I began this list in 2003 having plowed thru every reference to consolidators I could find in the United forum. It’s now been updated with information given in this thread and is current as of 8/2010. In my experience, consolidators are familiar with UA SWUs. You can buy an upgradeable ticket from them, and use SWUs just as if you had purchased from united.com. Tickets earn miles just as if purchased directly. The change fee is higher with a consolidator. The last ticket I bought had a $400 change fee, instead of $250 when purchased from United.
As of April 19, 2010, UA charges consolidators a 4% fee for using a credit card.
This list is entirely of consolidators selling tickets ex-USA. We need information on consolidators offering fares ex-Asia: SIN, HKG, BKK and ex-SYD, MEL.
PLEASE POST SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF CONSOLIDATORS YOU USE, THE ROUTE, THE SAVINGS COMPARED TO UNITED.COM, THE FARE CODE, AND THE MONTH AND YEAR.
Responsive in 2010:
Wendy, in Dallas wendycoryell@hotmail.com
817-939-0204
7/10 sammybk $750 saved on Sept RT LAX-TPE (paid $1205 for fare that was $1951 on united.com)
5/10 Waymaker - $400 saved on W fares to SIN - paid by check
3/10 flyerdad $300 saved per ticket for 2 tickets SFO-LHR/CDG-SFO
3/10 vtqanh - purchased SLC-SFO-HKG-SGN RT for $1157, $200 savings
2/10 schley found his fare for KWI-IAD-LAX-IAD-DXB for $200 less than what UA had it for; bought from Louisa NgYoung at Sunlight Travel who had a $400 savings
2/10 RichardinSF, purchased Z ticket SFO-NRT-SFO
1/10 l'etoile bought an upgradeable SFO-CDG for $935. UA wanted ~$1300, so ~$360 savings
1/09 Pat+ saved $300 on a TATL W fare
7/08 tim iridium saved $1k on a D class fare from IAD-BKK
7/08 zhuyanfei saved 150$ for CMH-PVG in economy
Far East Travel, Boston
Wendy Feng
888-882-8068 or 617-426-3343 fareasttravel@hotmail.com
Hong Kong and Singapore
8/10 Mgcahat - $300 saved even after credit card fee paid
7/10 Krazymad - saved $330 on SFO-PEK (Wendy Boston, $1210; Wendy Dallas $1240; Luisa $1380; united.com $1540)
1/10 xenonym saved few hundred $ off Jan trans-pac Bangkok Traveler and euslaner use consistently
Sunlight Express
Luisa NgYoung, Tel: 1-415-885-2388
email: luisa@sunlightexpress.com
2/10 schley $400 less for KWI-IAD-LAX-IAD-DXB all in W class now upgraded with SWU's
1/8 SanDiego1K (me) bought a one way ticket to SIN. Saved $250 over that available on united.com. It was a W fare and I upgraded it with a SWU.
Hans Mast
Golden Rule Travel
800-950-3273 - 620-665-5058 hansmast@goldrule.net
09/10 why fly for Canadians they can even do flights out of Buffalo and back to Canada to save FD We just booked BUF-BKK W with 2 days stay for $1250.
Travel Destinations
Ellen Wingate ewingate@traveldest.com (888-719-0932 or 410-363-3111 x 2345).
Specializes in Europe and will get fares for upgradeable tickets below what united.com offers
2/10 euslaner recommends
Sandra at Yoyo Travel.
Yoyo Travel Inc. www.yoyosmart.com
408-777-0888
Email: yoyosmarttravel _at_ yahoo.com
2/10 unavacarecommended; unresponsive to schley 2/10
Skytrip Airfares in Chicago.
Linas
1-773-663-4363 info@skytrip.net
8/10 - M Singh - last minute W fare ex YVR to BKK, settled for SEA to BKK. Tried all the consolidators on this list. Saved $500
12/09 swaigiux recommended
Farebreakers
718 972 1717
Ronen
7/10 Shas12 - uses for Aus & asia
Judy Chen
Best Programs Travel
Rockville Maryland
301-309-0094
4/10 Corylopsis - uses for US-Asia tickets
List of United's Consolidators (and Related Discussion) - updated Aug 2010
Recommendations from earlier years; no current info
Atlantic Fellowship at (800) 235-5220 www.atlanticfellowship.com (ask for Michael).
