Airline Travel Authorization Certificate
 

My church received an offer for "Airline Travel Authorization Certificates" for very cheap air fares. We do int'l missionary work and saving money on tickets would be a great help. You pay by check or credit card, but must pay a specific "holding company/escrow company" which sends a certificate. Then you send the certificate to a specific travel agency, which determines your airline. A friend who used to be a travel agent says it is probably a frequent travel mileage "broker" selling the certificates. I'm not sure what that means and don't know much about this and want to make sure we wouldn't get scammed if we pursued it. Are these tickets most likely frequent flyer tickets, and is it legal and/or safe to buy them? Does anyone have any suggestions for getting more information?

Hard to say if they are award tickets with what you have posted here, but there is risk if they are. If the airline questions you about how you acquired the ticket, as they would be issued from someone else's account, and you couldn't satisfy them that they were a gift (versus a purchase, which are against program rules), they could immediately void the ticket, as well as take action against the person whose account the miles came from. You would be left with the option of buying a full fare ticket at that point.

The part that the travel agent will determine what airline you fly raises a flag for me. I want to know "who" I am flying.

Have they presented this program to you in writing? Sounds like you need a lot more information.

Have you considered calling the airlines directly for group fares? I helped a church choir book get info on summer flights to Rome on
Delta and the fare was alomost 35% cheaper than the posted rate. (I'm not a travel agent, just a
supportive parishioner).
It just takes a few phone calls to various airlines group desks. At that time they gave 1 complimentary ticket for every 15 booked.Their trip was last summer.
Blessings on your work and travels.