Consolidators are companies that buy large quantities of tickets from the major airlines at bulk prices and resell them at attractive discounts. Particularly on international flights, consolidator fares are generally the best discounted airfares available.
They are usually cheaper than the lowest published airfares available from the airline companies. Consolidator fares should not be confused with standby tickets or charter fares. While some agents who deal in consolidator air fares also deal in charters, there are important differences.
Consolidated tickets are bookings on regularly scheduled flights of major air carriers, which are generally much more dependable than charter operators. Or why do airline companies apparently compete with themselves. Basically, to help fill seats.
By selling excess capacity at reduced prices to wholesale air consolidators, an airline can sell tickets that otherwise might not be sold. Wholesale consolidators then resell these consolidated tickets to retail consolidators and to approved travel agencies.
There are important differences between domestic and international airfare regulations, though, which cause international airfares to be available at far greater discounts.
The difference between price you pay and the published airfare is the amount of saving that the retail is willing to pass on to you. Retail airline and discount agents who specialize in fares generally do not mark up their ticket prices as much as typical travel agencies do.
Because tickets are bought in bulk, they can generally be discounted deeper than regular travel agent discounts. Savings are highest on international airfares during tourist season, when ticket prices are high.
In practice, though, the airlines attempt to keep their direct ticket prices as high as they can whereas consolidators and discount agents are often willing to offer low fares to attract customers.
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