|
Bucket shops, or "travel consolidators," are travel agencies who
have arrangements with specific airlines to sell international
tickets for considerably less than the airline's published fares.
You can indeed save money on bucket shop fares, and experience a
completely successful trip abroad. However, this segment of the
travel industry contains enough landmines that you should use
bucket shops only if you follow the tips given in this article.
Although financially secure vendors like Priceline may match or
exceed bucket shop international discounts, and provide you with
a more comfortable purchasing experience, the bucket shop option
is still worth exploring. Their tickets often permit you to
change your destination or dates for a fee, which Priceline
"Name your own price" tickets, for example, never allow.
But, study these guidelines and proceed with caution!
How to find a reputable bucket shop:
You may see ads for bucket shop airfares in major newspapers and
on the Internet. However, even though the newspaper or website
may have a good reputation, the bucket shop which advertises
there could be at best, disorganized, and at worst, downright
dishonest.
Over the years, I have heard many tales of fly-by-night, shady
bucket shops (and have had run-ins with several myself), and so
I use these only if I have a solid recommendation from:
* a friend who has used the same bucket shop over time, * a
report from the Better Business Bureau, or
* an article in a respected travel journal, such as Frommer's
Budget Travel.
One of the best sources for a reliable bucket shop referral is a
friend from the same ethnic group as your destination. If it's
comfortable, ask your friend to obtain the price quotation. On
many routes, travelers whose families originally came from the
destination country get the lowest quotes.
A Cautionary Tale: Follow these tips before using bucket shops:
* If you are reside in the U.S., just use American bucket shops.
It could be very difficult to pursue a transaction that turned
sour if you use a foreign travel consolidator.
* Shops tend to specialize in specific countries. The one you
use for Australia is not necessarily the one you want to use for
Kenya.
* Bucket shop discounts excel at Asian, Australian, Middle
Eastern, eastern European, and African destinations. Discounts
are less competitive to western European cities, such as
Amsterdam and Paris, because airlines frequently publish
specials to these destinations.
* Realize that bucket shop advice may often be biased. Airlines
that give bucket shops special deals expect them to push
business their way. A bucket shop may not tell you if another
shop sells a cheaper or more convenient itinerary. * Request
that quoted fares include all taxes and fees. Extra fees can be
a way for a sketchy bucket shop to amp up the price
considerably. So get the total price before making a reservation.
* Savings tend to be greatest when you deal with a company that
writes its own tickets, instead of an agency that orders tickets
from somewhere else. Confirm this with the agency. A good
question is, "Can I pick up my ticket today?"
* Pay with a credit card. If the bucket shop turns out to be a
scam, you may be able to stop payment with a credit card, but
you can't with cash.
* Ask to have their rules for canceling or changing flights in
writing. These can be emailed or faxed to you if you cannot get
to their office. Some bucket shop tickets may allow you to
change flights and dates, others may not. Also, fees for changes
may vary considerably.
* Try to buy travel on one airline (or its partners), with as
few connections as possible. Any time you increase your number
of connections or airlines, you increase your risk of
complications, especially if you're traveling with separate
tickets for each airline.
Suppose you're flying to Delhi via Moscow on separate airlines.
If you miss your Delhi flight because the Moscow flight was
late, the Delhi airline in Moscow may tell you it's not
responsible for re-booking fees, a hotel overnight, etc.
* In addition, bucket shop tickets are often marked
"non-endorsable." This means that if you miss a connection, you
can't be rerouted on another airline. On top of that, you may
not have the visa required to leave the airport terminal if you
have to wait a day or two. So it's always best to fly with as
few connections and airlines as possible.
* If possible, pick up your ticket at the bucket shop, instead
of having it sent to you, so that you can examine it carefully
before leaving the store. Make sure that you have coupons for
each flight, correct dates, etc.
Have I scared you off?
Some bucket shops are reputable and some are not. I am not
promoting them, nor am I saying to stay completely clear. I just
want you to be armed with the best strategies for protecting
yourself and setting up a comfortable trip when you find a
reputable one. (And, remember - the best source is a trusted
friend who has used the same bucket shop many times.)
Let's say better safe than sorry, rather than better save than
sorry!
About the author:
Don Nadeau, president of http://www.BidonTravel.com, loves
helping people travel economically. He specializes in helping
people find great last-minute
airfares and hotel
discounts.
|
