Does this deal seem legit -- or where can one get the lowest fare for Int'l. travel?
Jan 1, 2015, 6:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
Does this deal seem legit -- or where can one get the lowest fare for Int'l. travel?
Hey all. I did a craigslist ad looking to see if someone was able to help out with finding a better price for international airline tickets. I know sometimes people can use what's called a "buddy pass" for cheaper airfare, but my friend wasn't able to help me.
This guy said he is a first class travel broker and looks up prices to find the best deal. Looking online, I found around 1,000 round trip being the lowest from Boston to Tokyo. He said he was able to find a round trip ticket where the prices start just over 600 dollars.
He said that he helps to find the best rates for hotels, car rentals and airlines. He didn't ask for any personal info, just the travel dates and cities. Seems legit, but I just want to make sure if anyone had a great deal like this before.
This guy said he is a first class travel broker and looks up prices to find the best deal. Looking online, I found around 1,000 round trip being the lowest from Boston to Tokyo. He said he was able to find a round trip ticket where the prices start just over 600 dollars.
He said that he helps to find the best rates for hotels, car rentals and airlines. He didn't ask for any personal info, just the travel dates and cities. Seems legit, but I just want to make sure if anyone had a great deal like this before.
Jan 1, 2015, 6:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SMF
Programs: Hilton Diamond-Marriott Platinum-life
Posts: 1,015
Does this deal seem legit?
Why does it seem legit to you?
Did you get his business name, his address, phone number, his name, etc etc etc. did you confirm all this information?
Did you get his business name, his address, phone number, his name, etc etc etc. did you confirm all this information?
Jan 1, 2015, 6:44 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
I have his name, the company he works for. I didn't ask for anything else yet. He also didn't ask me any personal info as well.
Jan 1, 2015, 6:48 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
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Posts: 11,886
Hey all. I did a craigslist ad looking to see if someone was able to help out with finding a better price for international airline tickets. I know sometimes people can use what's called a "buddy pass" for cheaper airfare, but my friend wasn't able to help me.
This guy said he is a first class travel broker and looks up prices to find the best deal. Looking online, I found around 1,000 round trip being the lowest from Boston to Tokyo. He said he was able to find a round trip ticket where the prices start just over 600 dollars.
He said that he helps to find the best rates for hotels, car rentals and airlines. He didn't ask for any personal info, just the travel dates and cities. Seems legit, but I just want to make sure if anyone had a great deal like this before.
This guy said he is a first class travel broker and looks up prices to find the best deal. Looking online, I found around 1,000 round trip being the lowest from Boston to Tokyo. He said he was able to find a round trip ticket where the prices start just over 600 dollars.
He said that he helps to find the best rates for hotels, car rentals and airlines. He didn't ask for any personal info, just the travel dates and cities. Seems legit, but I just want to make sure if anyone had a great deal like this before.
Jan 1, 2015, 6:50 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
Jan 1, 2015, 6:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan, Westjet, Marriott, Nexus
Posts: 447
It's probably not legit. Just search 'Craigslist Airline Tickets' and see how the scam works - I easily found a step by step guide how it's done right away.
I think $1000 for a round trip ticket is actually a pretty good price!
I think $1000 for a round trip ticket is actually a pretty good price!
Jan 1, 2015, 6:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CT USA
Posts: 2,577
@:-)
Jan 1, 2015, 7:15 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Dude, buying a "ticket" from someone on Craigslist is a terrible idea. Among the things that are likely to happen 1) ticket is bought with stolen credit card and cancelled/you are arrested trying to board 2) ticket is bought with stolen frequent flier miles and is cancelled/you are arrested 3) ticket is bought with frequent flier miles against program rules and the ticket is cancelled, maybe with you 12,000 miles from home 4) you are told you have a ticket but none is even ever bought.
Don't do it.
Safe Travels,
Doc
Don't do it.
