Purchasing discount airline tickets for Christmas travel

[Rumpltzer]

I often travel between Taiwan and the US during the holidays. During the low season, I'll pay about $600 for an economy class ticket. During the Christmas holidays it's more like $1000. I typically go to Expedia and Orbitz and places like that and then check the individual airline Web site.

One of my co-workers is astonished that I pay so much for my tickets, and she gave me some phone numbers to Chinese travel agents who offer discount ticket prices. My understanding is that they get some kind of group rate and might save me a couple hundred dollars. I called one of them yesterday for December travel, and the lady told me I was calling way too early. She asked me to call back in September.

Right now it looks like EVA air has filled up their Elite class seating for the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons before Christmas (out of LAX to TPE). The Tuesday afternoon is still available, and the most nights are still available. Given that it appears flights/sections are already being filled, I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to wait until December to book my tickets?


Question: Anyone used on of these "group rate" travel agencies for holiday travel? Did you still get a seat??

 

[kami333]

My parent's use group tickets all the time. The only problem is that they tend to be a lot more restrictive than buying direct from the airline or buying from a travel site. No refunds, no changes, not being able to use frequent flier miles to upgrade, etc.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: kami333
My parent's use group tickets all the time. The only problem is that they tend to be a lot more restrictive than buying direct from the airline or buying from a travel site. No refunds, no changes, not being able to use frequent flier miles to upgrade, etc.

Do your parents typically fly economy? The reason I ask is that I often do upgrade to business class (or to the Deluxe/Elite class on EVA) just to have a bigger seat. I called a couple of group ticket places and they don't seem to want to make any statements unless they actually have something on hand to sell...

 

[TitanDiddly]

All those tickets are being bought up by the travel agents at a discount. Then, you buy them for cheap. Tada!

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

Originally posted by: kami333
My parent's use group tickets all the time. The only problem is that they tend to be a lot more restrictive than buying direct from the airline or buying from a travel site. No refunds, no changes, not being able to use frequent flier miles to upgrade, etc.

Do your parents typically fly economy? The reason I ask is that I often do upgrade to business class (or to the Deluxe/Elite class on EVA) just to have a bigger seat. I called a couple of group ticket places and they don't seem to want to make any statements unless they actually have something on hand to sell...

They buy economy tickets but they always get upgraded for free or use an upgrade coupon so I don't know the last time they actually flew in economy. My mother is a million mile member of United and my father should be one in the next year or two:Q