CONSOLIDATOR & BULK/NEGOTIATED AIRFARES
DISCOUNT & PUBLISHED AIRFARES
CONSOLIDATORS vs BUCKET SHOPS
Everyone is familiar with the "Discount Airfares" airlines offer
which are associated with restrictions of advance purchase and minimum and
maximum stays and the occasional "Airfare Sales" which are available for
purchase over a very brief period of days and have the added restrictions as
to when during the year one can travel (i.e. generally not during the peak
Summer travel months of May-Sep, Thanksgiving. and Christmas/New Year). One would learn about these fares from newspaper ads or on-line at Websites as Internet Travel Network, Travelocity, Microsoft's Expedia, etc.which access these airfares from the airline reservation systems,
just as a travel agent would, and are known as "Published Airfares". But,
did you know that you can save an additional 20% - 70% by buying
"Bulk/Negotiated Airfares", also known as "Consolidator Airfares", without most of the
advance purchase restrictions (70% savings apply to one-way airfare).
Of course, airlines monitor how well their flights are selling,
throughout the day. Their computers will only make seats available on the
cheaper fares, on any one flight, if it is not selling well. But, if a flight
is in high demand and the number of seats are limited, seats will not be
available on the cheaper fares. Keeping this in mind, if you found a real
good Consolidator Fare and seats are available...you might want to grab it.
It might not be available 2 minutes later. This definitely applies for travel during the peak Summer travel months of May-Sep,
Thanks giving and Christmas/New Year
"Consolidator" or "Bucket Shop" companies were created in the 1970sas a distribution source of "Consolidator Tickets" for major
international airlines who wanted to hedge against flying with empty seats. Their
importance have grown over the years as the airline industry grew exponentially
in terms of the number of new airlines, new routes, new and larger airplane and
higher flight frequencies...resulting in more empty seats (i.e. excess capacity). The airfares offered by most Consolidator and Bucket
Shops are for international flights, although a limited offering for
domestic USA travel. is available on the Travel Secrets site.
The expression "Bucket Shop" has its roots in London from the early1970s, when the whole concept of "Bulk/Negotiated" discount airfares
on major scheduled airlines first evolved, driven by the advent of the new
Boeing 747s, which added a lot of new seats in the air, some of which flew as
empty seats. Different than the "Consolidator" who only wholesale to travel agencies, the "Bucket Shop" sells directly to the public as
well, in addition to wholesaling to travel agencies . The "Bucket Shop" often would
be a "Consolidator" on one-hand, negotiating their own deals directly with Airlines, and also buy from other Consolidators in their country
and/or from other counties.
Any retail Travel Agency can buy tickets from Consolidators, and
most agencies who do significant international ticketing are familiar with some of
the biggest Consolidators for major carriers. "Bucket Shops" are in one sense retail agencies that specialize in knowing the full range
of Consolidators (every airline has a few Consolidators) and in knowing which airline
has the best Consolidator Airfare between two points, other techniques of fare construction, importing tickets from other counties, etc. for
discount prices. In addition to the higher level of knowledge and expertise,
because of their sales volume, a Bucket Shop might offer slightly better prices.
In regards to the airfare quotations you obtain from a Bucket Shop
or travel agency, they generally are the discounted cash price (e.g. add 3-5 % for normal price), and exclude taxes and charges for
overnight mail. Or, if you are shopping around for a complex itinerary or an
around the world itinerary, don't be surprised that the fare isn't in the computer and
can't be given off the top of the agent's head. It can take an hour or more of work by a highly experienced professional agent and
several faxes/emails to come up with a good airfare for someone who is paid nothing if
you end up getting the ticket elsewhere. The agent will give only a very rough estimate of the fare unless you make clear that you are
really serious about getting the ticket from them, if the price is right (i.e. tell them what is the lowest price you have been quoted elsewhere)
and/or willing to pay a reasonable service fee. If you are dealing with a professional, if
possible at all and given a week or so, they could save you hundreds of dollars.
One is just as secure to buy tickets from a "Consolidator" or
"Bucket Shop" as from a Travel Agency or the Airline. Travel industry
practices and controls, as well as new consumer laws in USA and other countries, have
taken most risks out of buying a tickets (or ticket less) to travel on a major airline, from travel agencies, consolidators or bucket
shops. Your ultimate peace of mind, of course, is to pay by credit card because it
protects you against the rare unforeseen problem like not getting tickets, the
airline going out of business, etc.. Forgoing the 3-5 % cash discount by using a credit card might be worth your peace of mind. It's
simple, cheap, and effective insurance.