Safe Travels,
Doc
Jan 1, 2015, 7:33 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
Dude, buying a "ticket" from someone on Craigslist is a terrible idea. Among the things that are likely to happen 1) ticket is bought with stolen credit card and cancelled/you are arrested trying to board 2) ticket is bought with stolen frequent flier miles and is cancelled/you are arrested 3) ticket is bought with frequent flier miles against program rules and the ticket is cancelled, maybe with you 12,000 miles from home 4) you are told you have a ticket but none is even ever bought.
Don't do it.
Safe Travels,
Doc
Don't do it.
Safe Travels,
Doc
Jan 1, 2015, 7:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Anyone could look up flight info. It is widely available online. If you're going to purchase a ticket you should use a real agency/agent. Ask what fare codes the flights would book into. That will tell you if the ticket is being issued from money or miles though you're still relying on the person being honest with you about this.
It's interesting though.. The legit travel date exists, the times he gave me with the airline also exist. The only thing throwing me off is the price. If you say that someone is using stolen points, then that would obviously be an issue. How would someone know before they bought a ticket if someone was trying to use a fraud way of getting a ticket?
Jan 1, 2015, 7:42 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Posts: 29,585
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"If you say that someone is using stolen points, then that would obviously be an issue."
The points don't have to be stolen for you to be at risk. Airlines prohibit the sale of their frequent-flyer points/miles, but some participants sell them anyway to mileage brokers, who then sell award tickets to third parties. If the airline's Revenue Protection Unit suspects that the award ticket was sold, then you may find yourself out of luck when you try to board your outbound flight -- or even worse, when you try to board your flight home!
"How would someone know before they bought a ticket if someone was trying to use a fraud way of getting a ticket?"
They wouldn't; that's the problem.
Do not assume that a $1,000 roundtrip fare between BOS and TYO is a problem which has a solution. Not all problems have solutions.
"If you say that someone is using stolen points, then that would obviously be an issue."
The points don't have to be stolen for you to be at risk. Airlines prohibit the sale of their frequent-flyer points/miles, but some participants sell them anyway to mileage brokers, who then sell award tickets to third parties. If the airline's Revenue Protection Unit suspects that the award ticket was sold, then you may find yourself out of luck when you try to board your outbound flight -- or even worse, when you try to board your flight home!
"How would someone know before they bought a ticket if someone was trying to use a fraud way of getting a ticket?"
They wouldn't; that's the problem.
Do not assume that a $1,000 roundtrip fare between BOS and TYO is a problem which has a solution. Not all problems have solutions.
Jan 1, 2015, 7:48 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"If you say that someone is using stolen points, then that would obviously be an issue."
The points don't have to be stolen for you to be at risk. Airlines prohibit the sale of their frequent-flyer points/miles, but some participants sell them anyway to mileage brokers, who then sell award tickets to third parties. If the airline's Revenue Protection Unit suspects that the award ticket was sold, then you may find yourself out of luck when you try to board your outbound flight -- or even worse, when you try to board your flight home!
"How would someone know before they bought a ticket if someone was trying to use a fraud way of getting a ticket?"
They wouldn't; that's the problem.
Do not assume that a $1,000 roundtrip fare between BOS and TYO is a problem which has a solution. Not all problems have solutions.
"If you say that someone is using stolen points, then that would obviously be an issue."
The points don't have to be stolen for you to be at risk. Airlines prohibit the sale of their frequent-flyer points/miles, but some participants sell them anyway to mileage brokers, who then sell award tickets to third parties. If the airline's Revenue Protection Unit suspects that the award ticket was sold, then you may find yourself out of luck when you try to board your outbound flight -- or even worse, when you try to board your flight home!
"How would someone know before they bought a ticket if someone was trying to use a fraud way of getting a ticket?"
They wouldn't; that's the problem.
Do not assume that a $1,000 roundtrip fare between BOS and TYO is a problem which has a solution. Not all problems have solutions.
I will look elsewhere for a better deal. Thank you everyone!
Jan 1, 2015, 8:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
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Posts: 4,608
Does this deal seem legit?
Simple thing, if you are questioning what is being offered, that pretty much sums it up, don't you think?