The issue of consolidator fares, esp to Asia, has come up a number of times, on this forum. The question most frequently asked is which travel agents, deal with consolidator fares.

I am now asking a different question. Which airlines that fly from Canada to international destinations, offer consolidator fares. I would guess, perhaps incorrectly, that AC does not offer consolidator fares, and no consolidator fares can be obtained through any US airline (whereby one would have to take a transborder flight, first). I would guess that many Asiatic and European airlines do offer consolidator fares?

I've seen consolidator fares on pretty much every scheduled carrier, including AC, US, CO, and most if not all the European ones (AF, AZ, LH, BA ...).

Agreed. AC has tons of these out there.

Just a generalization below:

All asian travel agents are consolidators (or have connections to them).
Most if not all of their fares to asia are consolidator fares. (AC, CX, KE, JL, CI, PR, UA etc. all offer consolidator fares to asian travel agents for asian destinations).

CX even offers discounted first class fares to HKG through consolidators. (I've yet to see this happen to non-asian destinations for other airlines)

Most non-asian travel agents sell only published fares. (except for some such as Flight Centre etc.)

Please let me know if I am wrong, but I have never seen a NW consoldator fare offered out of Canada.

NW/KL have flights available through consolodators, at least last time I checked for flights. I found YOW DTW AMS for around CAD600 net.

MC

edited for sticky keys

[This message has been edited by mcott (edited 06-06-2003).]

Canada's favourite Destina has some consolidator fares for sale too.

pretty much every mom and pop travel agent has access to dozens of consolidators. some can even ticket them on location.

I confer. All Asian travel agencies belong to a network (Chinese Travel Agents Association) that sets fares amongst themselves so as to prevent a fare war breaking out between fellow agencies.

UA/NW/CO/AA generally have the lowest fares to Asia from Canada because it requires many changes of aircrafts and transits through USA.

There are other consolidators that also sell fares on other European airlines to destinations in Europe. eg BA, LH, AZ, SK (via USA), AF, KL. ANY travel agent generally would know where to go find the fares you want.

There are even fares for travel within USA, from Canada to USA or vice versa that can be booked instantly and yet be priced as though you have a 7 day advance booking or a Saturday overnight stay.

Try doing that on an airline website or a travel website!

Does anyone have the name of an online consolidator for NW tickets to Asia from Canada. I usually use www.jetsettravel.ca
but this agency does not handle NW.

My sister and her family will want to go to Delhi, from YVR, on a consolidator fare - this winter. Of course, they would prefer to go on an airline with the best amenities, in the economy cabin. I know that Singapore Airlines offers PTV in economy class (I do not know if Cathay Pacific offers this amenity and/ir whether it flies to India, from Hong Kong).

There are (East) Indian travel agents in Vancouver that offer consolidator fares to India (I am not sure if they offer good fares on the above mentioned 2 airlines); I am wondering whether a Chinese travel agent may offer a better fare, esp via one of the 2 airlines mentioned above.

Yes, CX offers PTVs in Y (but not on all aircraft yet, I don't think -- it's one of those "progressively install" things) and flies to both Mumbai and Delhi in India.

Consolidators are also ethnic specific. You would generally get the best deals to India through East Indian travel agencies because of their higher sales vloumes to these places. Chinese agents may/may not have fares at all onward to India/Middle East from HK. They would be able to get some fares but not all. Similarly, travel agencies will call Japanese Consolidators specialising in getting best fares to Japan, and Korean consolidators for Korea.

Some fares are very specific as well. Although really discriminatory, airlines do it all the time in that fares are sold only if they hold 'certain' racial groups. They're not advertised, so they are sold through agencies where there is a common ethnicity.

Similarly, you wouldn't really go to a Japanese consolidator when you want fares to Israel now, do you?



[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 06-07-2003).]

Try TOUREAST. http://www.toureast.ca

jetsettravel = toureast
An online company created by a traditional retailer, maybe for tax reason, who knows? But they are the same.