Fujita World Travel in San Francisco JerryFF
(415) 348-1000
San Francisco only to points in Japan (eg. Tokyo, Nagoya, etc.)
Great World Travel Yoosh
Fanny
Portland, OR
(503)255-1266
Tickets to Hong Kong
Iace Travel
San Jose
800-601-4223
Noriko, Coco
Good prices to Japan
2/10 rtwstaralliance reports savings have dropped from $200 to $20 over past 2 years on W fare SFO-KIX. Sticks with united.com at that price. Heavy turnover among agents.
Lai Lai Travel (aka Dynasty Travel) (qwerty777)
Rowland Heights, California
May at May's Travel Yoosh
Oakland, CA
(510)832-7128
Tickets to Hong Kong
Location: Chicago, IL and Hong Kong - United 1K Since 2000
Posts: 4,344
Ah I love Wendy - give her some business!
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In my experience with Wendy at Far East Travel, the tickets I had booked with her to Singapore and Hong Kong were almost always in V fare, and cheaper than published V fares. I have always gotten upgraded and full mileage with that.
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__________________ When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!
Last edited by SanDiego1K; Feb 4, 08 at 2:05 pm..
Reason: consolidation
Location: San Fran *not* SFO (Do you live in an airport?)
Programs: Canadi>n Plus: President's Club (expired)
Posts: 445
Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by G2: Do consolidator tickets earn MP miles or not? I have a companion cert. I want to buy an H fare to take the free companion internationally, and if I can do it more cheaply through a consolidator and still get miles, then I will. Thanks in advance for any insight.</font>
There is one way you can find out. Have the travel agent put in a reservation and get a PNR identifier. Then phone United Reservations and ask about miles accrual and upgradability. If they say yes, hang up and call back just to be sure. Once you are satisfied, phone your travel agent again and make the purchase.
This is what I did on my last trip to HKG when I wanted to ensure the applicability of my remaining 2003 SWU for a V-fare consolidator ticket. Since the agent didn't know, I asked her to put in a reservation and let me ask UA. It worked like a charm.
[This message has been edited by Yoosh (edited Mar 14, 2004).]
__________________
"I am lusting for more. Should I settle for less? I ask you, what's a good thing for if not for taking it to excess?" - Nine
Location: San Fran *not* SFO (Do you live in an airport?)
Programs: Canadi>n Plus: President's Club (expired)
Posts: 445
How to find travel agents that sell consolidator fare tickets?
I typically use a local travel agent for all my consolidator fare purchases. SInce I have lived in Boston, Toronto, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now, Portland OR, among other places, I use different agents every time I move. Originally, this was because I prefer to visit them to pick up the paper ticket. Nowadays, with the prevalence of e-tickets, I continue the practice of patronizing local agents just because I like to establish a relationship with a local shop in case I need them for anything face to face.
On finding a travel agent for consolidator fares, since I normally fly to HKG, I usually buy a locally published Chinese-language newspaper, look up the ads and call a few of them. Alternatively, you can also open up the Yellow Pages and look for travel agents that "specialize" in the geography you are interested in travelling to under "Travel Agencies". Or, go to Yahoo! and look for the "specializers". For example, in the Chicago area: click here.
While the fare is important, the ability for the individual agent to get you a seat on the particular flights you want is even more important. Often, if you book late, the agent would need to waitlist you. Some agents can get you a seat sooner than others, and it may be helpful if you have a strong business (or even personal) relationship with them.
To add to the list above, I like May at May's Travel in Oakland, CA: (510)832-7128. Here in Portland, OR, I have dealt with Fanny at Great World Travel: (503)255-1266, although I haven't lived here for too long and have only dealt with her twice.
[This message has been edited by Yoosh (edited Mar 14, 2004).]
__________________
"I am lusting for more. Should I settle for less? I ask you, what's a good thing for if not for taking it to excess?" - Nine
How to find travel agents that sell consolidator fare tickets?
To add to the list above, I like May at May's Travel in Oakland, CA: (510)832-7128. Here in Portland, OR, I have dealt with Fanny at Great World Travel: (503)255-1266, although I haven't lived here for too long and have only dealt with her twice.
