Rick Steves Recommends Buying This Type Of Ticket To Save Money On Overseas Flights

Sometimes, you check the price of a flight going overseas and wonder if your bank account could really bear such a weight. And, truly, airfare for international flights can eat into your travel budget more than anything else. Perhaps you're even trying to cut costs, looking to plan a budget-friendly vacation to the Caribbean or visit one of the most affordable countries in the world. Thankfully, in cases like this, there's a simple way to save money on that flight, according to travel expert Rick Steves: purchasing consolidator tickets instead of booking directly from airlines.

Now, you're probably wondering what consolidator tickets are. To put it plainly, these are real airline tickets sold at highly discounted wholesale rates by consolidators — companies that buy seats in bulk and sell them cheaper than the airlines' published prices. Basically, you still get to fly on that major airline with other passengers who book through the normal route, but unlike them, you're not paying the full retail price for the same journey.

But are these tickets legitimate? The straight answer is yes. "Consolidator or 'discount' air tickets are perfectly legitimate," Steves confirms. However, there's a catch: you'll have to give up your ability to make changes or earn frequent-flyer miles. Nonetheless, anyone whose goal is to save money would realize that the advantages seem to trump these minor trade-offs. As a matter of fact, Steves goes as far as to affirm: "You can save hundreds of dollars." This leaves you with even more to spend on your actual adventure.

One of the most important advantages of consolidator fares is the fact that they're more affordable compared to normal international tickets. In some cases, travelers can cut costs by roughly 30% to 40%. On average, long-haul overseas flights can have prices that cross above $1,000, eating up funds that you could better utilize for food, accommodation, or anything else you may be planning to do when you land. As such, the consolidator fare discount makes a meaningful difference. 

Similarly, it's also important to know one thing many travelers don't realize: student travel agencies aren't meant for students alone. In fact, Rick Steves clarifies that anyone can get consolidator tickets from these agencies, and that they typically "offer some great airfares."

Keep in mind, however, that consolidator tickets may not be for everyone. Apart from the downsides mentioned earlier, it's also worth noting that the customer service you receive from consolidators may be somewhat limited or less reliable if something goes wrong. The reason for this is simply because it's a third-party arrangement, and while some consolidators may be more responsive, others are not so much. That said, make sure to do your homework, confirm the reliability of the specific consolidator you're choosing, and only purchase these types of tickets when you're certain your plans aren't going to change.