Big discount offered by travel agent

[winfred]

I've been offered a package by a travel agent based in SE Asia. The deal is pay them $6.5k and get $8.25k worth of credit you can use to book flights through them. I have too select 1 airline and use ask the credit on just the 1 airline. I was told they are a "wholesale agency" and get discount from airlines hence their ability to offer the deal.

Does it sound suspicious?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've been offered a package by a travel agent based in SE Asia. The deal is pay them $6.5k and get $8.25k worth of credit you can use to book flights through them. I have too select 1 airline and use ask the credit on just the 1 airline. I was told they are a "wholesale agency" and get discount from airlines hence their ability to offer the deal.

Does it sound suspicious?

Potentially! They’d need to be making a commission of 20% or whatever? That’s quite a lot these days.

You’d need to check things like whether the flights can accrue FF points and status. With my regular flying patterns I use the points gained to off-set future travel, saving in excess of 20% of the base fares after I average everything out.

Finally, anything in google reviews?

 

[winfred]

Potentially! They’d need to be making a commission of 20% or whatever? That’s quite a lot these days.

You’d need to check things like whether the flights can accrue FF points and status. With my regular flying patterns I use the points gained to off-set future travel, saving in excess of 20% of the base fares after I average everything out.

Finally, anything in google reviews?

Nothing in Google reviews as the agent told me he's a freelance wholesale agent. I asked questions such as fare bucket I will be booked into and restrictions, etc. I did not get any of answers from those questions. The discount is close 27% so it is a lot. I always believe that "If something is too good to be true then it is probably not true".

 

[TheRealTMA]

I've been offered a package by a travel agent based in SE Asia. The deal is pay them $6.5k and get $8.25k worth of credit you can use to book flights through them. I have too select 1 airline and use ask the credit on just the 1 airline. I was told they are a "wholesale agency" and get discount from airlines hence their ability to offer the deal.

Does it sound suspicious?

I’d be suspicious. TAS don’t generally make that level of commission? If you pay, make sure on a cc where you can claim chargeback for fraud.

 

[bam71]

Sounds like frequent flyer points are being sold… then used.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've been offered a package by a travel agent based in SE Asia. The deal is pay them $6.5k and get $8.25k worth of credit you can use to book flights through them. I have too select 1 airline and use ask the credit on just the 1 airline. I was told they are a "wholesale agency" and get discount from airlines hence their ability to offer the deal.

Does it sound suspicious?

Wouldn't touch it, for many reasons - not least that you'd be under very restrictive and even unrealistic conditions. Or as bam71 notes, ticket purchased via unconventional channels, so subject to cancellation by the airline.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Run.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I did not get any of answers from those questions.

And you still think you need advice?

 

[33kft]

@MEL_Traveller's question is perfect (will I accrue points/SCs) as it will indirectly flush out FFP brokers if that's what is going on, and it certainly sounds like it is.

 

[Cynicor]

How did you find them? That’s always the big one

 

[SeatBackForward]

If it's too good to be true...

 

[winfred]

How did you find them? That’s always the big one

A good friend who just started using their service. I told him ponzi schemes normally run for a while before they collapse and I wish him luck .

 

[RichardMEL]

Sounds like a dodgy mileage broker to me.. or worse. Would not trust - specially with a lack of detailed response to questions.

 

[p--and--t]

There is an alternate thread for this.

Search for "scams like these"

 

[Scarlett]

 

[Guvner]

Run.

Fast.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Probably a mileage broker

 

[clifford]

What safeguards would you have after you've transferred the $6.5K?

Not too many I would imagine, and that's the key. Asia is quite a long way away in more ways than one.

 

[tinkybelle]

Im a TA. And most airlines LIKE QF SQ. Pay 1% many like JAL THAI pay nil
There is no way anyone can discount 20% unless selling ff pts and we all know how hard it is to find decent ff flts

 

[winfred]

I just did a trip DXB-RUH return on Saudia. Significantly cheaper than what I can find on any website. It's not a points booking. I just bought an Emirates HKG-DXB return flight in J for US$1k for June. Let's see if i can check in at the airport.