Sharla Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 14 hours ago, Jill said: This reminds me to cancel my flights to Rome and back since odyssey is cancelled. Used Air2Sea. (Hello @Sharla, I’ll be emailing you for the hundredth time this week!) Will use again to go back to Rome the following year and for Alaska. Your flights are canceled- I did that when I moved the cruise SpeedNoodles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 40 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: +1 on that. I have been somewhat researching it for a while too before @Matt posted this. I don't need to use it yet. I'm almost positive the cruise this July to Norway isn't happening. I was researching for the sailing that I booked July 2022 to Norway. I wanted to be prepared this summer when flights do get released. The more I look into it, the more I am not sure if I even want to do it this way or just book direct. With our own situation for July 2022, we plan to fly into Heathrow at least 5 days prior to sailing and probably fly back to DTW the day after the ship gets back. So with that cushion, I don't even know if it's worth dealing with Air2Sea. Unless the price is cheaper than Delta direct, which I doubt it would be seeing that the other thread mentioned an Air2Sea booking fee.... Please don't get discouraged. I've found Air2Sea no more difficult than booking through other methods and it gives you much more flexibility. While personally calling is probably the best option for Air2Sea, you can have your travel agent do it or even select from the list of flights on line. The benefits of using Air2Sea far outweigh any hassle or cost (in fact, I've booked flights through Air2Sea that worked out much cheaper than using Travelocity) Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO, IRMO12HD and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 42 minutes ago, steverk said: Please don't get discouraged. Thank you. I will most definitely weigh out all my options when the time gets closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG Teacher Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 12 hours ago, smokeybandit said: Though Southwest is changing to allow their fares to appear in the booking engines. JLMoran 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 1 hour ago, steverk said: The benefits of using Air2Sea far outweigh any hassle or cost (in fact, I've booked flights through Air2Sea that worked out much cheaper than using Travelocity) I agree. I'm booking with A2S for one reason: if the cruise gets cancelled, I'm not fighting with an airfare refund. Last year, airlines were handing out refunds, but that's just not happening and I don't want airfare credits. So I booked with A2S so that when cruise is cancelled ~60 days before the sailing, airfare is refunded automagically. IRMO12HD, Big Tule, WAAAYTOOO and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 8 minutes ago, USCG Teacher said: https://www.swamedia.com/releases/release-b2f6358f290309a4f14800aef73b8088-southwest-airlines-expands-channel-of-choice-signs-sabre-full-participation-gds-agreement Some of the major airfare websites use Sabre. USCG Teacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharla Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 I'm debating booking flights for this cruise. I have a Delta voucher that needs to be used by the end of 2021, so that makes booking through the airline compelling, but booking through Air2Sea is much more compelling at this point. MAK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 10 minutes ago, Sharla said: I'm debating booking flights for this cruise. I have a Delta voucher that needs to be used by the end of 2021, so that makes booking through the airline compelling, but booking through Air2Sea is much more compelling at this point. I am having the same struggle. I have some AA vouchers that need to be used but for international travel, A2S offers far more peace of mind. Sharla 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacharius Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 13 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: I am having the same struggle. I have some AA vouchers that need to be used but for international travel, A2S offers far more peace of mind. I'm an AA frequent flier and I have never heard of a voucher being restricted to international versus domestic? Granted, I'm not terribly familiar with vouchers, but this is news to me. My understanding was that they just needed to be used for trips originating in the US, be it to go from Tulsa to Seattle or from Tulsa to Mumbai. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 10, 2021 Report Share Posted March 10, 2021 46 minutes ago, Zacharius said: I'm an AA frequent flier and I have never heard of a voucher being restricted to international versus domestic? Granted, I'm not terribly familiar with vouchers, but this is news to me. My understanding was that they just needed to be used for trips originating in the US, be it to go from Tulsa to Seattle or from Tulsa to Mumbai. Sorry...I guess I didn't express this clearly. No, the vouchers I have are not applicable only to international or domestic. They are just $$ vouchers and can be applied to any booking. I was just saying that I choose to look to A2S (to which I cannot apply any vouchers) for international bookings instead of booking directly with the airlines because: 1. There is a degree of safety with A2S in case the flight is delayed, cancelled or otherwise interrupted. 