These are questions that many of our Shoestring Traveler subscribers have asked and are relevant to the use and understanding of the Consolidator Flight Engine. If you are a first-time user, we highly recommend reading the information below.
How many consolidators are participating?
Over 25 consolidators currently input flights into the Consolidator Flight Engine. We have made an effort to select only those consolidators that can meet certain service levels for our subscribers.
Do the fares quoted include taxes?
No. The fares listed on the first page are net fares only. Taxes, surcharges, and shipping and handling fees are itemized and shown on the last screen before the PNR is created.
Who ships the tickets?
The consolidator.
When are the tickets issued?
They are normally issued within 2-3 days after the payment has cleared.
Are the fares guaranteed?
Some consolidators offer a fare guarantee. Meaning, if you book a fare with a consolidator that offers a fare guarantee, the consolidator will honor that fare even in the case of a discrepancy if payment is received within the stated number of days. Fare guarantees range from 2-4 days depending upon the consolidator.
Where do I mail checks?
Checks have to be mailed directly to the consolidator. The address will be displayed at the end of the booking process.
Can I pay using a credit card?
Yes. This is the most widely used form of payment.
Who is the merchant on the credit card?
The consolidator or the airline. In either case, the consolidator processes the payment.
Do I have to fax a signed copy of my credit card and valid picture ID?
Some consolidators require the your signature, while others do not.
Can I pay with a third-party credit card?
No.
Can I pay for tickets with my American Express, Visa, or Mastercard Corporate Card?
This would be considered a third-party credit card transaction which some consolidators may allow, while most do not.
Is the Consolidator Flight Engine reliable?
Yes. The system is reliable, although exceptions may occur. Unlike a published fare, this is a very complex system in which data is passed through four different entities when making a single reservation. Even though the data is transferred through several channels, the system is very reliable and the error rate is minimal. On occasion, a booking may not go through. In these instances an order number is displayed and you are notified of the status of your booking within 24 hours. There are several reasons a booking may not get confirmed immediately. Here are examples of the most common ones:
- The CRS connection was temporarily interrupted
- The specific class of service became unavailable since the last update of the reservations system. This can be caused by the lack of direct access in certain CRS sytems.
The fares are sorted by price from lowest to highest.
Are all the fares shown available?
No, you must select a fare and check its availability. Unlike a published fare, a consolidator fare is highly restricted and a number of rules must be checked in order to display its availability.
What if the fare I choose is not available?
You can:
- Change the itinerary date
- Select another fare from the list
- Generate an automated e-mail request to the consolidator and you will have a response within 24 hours
Many international carriers fly from just a few gateway cities in the US and have certain routing requirements to accommodate passengers departing from offline cities. You can still search these fares through our system, however, online booking capability may be limited. In such instances, you will see the accurate fare from origin to destination, however, you will be prompted to call the consolidator or send an e-mail to book the itinerary and you will receive a response to your request within 24 hours.
Do you have domestic fares?
Consolidator fares are mostly sold for International travel. However, several of our consolidators do have a limited number of domestic fares. Over time you will see a greater number of domestic fares sold via the Consolidator Flight Engine.
Can I cancel a booking?
You can only cancel a booking when its status is still "New". Otherwise all cancellations must be made directly with the consolidator via the message system or by phone. Penalties may apply depending on the fare rules which are displayed at the time of booking.
Can I make a change on a booking?
All changes must be made directly with the consolidator via the message system or by phone. Penalties may apply depending on the fare rules which are displayed at the time of booking.
Who do I call in case of disputes?
All disputes must be communicated to the consolidator directly. You can also inform Shoestring Traveler in case of a dispute and we will record your complaint and try to help in resolving the matter.
