What is the reliability of cheap airline consolidators on the internet?

Question

For instance, do any of these companies have a reputation of quoting prices that do not exist but confirming your credit card purchase of a ticket anyways?
(i.e. flycheapabroad.com, airfare.com)

Are there consolidators which are considered more reliable?

Answer 1

I NEVER use consolidator websites. They buy tickets in bulk and they are the most restricted fares and then add even more restrictions. Not only that but they sell the most rediculous routes and connections. Sometimes they even sell illegal connections. You can research on these websites, but check the airlines websites as well. READ ALL OF THE FARE RULES before purchasing. Too many times have I seen passengers get burned. You cant make changes to those tickets, airlines wont touch them, they are non-upgradable, non-changable you are stuck with what you get.

Start with Orbitz then go to the airlines website to compare prices and schedules. Southwest, Jet Blue, Spirit and several other low cost carriers do not participate with these websites, so you have to go to their individual sites. BUT Ive found cheaper fares on major airlines since they have to be more competitive now.

No matter what website you use, READ THE RULES!! I do not recommend websites like Priceline, Hotwire, Cheap Tickets, Lowestfare.com, Skyauction etc. A lot of these websites also charge additional booking fee's, so watch those too.

Be safe and book directly with the airline. Orbitz is owned by the airlines and will have better fare options. Airlines can work with their tickets if you need to make changes. Travelocity is bad about selling old schedules after the airlines change their schedule for the season and do not notify passengers of changes, contrary to their advertisment. Just make sure that you follow up with the airline to verify the schedules before you leave for the airport.

Answer 2

I never use those type services because I ALWAYS want to see what I am getting for my money before I buy. The "DEAL" they may come up with could possibly be $20 cheaper, BUT I may prefer to pay the $20 somewhere else rather than to go through the inconvenience of flying off hours, overnight, with 3 stops, etc, just to save $20. Or likewise, to get a room for $30 less but be relegated to the basement room, or the worse room in the hotel.

So I don't really know about their reliability.

Answer 3

most of the sites draw from same pool of inventory & are very relaible. 25% of business is done online. i like http://www.fly247.net/

Answer 4

I use this one all the time and save money on flights..