2. Since it is a fully refundable rate (up until cruise final payment), if the cruise gets cancelled I would get $$ back vs another voucher. Sharla 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisellama Posted March 11, 2021 Report Share Posted March 11, 2021 I like it for international as it tends to assemble reasonable connections and they'll reroute you if something is delayed. I fly from DFW, a major hub. I find for domestic, they do not open up non-stops until much closer to the cruise departure which corresponds to a higher cost than if you book the non-stop directly with the airline as soon as the flights are available. Direct/non-stops for domestic is one of my requirements. But, it's nice that you can defer payment until final cruise payment. Another plus. KristiZ and IRMO12HD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda R Posted March 11, 2021 Report Share Posted March 11, 2021 20 hours ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/09/travel-news-holiday-abroad-covid-restrictions-spain-portugal/ Scroll through this article (post at 3.47pm most interesting) .... International cruising from UK expected later on this summer... not just domestic cruising. That would be great if they start international passengers later this summer. I cannot open this article, need to subscribe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 If prices drop after booking, can you get the reduced fare on air2sea? Edit: answering my own question, looks like you only can get the cheaper fare within 48 hours of booking cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 Prices seemed to have dropped on Air2Sea for Bahamas. They're now cheaper than I can find elsewhere. But what a fickle website. Even though it lets you pick multiple airlines, it doesn't seem to actually search on all of those airlines. And there's now a direct flight from Denver! I'm not at all comfortable with that 11:37am return time though, at least in a post-covid world. cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 @smokeybandit You might try calling air2sea directly. I've called before and found they can access many flights at better prices than are posted on line. It's painful but worth the effort! IRMO12HD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 57 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Prices seemed to have dropped on Air2Sea for Bahamas. They're now cheaper than I can find elsewhere. Makes sense, and I'm kicking myself for missing out. Royal Caribbean said it is discounting fares through Air2Sea. I bought my airfare a week earlier thinking I was super smart to beat the rush for flights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 The reservation summary showed it was a $100 discount per person. I like that I can cancel for no penalty through the cruise final payment date. I still have hopes that my preferred airline, Southwest, restarts its route to Nassau. cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 Southwest A-List myself but in these wonky times flying in the day of the cruise and with rapidly changing rules for international travel I'm sticking with A2S even if Southwest returns to Nassau. cruisellama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 We don't even try to fly in day of cruise. As it stands now we're flying in 2 days before (usually 1 day, but it's the Bahamas, so why not 2?). It might turn into 1 day though depending on what the final decision is for RC's testing requirement for those under 18. Bahamas doesn't require a negative PCR test for those under 10, so timing on the testing window RC requires could affect how early we get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 6 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: We don't even try to fly in day of cruise. As it stands now we're flying in 2 days before (usually 1 day, but it's the Bahamas, so why not 2?) Two words... PCR Test Until I have a better understanding of timelines and a solid plan for getting PCR test results in hand in time to board a flight and use them to meet both cruise line and country requirements I'm flying in the day of. A2S is part of my insurance for doing the unthinkable. cruisellama, IRMO12HD, teddy and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordell1 Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 9 minutes ago, twangster said: Two words... PCR Test Until I have a better understanding of timelines and a solid plan for getting PCR test results in hand in time to board a flight and use them to meet both cruise line and country requirements I'm flying in the day of. A2S is part of my insurance for doing the unthinkable. You bring up a really good point. I booked A2S but am coming in the day before. I am wondering in RCI will help with arranging the tests. Do you know whether RCI or Bahamas government will accept the rapid test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshgates Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 That's a good point. I'd booked using some flight credits I had leftover on Delta, but looking at the pricing through Air2Sea right now I might want to switch to that just for the added insurance of using it, and the cost savings of not needing a hotel for the night before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanS Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 23 minutes ago, twangster said: Southwest A-List myself but in these wonky times flying in the day of the cruise and with rapidly changing rules for international travel I'm sticking with A2S even if Southwest returns to Nassau. Also A-List with companion pass. I am hoping they return service to Nassau soon but will most likely go with Air2Sea for the convenience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 11 minutes ago, wordell1 said: You bring up a really good point. I booked A2S but am coming in the day before. I am wondering in RCI will help with arranging the tests. Do you know whether RCI or Bahamas government will accept the rapid test? Bahamas is PCR only (for those over age 10) within 5 days of arrival. RC is PCR for those under 18, but