Finding cheap flights is the holy grail of budget travel. Air travel can be a significant cost of any trip budget, so saving on your overseas flights means you have more money to spend when you get to your destination. Although budget airlines in Europe often have a bad reputation, the rise of affordable flights with companies like Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, and Condor has made air travel cheaper. However, it can still eat into your overall costs, particularly if you book last-minute.
Rick Steves is always a reliable source of information when it comes to European travel, and his guides are full of ways to save money as you explore and make your vacation even better. When it comes to flying, he has plenty of tips and tricks on how to book flights without breaking the bank. His most useful piece of advice might seem counterintuitive to some, but it can help you save big when it comes to overseas flights. He suggests that, rather than going directly to the airline to buy your tickets, it is worth using an airline consolidator to find and book flights. These companies are sometimes seen as sketchy, but Steves says that in reality, “consolidator or ‘discount’ air tickets are perfectly legitimate,” and can help travelers save hundreds of dollars.
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Is an airline consolidator the best way to save money?
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An airline consolidator is a little like a travel agent, but dealing exclusively in airline tickets. Consolidators buy tickets wholesale directly from the airlines, at significant discounts, and then resell them to customers at reduced prices. Consolidators tend to focus on overseas routes, and usually business or first class tickets. So the best prices for economy tickets tend to be found either on the airline’s own website or through third-party sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights. There are also more restrictions on consolidated tickets, and you usually won’t be able to accrue air miles or make changes to your flights once you’ve booked them. But, according to Rick Steves, “by putting up with a few minor drawbacks … you can save hundreds of dollars.”
Steves is also an advocate of using budget airlines, particularly in Europe, and if you are happy with a no-frills experience, this may be an even better way to find savings than by going through a consolidator. He explains that “Europe’s highly competitive no-frills airlines — such as Ryanair and Virgin Air — can often get you from one city to another faster and cheaper than the train.” He does go on to warn passengers that “cheap airlines often use small airports located far from town,” so it is always important to do your research before booking with a low-cost carrier. It is also worth paying attention to the sneaky ways budget airlines make their passengers pay more, like extra fees for bags, legroom, and priority boarding.
What to consider when buying tickets from an airline consolidator
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The main thing to check is that the consolidator you choose is reputable. For example, Consolidador is a consistent winner of the World’s Best Airline Consolidator title at the World Travel Tech Awards, while Sky Bird has also been recognized by travel award companies. You can check to see if they are members of trustworthy trade organizations like the United States Air Consolidators Association (USACA) or the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), and it is worth looking on websites like Trustpilot.com for customer reviews. Some consolidators work directly with certain airlines, which also makes them a good bet.
As with almost any travel-related purchase, shopping around is one of the best ways to ensure a good price, as things change fast and you can almost always find a good deal if you look hard enough. Travelers should also protect themselves by using a major credit card to book, in case something goes wrong and they need to get their money back.
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