WHEN TO BUY FROM A CONSOLIDATOR

Scouting the web for bargain airfares can yield great deals, but sometimes it pays to go straight to a consolidator. Often called
"bucket shops," these companies buy large blocks of discount tickets from airlines and resell them to consumers at low prices.

* If you're booking either a non-round-trip ticket or a very long-distance international trip with a complicated route, a consolidator will usually do better on price and itinerary than your local travel agent. Round-the-world tickets can be a particularly good buy.

* For the best prices, look for a consolidator that specializes in your destination region or city - usually easy to spot from their advertisements or on their website.

* Don't expect travel-agent service. Consolidator tickets are usually heavily restricted. You probably won't have a choice of airline, and any changes you make to your ticket may carry heavy penalties.

* Book within 45 days of your flight, since airlines don't unload seats to a consolidator until they can determine how empty or full a flight is likely to be. But don't wait till the last minute either:
There's usually a better chance of the flight selling out than of you getting an even better bargain.

* Turn to the web to find consolidators, especially internationally. Start here for a list of links:

http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BKkgC0BKX0fC78

* For additional info on how to protect yourself from scams while bargain hunting, go to

http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BKkgC0BKX0fC8A

For more Travel Like a Pro tips, visit eTravels.net
http://tips.etravels.net/cgi-bin9/fl...BKkgC0BKX0e3tr