Travel Intrigue - Expert Adoption Travel

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Why choose Travel Intrigue?

Our Travel Intrigue team knows all the complex details of international air travel—the best deals, the most flexible airlines, and the pros and cons of ticket options. Below are some common airline ticket terms and what they really mean for you as you prepare for your international adoption travel. Travel Intrigue will help you decide which type of ticket offers the best value and most positive experience for your personal travel plan.

Adoption Fare Tickets

Though Adoption Fare tickets are generally more expensive than the lowest tariff prices, they offer definite advantages. These tickets:

allow passengers to reserve space without ticketing up until the day of departure.
have no airline change fees.
are fully refundable if travel is delayed or canceled (Changes are based on airline availability at the time the change is made).

When the adoptive parents purchase this fare, the child or children that they are adopting receive 1/2 off of the adult round trip, plus the one-way taxes.

Published Fare (Tariff) Tickets

The space that the airlines require for this type of fare is limited, and travelers really have to do their homework to know what they are buying. These tickets:

have advance purchase requirements ranging anywhere from 3-30 days before travel.
are totally non-refundable after purchase.
have a minimum $200 fee to change (per ticket).

The same class of service must be available for the $200 change fee, otherwise it will cost the $200 fee plus any additional "up-charge" to whatever fare level is available at the time the change is made (from $25 to $1,500, or more!)

With this type of ticket, the one-way fare from Russia, China, and Guatemala (for your child) is generally very high.

Internet Tickets

With an incredible number of sites to search, purchasing tickets via the internet is not for the faint of heart. Some sites:

show prices without taxes, airport fees, and surcharges.
often leave out the lead-in price.
will not book a one-way for a child returning with the adoptive parents:
- The one-way ticket (child returning) has to be booked at a separate time, and it is difficult to get the child on the same flight as the parents.
are non-refundable.
carry very high change fees, if changes are allowed at all.
have many stops and changes involved in travel:
- Increases the chance of lost luggage, fatigue, and fussy children (and parents!).
put together airline schedules with carriers that do not have baggage agreements:
- Travelers have to claim their luggage and check it in again each time they change airlines.
if an itinerary change occurs while the clients are traveling, it is nearly impossible to contact the right people to make those changes.

Consolidator Fare Tickets

You can save significant amounts on air fares through a consolidator—a middle man between an airline and a travel agency. Consolidators contract with different airlines for bulk prices on space. If your top priority is savings, this might be just the ticket. However, there are more rules to follow. Consolidator fare tickets:

are non-refundable
have change fees of a minimum of $200 per ticket.
- Depending on the changes made, additional costs may be incurred.
Consolidators cannot book tickets originating outside of the United States.

Options. It is good to have them, but you also have to know what each offers and what you will need. At Travel Intrigue, we are experienced in finding the best fares with the flexibility you need.