List of United's Consolidators (and Related Discussion) - updated Aug 2010
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,982
Originally Posted by moondog
as i mentioned earlier, i use gateway travel in louisville, ky for most of my ua and nw tpacs ex-usa.
That said, I think I might still use them for my trip next week (JAX-ORD-SNA-SFO-PVG-ORD-BOS) if they come in low because I've never been charged a change fee on any of their tickets.
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,982
Frustration!
...so after deciding to look beyond Gateway (see previous post) for my trip next week, I started calling some of the agents on this list.
In the past, my standard questions have been:
1. What is your lowest fare from xxx to yyy departing next week; 90 day stay?
2. What is the fare class?
3. What are the stopover and open jaw rules?
(This process should be very fast btw)
I then use the info provided to construct my own itin, which I forward to the agent, and they ticket.
But, every single person I've spoken with today has refused to give me the hard data. Rather, they punch my ideal dates into their computers and come back with $1400 nonsense. By far, the worst person I spoke with, was the lady at Manhattan Travel, who told me that she despises FT referrals and would require an UPFRONT fee if I wanted her to do any research for me.
The cynical side of me suspects that there's been a movement within the TA community of late to keep their precious fare info more closely guarded in order to preserve their value added, but I'm hoping that I've just gotten a poor sample thus far.
In the past, my standard questions have been:
1. What is your lowest fare from xxx to yyy departing next week; 90 day stay?
2. What is the fare class?
3. What are the stopover and open jaw rules?
(This process should be very fast btw)
I then use the info provided to construct my own itin, which I forward to the agent, and they ticket.
But, every single person I've spoken with today has refused to give me the hard data. Rather, they punch my ideal dates into their computers and come back with $1400 nonsense. By far, the worst person I spoke with, was the lady at Manhattan Travel, who told me that she despises FT referrals and would require an UPFRONT fee if I wanted her to do any research for me.
The cynical side of me suspects that there's been a movement within the TA community of late to keep their precious fare info more closely guarded in order to preserve their value added, but I'm hoping that I've just gotten a poor sample thus far.
#18
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Riverside, CA ONT
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 205
Yes. I had good luck with Wendy's Travel in Boston. I talked to a women named Lily. She found me an H fare over Xmas to BKK and even got it upgraded for me, and got me the seats I wanted. 15A . I found them at the beginning of this thread. The number is 617-482-1008. United.com wanted $2311 and she got it for $1547.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,982
Originally Posted by SGT C
I tried calling the Los Angeles office today (16NOV05) and they stated that they do not deal directly with the public. Is this a recent change, a policy specific to the Los Angeles Office, or a simple mistake?
So my quest continues for UA consolidator tickets. They continue to be the my holy grail (A great thing that is completely unobtainable). Every quote I get from a "consolidator", I can beat on ual.com
So my quest continues for UA consolidator tickets. They continue to be the my holy grail (A great thing that is completely unobtainable). Every quote I get from a "consolidator", I can beat on ual.com
#20
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 489
I have been buying cheap UA tickets to Asia from this woman, Wendy, in Dallas, sweet as a pie!!! ^ ^ ^
I just got a fare to TPE in January '06 for $750 r/t.
Her cell phone number is 817-939 0204. You could leave a message and then she will call you back.
And as far as I know, she also handles tickets for other companies, such as NW...
She will mail you an e-ticket if you want to.
I just got a fare to TPE in January '06 for $750 r/t.
Her cell phone number is 817-939 0204. You could leave a message and then she will call you back.
And as far as I know, she also handles tickets for other companies, such as NW...
She will mail you an e-ticket if you want to.
#21
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,843
Anyone know any UA consolidators for C/D/A/F tix to Europe?
Might have to go on short notice and need C/D at least (ual.com isn't even offering D, fares are outrageous). If anyone can suggest anyplace to try -- 1st air is of no help -- I'd appreciate it.
I cannot imagine paying $9500 for UA C SFO-FRA RT (especially since they will sell it for half that price in groups of two via Ameniti).
The ideal would be to get a decent D fare and then upgrade to F.
Feel free to PM or email me if that is the approach you prefer.
Thanks!
P.S. LH would work too.
I cannot imagine paying $9500 for UA C SFO-FRA RT (especially since they will sell it for half that price in groups of two via Ameniti).
The ideal would be to get a decent D fare and then upgrade to F.
Feel free to PM or email me if that is the approach you prefer.
Thanks!
P.S. LH would work too.
#22
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,843
bump, help!
#23
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SNA
Programs: Sixt Platinum, Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz President's Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,556
www.tiss.com or www.flights.com - although both use same engine, fares have seldomly differed so try both.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
(ual.com isn't even offering D, fares are outrageous)
Neither UA nor LH publish D fares in the SFOFRA market.
Neither UA nor LH publish A fares in the SFOFRA market.
To add insult to injury, UA is not extremely active in the unpublished airfare market-- I don't know about LH. The "deals" I have gotten from consolidators on UA have been published airfares with a set % discount. This is reflected as a ticket designator (such as PF10, PN17, PN20, etc) with the use of a tour code (eg. 845ZU, 675WR, etc).
So, using the above method, you may be able to save a few hundred dollars. The discounts above are 10%, 17% and 20% respectively, but the travel agent will keep some of the discount (this is how they make money). Exactly how much of the discount they keep is up to them, but can be negotiated.
Try www.travnet.net for this type of discount. You should know that discounts for Pacific travel are usually better than those for Atlantic travel.
#25
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Danville, CA
Programs: AA EXP - UA *G MM - HH Diamond - Hertz PC
Posts: 3,242
#26
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,034
There are a ton of options in this thread:
United Consolidators
If you can't find a deal from calling the agencies in that thread, then no deal exists.
United Consolidators
If you can't find a deal from calling the agencies in that thread, then no deal exists.
#27
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,843
Getting creative with Gateway I might get a quote. Most of the rest either don't work or don't do C/F or use the exact same booking engine -- the one used by tiss.com. It keeps coming up with a "discount" fare on Icelandic, where business class means 38" seat pitch and an empty seat next to you.
The best deal I have found so far is an American Express agent who has consolidator LH fares at non-trivial discounts. Not UA, but I do get UA EQMs. Can't get a paper SWU in time to standby for F, I don't think. Also it isn't clear which LH C flights have the flat seats and which don't -- and last minute switches of aircraft seem to occur with LH so you might think you were getting a flat seat and then not get it (or vice versa).
Thanks for everyone's help!
Edited to add: Getting creative with Gateway did not yield a quote. They put me on hold to get the quote, then never picked up again.
The best deal I have found so far is an American Express agent who has consolidator LH fares at non-trivial discounts. Not UA, but I do get UA EQMs. Can't get a paper SWU in time to standby for F, I don't think. Also it isn't clear which LH C flights have the flat seats and which don't -- and last minute switches of aircraft seem to occur with LH so you might think you were getting a flat seat and then not get it (or vice versa).
Thanks for everyone's help!
Edited to add: Getting creative with Gateway did not yield a quote. They put me on hold to get the quote, then never picked up again.
Last edited by RichardInSF; Dec 8, 2005 at 3:09 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,761
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
Can't get a paper SWU in time to standby for F, I don't think.
#29
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,843
Originally Posted by Axey
You can get them to FedEx it to you. Last time they charged me $15 for this.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HIlton Diamond
Posts: 801
There are mulitple Wendys. I used the one in Dallas. Very proficient and saved 25% off the online fare AND are accuring miles.
Originally Posted by eternalX
She is awesome. I just called her because of this thread and while I shouldn't jinx it, was very impressed! thank you for putting her name here!