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From: shaprkg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Bob Shapiro)
Newsgroups: net.travel,net.consumers
Subject: Re: FYI: 800-number of discount-travel-outfit
Message-ID: <1707@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Jan-85 10:16:51 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.1707
Posted: Thu Jan 24 10:16:51 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Jan-85 07:10:28 EST
References: <1234@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Reply-To: shaprkg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Bob Shapiro)
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 35
Xref: watmath net.travel:1081 net.consumers:1707
Summary: 

In article <1234@ut-ngp.UUCP> werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (Werner Uhrig) writes:
>[ from a latenight TV-ad: however I do not know the company myself - Werner ]
>
>DTI, which I believe to stand for Discount Travel something-or-other, is a
>company which sells underbooked plane and cruise-tickets, advertised their
>800-number to request more (and free) information on how to save up to
>70% of travelling costs 
>
>	1-800-251-4900
>
>friends of mine have taken amazingly cheap trips with such outfits.

   I would be very leary of any outfit which promises discount fares on
domestic travel. The airlines do not permit it. It is inconceivable to me
that an airline would give its inventory close to departure to sell at below
market prices (and below its own airport price also).  I suspect that like
most other outfits this one will be glad to sell you a supersaver instead of
a full-price fare and then tell you how it is doing something that nobody
else can do.  International travel especially to the Far East is a much
different story. The airlines in those areas wheel and deal very heavily in
the ethnic markets. HOWEVER, great care must be used for many of the people
who sell in this area are neither licensed or bonded. Some have disappeared
with great quantities of consumers' money.

   As for discount cruises there are a few outfits that do that legitimately
(Spur of the Moment Cruises in Culver City, Cal is one of them) but my
experience is that the only ones they ever have available are either very
low quality cruise lines or cruises which require a heavy air expenditure
such as a round trip to either the Far East or Europe. Most cruise lines
subsidize the air and also use special very cheap airfares which only may be
bought by a cruise line. These outfits typically do not include the air so
unless you live in either Miami or Los Angeles and find a quality cruise
which does a round trip to that city you may pay more in the long run.

		Bob Shapiro