Travel Tips

Avoiding Airline Consolidator Scams

Be aware of rock-bottom deals from airline consolidators: When it seems too good to be true, it just might be.

Airline consolidators buy airline tickets in bulk and, in theory, they pass the savings onto you.

But buyer beware: If you do business with a fraudulent company, you could lose lots of cash.

Faulty consolidators have been known to make reservations, but not pay for them. And worst of all, you won’t know until you try to check in at the airport.

To avoid getting scammed, read the fine print on any travel ad, which often state that your reservations are non-refundable and cannot be changed.

Make sure that the seller is registered with the state, and check that the seller is a member of the U.S. Air Consolidators Association.

Lastly, paying with a credit card is a good idea because your credit card company can reimburse you for money lost to a fraudulent company and help you dispute transactions as necessary.

Learn more about Travel Safety & Security.

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