AIR CONSOLIDATOR
By Bill Murray
An Air Consolidator can make a Big Difference
in your Bottom Line
Agents drive consolidators nuts! Why would an agent book published fares for
no commission? As soon as you add your service fee you are automatically charging
more than the Airline, Travelocity and Expedia just to name a few. Orbitz gives
online discounts as does Travelocity and Expedia. They only charge a $5.00 fee
for online bookings.
An agent should never book an airline ticket before comparing the published
fare or online fare with a consolidator.
UniTravel consistently mails out commission checks averaging $200-800per booking.
Domestic and International business class fares for corporate travelers provide
high profit margins for the agent.
International economy class net fares can earn you $100-300 per fare. Requires
no advance, is refundable, can be changed, reissued, and earns frequent flyer
miles.
There are times when the consolidator fare will not be lower than sale fares or
your required flights may not be available. All consolidators work from the same
inventory, once that inventory is gone that's it. If the fare quoted is acceptable,
book it now! Consolidator inventory is limited and a seat can disappear in 2 minutes.
Just because the cabin may be wide open only a few seats may be left in the consolidator
inventory. It isn't unusual for an airline to take seats from the consolidator
inventory and sell them at a higher price.
Some of the lowest international fares are on the foreign flagship carriers.
Don't hesitate to offer your client a savings on Alitalia, Austrian, JAL, Iceland
Air, Quantas, etc. They may never fly a US carrier again. You know what they say
once you have tried it you may never go back!
International consolidator net coach fares are generally No Advance, with a
Saturday Stay required and cost less than the published fare.
International consolidator net coach fares without a Saturday stay cost 40-50%
less than published fares.
International consolidator Business and 1st Class cost 25-40% less than the
published fare.
Not all consolidators offer Domestic or International business & 1st class
and very few offer coach no Saturday stay. These are itineraries that offer high
profit margins. Sell the high profit fares. If you keep looking for the lowest
published fare for your clients you are destined to make very little money on
your airfare sales.
UniTravel Flights For Less was one of the original founders of USACA - The
United States Air Consolidators Association.
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