with no mention of how recent the test has to be. If RC is also 5 days, then there's no way I can rely on flying in 2 days early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordell1 Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 19 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Bahamas is PCR only (for those over age 10) within 5 days of arrival. RC is PCR for those under 18, but with no mention of how recent the test has to be. If RC is also 5 days, then there's no way I can rely on flying in 2 days early. OK, I would think that RCI would have already stated the testing requirement since they did for under 18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 I'm also waiting to see how formal night factors in IF the WJ isn't open for dinner. I'm not an MDR person and often eat dinner in the very relaxed WJ. That allows me to stay in shorts for dinner. That plays into packing and being able to go without checked bags. I can do week long business trips with carry on so I can do a week long cruise with carry on only but not if I don't have to pack long pants and fancy shirts to eat in the MDR because the WJ is closed. So yes, the WJ policy during the pandemic impacts my checked bag count for flying. IRMO12HD and cruisellama 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 I don't know how they can't keep WJ open. Surface transmission of covid has been thoroughly downplayed, even by the CDC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 Diverting crew to other tasks like extra cleaning in the MDR between dinner seatings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 Same thing though. Surface transmission isn't the concern (other than for public perception), especially for a vaccinated cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 Perception is reality. TSA is security theater that accomplishes nothing. Zero terrorists caught by TSA ever. Surface cleaning will absolutely be a significant part of health protocols. teddy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 15 minutes ago, twangster said: Perception is reality. TSA is security theater that accomplishes nothing. Zero terrorists caught by TSA ever. Surface cleaning will absolutely be a significant part of health protocols. Oh I don't doubt that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisellama Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 40 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: I don't know how they can't keep WJ open. Surface transmission of covid has been thoroughly downplayed, even by the CDC. Was under the impression it would be open, but you would be served at the various food stations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 2 hours ago, cruisellama said: Was under the impression it would be open, but you would be served at the various food stations. On Quantum it's not open for dinner. Unknown if that will also be the case in the Bahamas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YOLO Posted March 29, 2021 Report Share Posted March 29, 2021 All, thanks for the great info above! Hope this is an appropriate question for this thread. Please re-direct me if not... Concerning our July Anthem GC, I received a final payment email from Beth @ MEI. Her email describes a list of Cancellation Penalties. Maybe I have this wrong, but I was under the impression that the Cruise with Confidence program overrides any/all cancellation penalties. Is this not true? Thanks in advance for any help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2021 6 minutes ago, YOLO said: Concerning our July Anthem GC, I received a final payment email from Beth @ MEI. Her email describes a list of Cancellation Penalties. Maybe I have this wrong, but I was under the impression that the Cruise with Confidence program overrides any/all cancellation penalties. Is this not true? Thanks in advance for any help... You're right, and so is she. What Beth sent you is penalties after final payment date passes and you request a refund(cash). Cruise with Confidence allows you to cancel and get a future cruise credit. YOLO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 My flight to the Bahamas dropped $62 per person and it was very easy to call up Air2Sea to get the new price. I can also confirm being able to pick seats through Air2Sea (American Airlines in this case) even though I can't pick them through the airline website. Another FYI for the Bahamas, their cost for post-cruise airport transportation is $20 per person. KristiZ, IRMO12HD, Neesa and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 How did you pick seats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted April 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 2 hours ago, smokeybandit said: Another FYI for the Bahamas, their cost for post-cruise airport transportation is $20 per person. I'll just grab a taxi. Can't be any worse, and I don't have to wait for anyone's schedule. Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted April 16, 2021 Report Share Posted April 16, 2021 9 minutes ago, Matt said: How did you pick seats? The agent asked if I wanted to pick seats. Sure, why not! I just asked to be put as close to the front as possible and she gave me what I assume were the best free seats left. I didn't get great seats, but I can tell from looking on AA.com with a dummy booking there are plenty of seats to upgrade to once the reservation is paid for next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. RoyalMoyal Posted April 17, 2021 Report Share Posted April 17, 2021 I was not able to pick seats... I'll ask Sharla for help. On Monday. I don't have to bother her with this on a Friday night!! It's a December flight, there is no hurry. Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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