I just booked tix with Great World Travel on the phone- They had the best Fare SFO to BKK - and Vfare(after the V fares dissapered for SFO-BKK - had been hard to find anything below $800 ) - They are to call me back tomorrow with all the details - so far I am happy with their fare and the responsiveness. I will update on how the rst of the transaction went
California
3250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1908,
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 213/251-9936
Fax: 213/251-9967
Toll-Free:800/423-4488
1609 W. Valley Blvd., Suite 101,
Alhambra, CA 91803
Phone: 626/281-3529
Fax: 626/281-1179
Toll-Free: 800/768-6855
150 Post Street, Suite 340,
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: 415/837-0808
Fax: 415/837-0490
Toll-Free: 800/372-9125 California
1762 Technology Drive, Suite 210,
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: 408/452-8880
Fax: 408/452-8919
9449 Balboa Ave, Suite 212,
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858/614-0260
Fax: 858/614-0312
1799 Bayshore Hwy, Suite 241A
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: 650/652-6583
Fax: 650/652/-6587
Toll_Free: 866/868-8840
New York
1 West 34th Street, Suite 302,
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212/629-1000
Fax: 212/947-0920
217 Park Row, suite 7
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212/349-8888
Fax:212/349-8008
New York
39-01 Main Street, Suite 301,
Flushing, NY 11354
Phone: 718/445-9684
Fax: 718/445-5933
82-11 37th Avenue, suite 602
Jackson Hts., NY 11372
Phone: 718/505-8430
Fax: 718/505-8432
Massachusetts
145 Tremont, Suite 501,
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617/350-7391
Fax: 617/350-7395
Toll-Free: 800/716-1610
Michigan
7071 Orchard Lake Rd, Suite 205,
W. Bloomfield, MI 48322
Phone: 248/626-9181
Fax: 248/737-0798
Toll-Free: 800/868-6337 Washington, D.C.
1717 K Street NW, Suite 506,
Washington D.C. 20006
Phone: 202/296-8886
Fax: 202/296-9765
Toll-Free: 888/818-8813
Virginia
6601 Little River Turnpike, Suite 315,
Alexandria, VA 22312
Phone: 703/354-9288
Fax: 703/354-9567
Toll-Free: 888/849-6199
Georgia
2965 S. Flowers Rd., Suite 132,
Atlanta, GA 30341
Phone: 770/457-8221
Fax: 770/457-8227
Toll-Free: 800/886-8590
Illinois
100 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 410,
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312/782-6398
Fax: 312/782-6449
Toll-Free: 800/886-8580 Washington
900 Fourth Avenue, Suite 555,
Seattle, WA 98164
Phone: 206/381-9588
Fax: 206/381-9589
Toll-Free: 800/827-5882
Here is a list of US Gateway Travel offices around the country. I have used them (primarily UA) for my personal travel for over 12 years.
I use Gateway Louisville. They are a surly bunch, but they've twice sold me tickets for under $700 when I was on my way to the airport. Moreover, I've never had to pay any change fees (on UA or NW) when dealing directly with the airline.
Most of the consolidators listed by the OP and others focused on Asia/Europe. Can these consolidators provide fares to South America, specifically Brazil, preferably business or ability to upgrade coach to business. Also, as others have asked, the fares must accrue EQMs.
Location: ------------------ 50% Bangkok Thailand .... 50% Chicago .................... United 1K and Million-miler .... LP Member
Posts: 1,497
I just called three consolidators (in the above list) for ORD-BKK. UA prices were all in the ballpark of $1160-1250 for late Aug departure and early Sept return.
I just booked through an outfit called Nova Travel. You can get details for them from www.novatravel.com.
I paid just under $1500 for BUF-SYD and return, departing 8 Sept and returning 22 Oct, Economy Class. My agent told me that I would receive FF points.
This was the best I found, but I was completely unaware of most of the agents mentioned in this thread. The only one I did know of, airefare.net, had about the same price.
I used these guys once, and never will again. They were deceptive, made a series of itinerary mistakes, didn't correct them, and I wound up spending more than I would have buying from United directly.
- and Vfare(after the V fares dissapered for SFO-BKK - had been hard to find anything below $800 
) - They are to call me back tomorrow with all the details - so far I am happy with their fare and the responsiveness. I will update on how the rst of the transaction went
