in the jet age.

The jet age has provided more options and means to get from one country to another. However, the myriad of choices makes making decisions quite dizzying and confusing – and long layovers frazzle and fray travelers. Flight costs are also a matter for consideration when traveling, as direct flights are much more expensive and more popular compared with connecting flights through other destinations. Therefore, to be able to get through the maze of transoceanic travel, airline route maps help you make your way to your perfect vacation.

The Airlines and their Route Maps

To help you with planning your airline travel itinerary, here are a few airlines and their route maps for your convenience.

American Airlines covers many destinations in Asia. There are direct flights from the United States, particularly San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York to China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, and Cambodia. There are domestic flights to numerous cities throughout the United States and to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Europe.

Continental Airlines flies out of the hubs of Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Las Vegas, Denver, Cleveland, and Orlando to many international destinations like China, six international airports, Hong Kong, nine airports in Japan, eight airports in Micronesia including Guam, the Philippines, and Australia.
• Delta Airlines flies direct out of New York, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City to numerous destinations in Asia and Europe. The airline services Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and China, with only time difference as the problem.
• Aside from its domestic flight service, Northwest Airlines flies out of Los Angeles and New York direct to three airports in China, two airports to South Korea, three airports in Japan, Taipei, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Manila in the Philippines, Singapore, and the Polynesian Islands of Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.
• United Airlines has the most presence in Asia, with fourteen direct destinations to China and Hong Kong, eight routes to Japan, two routes to Thailand, two routes to Malaysia, and destinations to Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan. The airline flies out of the major airports in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. It also has the most destinations locally.

The Other Airlines to the United States

• All Nippon Airways flies direct out of Japan to ten destinations in China, and to Hong Kong SAR and Taipei, Taiwan. Other direct destinations of ANA are to Bangkok in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and Seoul in South Korea. From Japan, ANA does direct flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC.
• Cathay Pacific AirlinesCathay Pacific also has wide airline route coverage, with fourteen direct flights to Japan, five direct flights to Japan, twice to Thailand, thrice to Malaysia, and twice to the Philippines from its Hong Kong hub. From Asia, the airline flies direct to twenty destinations in the continental United States.
• China Airlines’ international hub is Taiwan, flying out of Taipei and Kaoshiung. It has direct flights to Hong Kong, three direct flights to Thailand, four to Vietnam, three to the Philippines, two to Thailand, two to Malaysia, two to Indonesia, and one to Singapore. From Taipei, China Airlines flies to Tokyo, Honolulu, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle.
• EVA Air is based in Taiwan and has direct flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali. It also flies direct to six different airports in Japan. It also flies direct trans Pacific, with destinations of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.
• Japan Airlines flies to and from its hub in Tokyo to select cities in Asia and the United States. The airline flies direct to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Dallas Fort Worth. In Asia, Japan Airlines flies to Seoul, Chenyang, Beijing, Xian, Guangzhou, Kaoshiung, Hano, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Bali, and Guam.
• Korean Airlines flies direct to ten destinations in the United States, most to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and New York. In the Asia Pacific Rim, Korean Airlines flies direct to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China.
• Singapore Airlines flies direct to Manila, Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Taipei, Seoul, Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. Singapore Airlines also flies direct to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York.
• Thai Airlines is one of the best airline services in the world. The airline flies direct from Bangkok to six locations in China, Hong Kong, two airports in Indonesia, four to Japan, two to South Korea, two to Malaysia, and one direct flight to Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Finding direct flights with these airlines helps avoid stress while you travel. You avoid running the halls of the airport, trying to reach the gate of your connecting flight or twiddling your thumbs passing the time on many layovers. Direct flights cost a little more but they ensure that you and your luggage are together in the same airport when you arrive. You can avail of these benefits by working with your travel agent or going online to find the best airline route for your travel needs.

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How to File Airline Complaints

If you have ever been inconvenienced by overbooked flights, poor onboard airline service, or unreasonably long flight delays, then you should know how to properly voice your complaints to the airlines. You can file a complaint with the airline company or with the federal authorities. Either way, filing airline complaints will not only help you get recompense for the troubles that you had to endure, it will get airline companies to improve their services and uphold consumer rights.

