Airlines Serving Local Los Angeles Area Airports

Airline Ticket Discounters

Airline ticket discounters, also known as consolidators or bucket shops, are a prime source of affordable air fares.  The discounters strike deals with airlines to buy large numbers of tickets at rates lower than the airlines’ published prices.  Thus, by buying tickets from a “wholesale” discounter instead of going to the airline, many travel agents can undercut advertised fares.  Many of these discounters also sell directly to the public.  The savings are most notable on international tickets, but travelers can occasionally save substantially on domestic flights.  Before you rush to give a discounter your business, however, consider the trade-off:

Limited Services

Discounters work in a fast-paced, thin-margin business. They generally spend as few moments as possible in conversation with customers and will offer no help with hotels or sight-seeing.

No Frequent Flyer Miles

You often cannot collect them with these cheap tickets, but it depends on the ticket.  Be sure to check.

Less Flexibility

Cancellation penalties can be high.  You may not get the airline or flight time you prefer.  If your flight is canceled or delayed, the airline is not always obligated to transfer you to another carrier. Although charters follow U.S. Safety regulations, they are subject to fewer federal restrictions when they bump passengers or cancel flights

Fees

Most discounters charge delivery or service fees of $10.00 to $15.00 per ticket (but many travel agents do too.)

Cash Versus Credit

Many discounter offer incentives (often 3% off the ticket price) to customers who pay by cash or check rather than credit card.  But most consumer advocates advise paying by credit card because those companies protect consumers if the ticket does not materialize or something else goes wrong.

Here is a sampling of some of the best-known air free discounters.  A caveat inclusion is not an endorsement of any company listed.  Consumers should look for companies with accreditation from the Airline    Reporting Corp. (ARC) and the International Airline Travel Agents’ Network (IATAN).  Any company selling in California should carry a state-issued ID number indicating it is registered under the state’s Seller of Travel law.