articles
Bucket Shops Versus The High Street Travel Agents;
Who Has The Best Deals?
Bucket shops versus the high street travel agents; who has the best deals? The answer, bucket shops, if you’re just concerned about price at all costs; but high street travel agents, if you require a bit of comfort.
Travel sector bucket shops first began to appear in the U.K. during the 1970s. And although the term bucket shop might grate somewhat, the alternative, travel consolidators, hardly trips off the tongue either.
Basically, these guys have arrangements with one, or a number of airlines, and sell international flight tickets from those airlines at discounted rates. They operate on the margins. There’s no finesse and no high street outlet with comfy sofa and potted plants. So, the market place is vulnerable to cowboys, sharks and other lowlife, who can masquerade as bucket shops one day, and disappear the next.
So, be warned, make sure you trust the bucket shop you’re dealing with and there are a few basic steps to take.
Firstly, get a list of the reputable firms by contacting The Air Travel Advisory Bureau. Once you have that list, do a bit of research. Do you know anyone who’s used them before; have they been written up in the press? Do a few internet searches on them, find out what people are saying.
Once you’ve chosen your bucket shop, there’s a few things to remember. Try to use one with a physical address, preferably in your own country and as near to you as possible. This might allow you to pick up the ticket yourself, make sure it’s alright.
Bear in mind that certain shops might deal only with one airline, or a limited number of routes. Discounted tickets tend to favour certain routes, especially long haul to Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Be wary of the extras trap – make sure you get the complete price; get the cancellation rules clear; can you make changes; pay with a credit card, in case they go bust the next day; and, limit the number of connections and different airlines (reducing potential problems). And, one final tip, try to pick on a bucket shop that writes its own tickets, rather then running off to the airline to get them, as they have the bigger discounts.
Right, so you don’t fancy risking a bucket shop. You want a high street name you can trust, staff that can advise you on the spot about connections and changes, and reassure you that you are not booked on an ex-Soviet fishing vessel for a ice-breaking cruise around Vladivostok. Now, that’s doesn’t come as cheaply as a bucket shop, but recent reports demonstrate that the high street travel agents are beginning to make a comeback, simply because some people prefer that little bit extra service and will pay for it.
But its not all congeniality; bear in mind that these guys get around a 10% commission from the airline for selling you a ticket.
Bucket shops versus the high street travel agents; who has the best deals? It comes down to no frills, against frills. But be prepared to pay extra for your frills.
< back