Steps

1. List all of the details of your complaint. Make sure to list the following minimum details:
a. your name
b. address
c. daytime phone number (including area code) and e-mail address
d. name of the airline or company about which you are complaining
e. flight date
f. flight number if known
g. origin and destination cities of your trip
h. concise description of your complaint.
Include any other details that will help clarify the airline complaint you want to file.

2. Contact the customer service or complaint department of the airline in question. Give the information about your complaint and request prompt action. Some airlines will offer refunds, free tickets, or other indemnification for the inconvenience you have suffered from their services.

3. File your airline complaint with the Department of Transportation if the airline operates to or from US airspace. Do this if you feel that your complaint is serious and/or you have not received a prompt response from the airline after sending the complaint directly to them. You can call the DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) and leave a message on its voice recorder anytime from Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Contact the ACPD at:
202-366-2220 or 202-366-0511

4. Send a letter to the ACPD to file your airline complaint. You can send a letter of complaint to the following address:
Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

5. File your airline complaint electronically with the ACPD using their online form at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/es.cfm. Make sure that all required fields are filled out before you attempt to submit the form.

6. Look up other government agencies that can help you get action on your filed airline complaint. At the state level, consumer protection departments can hear your complaint and help you get faster responses from the airline.

7. Share your complaints with consumer protection groups. Look up Web sites like AirSafe.com, which advocates consumer rights protection for travelers. Your experiences may be similar to the experiences of others and your joint complaints can prompt companies and concerned authorities to address your airline complaints faster.

Filing airline complaints is not purely a self-serving action. You may get a free hotel stay or free airline tickets as compensation for a severely delayed or overbooked flight. You will also help other travelers who in the future may include loved ones by prompting airlines to improve their services. They will not have to endure the problems you experienced that prompted you to file your airline complaints with the proper authorities.

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How to Resolve Airline Complaints

At least once in your touring history you are bound to encounter glitches. Whether the glitch is rooted in bad luck or poor planning, there are ways of dealing with them without losing your cool and breaching your ties with the airline. Here is how.

1. Know what you are complaining about
Understand why you are complaining in the first place. Get the facts together by answering these questions: What particular issue caused the problem? Who is involved? What specific things do you want done to resolve the issue? What do you expect as an outcome? Once you’ve made these decisions, get straight to the point. If you are at the airport stand within sight of the airline agent, step forward, be courteous, and explain away.

2. Know the Rules
Your ticket is proof of an agreement between you and the airline and is a contract that covers your rights as a customer and passenger. Know the rules of the contract you are committing to.

3. Act promptly but politely
Time is of the essence. Ask right away what options you have. Agents deal with many things all at once, so dealing with the issue spot-on gives you a better chance of having things ironed out as quickly as possible. Give the agent time to sort things out, though. If you are at the airport, speak directly with the customer service representatives or another employee who has authority to address the issue. Call your travel agent if the airline cannot or will not do anything about your problem. If you are on the plane, bring it to the head flight attendant’s attention.

4. Note it down
Keep a record of your ticket and get the details of the issue down on paper. Document the names, time, date, and circumstances that pertain to the situation. Be objective and fair.
If you have to lodge a formal complaint, understand that results do not come in seconds. Depending on the gravity of the issue, results can take days to arrive. A complaint made in the presence of the right personnel or made over the phone kick starts the solution, but things take on official mode when the issue is written in black and white. Keep these steps in mind:
• Make sure that your letter includes all possible means of contacting you (phone number, email address, mailing address, fax number, etc.)
• Keep your note simple and straightforward
• If the problem involves expenses or loss of money, state the exact amount and the form of reimbursent you expect
• Be clear on what you want the company to do about your problem

If you can, resolve the issues before it gets out of hand. Remember that whatever you say or do in the course of lodging your complaint against the airline could possibly lead to a civil or criminal lawsuit, in which case you will need to retain a lawyer.
Finally, do not underestimate the power of anticipation. If you think in advance you will have solved half of the problem.

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