How to find best deal on business/first class airfares?
/JY1024, TravelBuzz
Feb 24, 2016, 9:08 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 50
Which sites look dodgy? All of them? I have had referrals to Cook Travel. I have a quote from flyinfinite and when I asked them questions about how they book the flights, they responded as follows: This particular ticket is taken in through delta itself so you would be receiving miles and it would be exactly like purchasing it off the Delta website just at a discount price. We use a consolidator that can get a significantly lower fares for certain Airlines and Delta is one of them.
I have seen read the responses on I think "cheapoair", but have not found anything reliable on flyinfinite.
Are there any questions that I should be asking about the ticket that might indicate that it is a safe purchase?
Thanks, Beth
I have seen read the responses on I think "cheapoair", but have not found anything reliable on flyinfinite.
Are there any questions that I should be asking about the ticket that might indicate that it is a safe purchase?
Thanks, Beth
Feb 24, 2016, 4:54 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,100
If you look around you can find a lot of these sites. They operate by paying miles for the flights. This is against the T&C of the airline and they might just cancel your ticket and then you have no recourse. ( https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic...ir_Travel.html confirms they are doing this. )
Feb 24, 2016, 5:07 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
If you look around you can find a lot of these sites. They operate by paying miles for the flights. This is against the T&C of the airline and they might just cancel your ticket and then you have no recourse. ( https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic...ir_Travel.html confirms they are doing this. )
If that's true, then how does Delta award miles for the flight?
This particular ticket is taken in through delta itself so you would be receiving miles and it would be exactly like purchasing it off the Delta website just at a discount price. We use a consolidator that can get a significantly lower fares for certain Airlines and Delta is one of them.
Feb 24, 2016, 8:01 pm
#24
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,639
Read this article:
Consolidator tickets: The good, the bad, the ugly
<snip>
And, adds Albert Thomas, owner and manager of International Travel Systems, whose business is based on consolidator tickets for first- and business-class fliers, "make sure they accept credit cards and are a full merchant and not running those cards through someone else."
If you don't want to deal with a consolidator directly, go through a travel agent. Many have long-standing relationships with consolidators, [Blake] Fleetwood [,president of CookTravel.net,] said, and know who is on the up and up. You won't save as much, but you won't lose any sleep either.
But if you do go with a consolidator, Thomas, who deals with travel agents and with consumers, will help you if something happens. "If you've overslept, the easiest thing is to call us," he said. "We're here certainly 18 hours a day, six days a week. If it's a Sunday and you cannot get ahold of us, definitely call the airline and cancel the flight" before you're labeled as a no-show and lose the value of your ticket.
<snip>
And, adds Albert Thomas, owner and manager of International Travel Systems, whose business is based on consolidator tickets for first- and business-class fliers, "make sure they accept credit cards and are a full merchant and not running those cards through someone else."
If you don't want to deal with a consolidator directly, go through a travel agent. Many have long-standing relationships with consolidators, [Blake] Fleetwood [,president of CookTravel.net,] said, and know who is on the up and up. You won't save as much, but you won't lose any sleep either.
But if you do go with a consolidator, Thomas, who deals with travel agents and with consumers, will help you if something happens. "If you've overslept, the easiest thing is to call us," he said. "We're here certainly 18 hours a day, six days a week. If it's a Sunday and you cannot get ahold of us, definitely call the airline and cancel the flight" before you're labeled as a no-show and lose the value of your ticket.
<snip>
Feb 25, 2016, 11:21 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
Help: Looking for business ticket from Japan to USA
Hello everyone,
My wife and I are looking for cheap business class tickets from Japan to the USA or really good premium class seats. However, it would be great to find some business tickets because the flight is very long. <redacted by moderator> Any ideal where I can buy two business tickets.
Also, has anyone heard of ," i fly first class (Iflyfirstclass)"?
Thanks in advance!!!
My wife and I are looking for cheap business class tickets from Japan to the USA or really good premium class seats. However, it would be great to find some business tickets because the flight is very long. <redacted by moderator> Any ideal where I can buy two business tickets.
Also, has anyone heard of ," i fly first class (Iflyfirstclass)"?
Thanks in advance!!!
Last edited by TWA884; Feb 25, 2016 at 3:33 pm Reason: Inappropriate request for this forum.
Feb 25, 2016, 7:04 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage
Posts: 2,100
We discussed http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...irstclass.html in 2012 already. In short: perhaps not a scam but there's nothing you couldn't get from a reputable site.
Mar 2, 2016, 11:32 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a Bridge
Programs: Starwood Residences Owner, AA 1MM, MP Gold, Avis-Hertz PC, Ritz Gold
Posts: 1,072
Up to 10% airfare discount
Hesitant about sharing, but feel free to PM.
My [Top 3] industry travel agency (American Express, CWT, BCD, AAA) offers a ~10% discount on any airfare, any airline, any time (literally). Still earn full mileage and the receipt displays the published fare.
There are caveats though. The discount is ticketed through a different agency and the method of payment has to be made by check, wire, EFT, PayPal.
I'm a known client, so I have the option to pay 3% for the agency to process the payment, but only do that on business tickets costing ~$X,000+. They usually won't deal with me on tickets under $1,000.
And referrals don't have a credit card option until they've established history.
I've had good luck though.
My [Top 3] industry travel agency (American Express, CWT, BCD, AAA) offers a ~10% discount on any airfare, any airline, any time (literally). Still earn full mileage and the receipt displays the published fare.
There are caveats though. The discount is ticketed through a different agency and the method of payment has to be made by check, wire, EFT, PayPal.
I'm a known client, so I have the option to pay 3% for the agency to process the payment, but only do that on business tickets costing ~$X,000+. They usually won't deal with me on tickets under $1,000.
And referrals don't have a credit card option until they've established history.
I've had good luck though.
Mar 2, 2016, 11:52 pm
#30
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,413
Which sites look dodgy? All of them? I have had referrals to Cook Travel. I have a quote from flyinfinite and when I asked them questions about how they book the flights, they responded as follows: This particular ticket is taken in through delta itself so you would be receiving miles and it would be exactly like purchasing it off the Delta website just at a discount price. We use a consolidator that can get a significantly lower fares for certain Airlines and Delta is one of them.
I have seen read the responses on I think "cheapoair", but have not found anything reliable on flyinfinite.
Are there any questions that I should be asking about the ticket that might indicate that it is a safe purchase?
Thanks, Beth
I have seen read the responses on I think "cheapoair", but have not found anything reliable on flyinfinite.
Are there any questions that I should be asking about the ticket that might indicate that it is a safe purchase?
Thanks, Beth