Consumer Alert: Avoid this fourth-party folly when you're flying

Online booking sites are outsourcing their flights to other companies. Here's what to look for.

When Charlize Ryan's flight to Australia was delayed, it set off a chain reaction that left her without a flight — and $2,669 poorer.

No, her story is not about the inefficiency of airline reservation systems. She got in this pickle because she'd booked a flight through a third party, which then outsourced the reservation to a fourth party.

You’re reading the Elliott Confidential Consumer Alert, available exclusively to subscribers. Thank you for your support.