Published Fares. Missionary Fares. Consolidator Fares. Group Fares versus Internet or Individual Fares. You have to be a detective to figure out the best choice. When considering these choices, it is important to check all the facts regarding missionary and consolidator fares versus published fares and review all the terms and conditions to make an educated decision about missionary travel plans. To shed some light on this complex topic, below is a a brief description of the differences in fares and what to look for when deciding what type of fare to purchase.
Published Fares
Published fares are offered directly by the airline and are available via travel agencies, airline 800 numbers or on websites. These fares are almost always non refundable and are typically not guaranteed until paid in full. Some of the published fares are better than the missionary fares, but they offer less flexibility in payment plans and almost no flexibility for refunds or changes.
What to Watch For in Internet Fares
Every fare that you see advertised is based on availability in a certain inventory of seats. When you see a low fare on the Internet, it will almost never be available for your whole team. You may be able to take advantage of that fare for some of your people, but the rates will increase as you purchase more and more seats. In most cases, the larger your group gets, the more expensive your ticket will be, due to the airline not wanting to give away a large amount of seats on the same flights at very low prices.
Missionary Fares
Missionary fares are available on almost every major carrier, and every contract is different. However, most missionary fares offer some flexibility in when your payment is due. Once a reservation is made with the legal name, some of the fares can be held without deposit until approximately 45 days prior to departure. Most missionary fares are refundable, less a cancelation fee, and many offer extra flexibility with minimum change fees. In some cases, an extra bag can be approved, but you should always check with your travel agent or the carrier first. Sometimes the missionary fares are higher than the published fares, but it’s a great alternative for when you need to buy time to raise the funds for the trip, yet still securing the schedule you need at a fare you can afford.
Consolidator Fares
The rules on consolidator fares vary, depending on the airline. These fares can usually be held anywhere from 5-14 days. The consolidator fares are not always refundable, so again, it’s important to check the rules before making any purchases.
Group Fares
Group fares are probably the most misunderstood fare type in the travel industry. Most people think that if they have a group booking, they will be getting the rock-bottom best price for their team. A group consists of 10 or more passengers traveling from Point A to Point B and back to Point A together. Depending on your destination, unfortunately, it is not uncommon to book your group, then find some lower Internet fares after your deposit is given. When this happens, it is frustrating, but if you consider the whole picture, Group Fares may still be the best bet for these reasons:.
- Depending on the airline or the destination, some free tickets may be able to be negotiated,
- The ability to lock in a good fare with a per person deposit, and
- Flexibility by submitting names and final payment closer to the departure date.
When getting a quote for your group, be sure you or your travel agent checks the individual fares against the group fares, so you can make the best decision for your team. In many cases, there is great benefit to booking your team as a group. Keep in mind that to get the best fares, the optimum group size is 15 – 20 passengers. If your group is much larger, consider splitting your team on to different flights to get the lowest possible fares.
The one consistent thing in the travel industry is that nothing is ever the same! Rules change. Contracts change. Deadlines change. And as we all know, taxes and fuel surcharges change daily. The best advice is to work with a seasoned travel agency that can find the best fares and the best terms for your missionary group travel.
Beth Banfill, president of Ministry Travel, has participated in and lead missionary teams worldwide.