Regent Air for Mariner

[ridojar]

We are on Mariner 19 Aug leaving Venice. We have Regent air business class on Iberia leaving Miami via Madrid on 18 Aug. The air forum has a thread stating Spanish Air Traffic controllers are striking starting on the 18th. This will cause a massive disruption in european air traffic. Regent says they are "monitoring" the situation which I think is corp speak for don't bother us. They did offer to switch us to LH or AF for lots more money, deviation fees, canc. fees etc, etc. I hoped Regent would be more pro-active and show due diligence. Obviously, not the case. Has this happened to anyone else, and how was it resolved. How will Regent contact me to switch flights, luggage etc. Any guidance will be most appreciated.

[petlover]

I'm sure Regent is on top of it (as well as your TA) and will notify your TA should anything affect your flight.

We too have a flight on Iberia (used AA f.f. miles, not Regent air) but ours isn't until Oct. Fingers and toes crossed that it works out for you!!

[PaulaJK]

While I cannot share a personal experience with you, many folks on this board have been caught in some snafu [strikes, storms, volcanic eruptions]. When they have been using Regent air they have been well taken care of. Since this reported strike is 10 days away, most probably Regent is closely monitoring the situation. If and when they need to re-schedule you I strongly suspect that no deviation fees or change fees will apply....so as difficult as it is, hold on. I truly believe that Regent will take care of you.

Meanwhile, hopefully other CC members who have more personal experiences can respond.

[rallydave]

You should be OK, just read an article stating that the Union must give a 10 day notice before striking and that even thouigh the members have overwhelming voted to strike, the union isn't meeting until this Thursday to make a final strike decision meaning the strike can't occur until Aug. 22 making your trip to Europe safe.

Depending on what they do, and if you are on Iberia thru Spain on your return home, you might have an issue at the end of your cruise but, based on Regent actions with the ash, confident they will get you safely home at the end of your cruise.

Sounds like good news to me.

[Travelcat2]

In my opinion, you need to relax and trust Regent's experience in this area. Even in a worst case scenario, like the recent unexpected eruption in Iceland that grounded planes in Europe, Regent took care of the passengers who booked through them. If the strike you are worried about does happen, you will be put on another flight at no additional cost to you.

[ridolphi]

Well like Petlover, we too are using Iberia and AA ff points for the same cruise she is on, so I am hoping that this will get resolved before we fly.

Agree too, that if there is an issue Regent will take care of it and you should have no worries.

Good luck, post and let us know how it goes.

[ridojar]

I've reread the article and it appears they have voted to strike 18-20 Aug and have given the Spanish Government the required warning. Also cruise schedules show 3 large ships, Costa, RCL and Disney doing embark/disembarks in Barcelona during this period. I assume there are many US/Can pass, some from Fla involved. There are only so many flights from Miami-Europe. It could be a zoo. Wish that Regent was proactive and makes the switch rather than reacting in a crisis mode. Thanks for your kind words and assurances. We shall see said the blind man.

[Travelcat2]

I've reread the article and it appears they have voted to strike 18-20 Aug and have given the Spanish Government the required warning. Also cruise schedules show 3 large ships, Costa, RCL and Disney doing embark/disembarks in Barcelona during this period. I assume there are many US/Can pass, some from Fla involved. There are only so many flights from Miami-Europe. It could be a zoo. Wish that Regent was proactive and makes the switch rather than reacting in a crisis mode. Thanks for your kind words and assurances. We shall see said the blind man.

Your concern is understandable -- most of us would be in your position. Have you called your TA and asked them what they have heard? Please let us know when you learn more.

[ridojar]

Travel cat
My TA is in Canada- guess you can figure out who- she says Regent is monitoring the situation. Travel Guard Ins., which we have since we booked, has not offered coverage to Iberia flight related cruises since 3 June 2010. Regent booked us on Iberia late June. Makes one wonder why Regent would do that when insurance companies were not offering coverage. Once again, why isn't Regent proactive in lieu of after the fact?
We depart for Fl Sunday 15 Aug and have a hotel booked near MIA on the 17th. Needless to say I have Regent and my TA on speed dial on my cell.

[Travelcat2]

Travel cat
My TA is in Canada- guess you can figure out who- she says Regent is monitoring the situation. Travel Guard Ins., which we have since we booked, has not offered coverage to Iberia flight related cruises since 3 June 2010. Regent booked us on Iberia late June. Makes one wonder why Regent would do that when insurance companies were not offering coverage. Once again, why isn't Regent proactive in lieu of after the fact?
We depart for Fl Sunday 15 Aug and have a hotel booked near MIA on the 17th. Needless to say I have Regent and my TA on speed dial on my cell.

Fingers crossed for the best resolution!:)

[ab0si]

The Spanish government has announced that they will use military controllers to keep as much traffic as possible flying. This usually means giving priority to long haul flights. So, as a guess, you will most likely make it to MAD (late). Getting to Venice is more problematic.

BTW, what do/did you expect Regent to do? It isn't as if they use fully refundable tickets.

[Travelcat2]

The Spanish government has announced that they will use military controllers to keep as much traffic as possible flying. This usually means giving priority to long haul flights. So, as a guess, you will most likely make it to MAD (late). Getting to Venice is more problematic.

BTW, what do/did you expect Regent to do? It isn't as if they use fully refundable tickets.

It is my understanding that Regent has contracts with the carriers they book their passengers on. If they are unable to land in one port, they will land in another and transport their passengers via land to the ship. In any event, Regent has proven itself to be on top of these types of situations.

[rallydave]

The Spanish government has announced that they will use military controllers to keep as much traffic as possible flying. This usually means giving priority to long haul flights. So, as a guess, you will most likely make it to MAD (late). Getting to Venice is more problematic.

BTW, what do/did you expect Regent to do? It isn't as if they use fully refundable tickets.

I am pasting one article from today, one saying the union may provide notice today and the other from Sunday as I previously stated that notice will be provided Thursday. They are talking about using military controllers as requested by Rynair but, no reports I can find state that they have decided to do this as the Government has yet to receive formal notice of the strike from the union. You should be good for the 18th but, others from the 20th and on (flying on the evening of the 19th may be an issue as well) may have issues. Agree with tc that Regent do what they can within the constraints of fewer and fuller flights during the summer:

Spanish air-traffic controllers decide on strike today
10 August 2010 | 14:39 | FOCUS News Agency
Home / European Union
Madrid. Trade union that represents interests of air-traffic controllers in Spain is to decide today whether to stage a strike, AFP announced.
“We want to remove the uncertainty in the tourist industry and the passengers. It is expected the decision to be taken today”, head of the press service of the union Cesar Kapp said.
The strike could not be staged as early as August 20, because the union must give 10-day notice about the strike.


Spain air traffic union to decide this week on strike
(AFP) – 2 days ago
MADRID — The union representing Spain's air traffic controllers will meet on Thursday to decide whether to go ahead with a strike over working conditions, a union member said.
This means any walkout, which could disrupt flights at the peak of the tourist season, would not take place until at least August 22 as the union must give a formal 10-day warning of strike action.
Spanish air traffic controllers voted by an overwhelming majority on Tuesday to strike over government changes to their working hours that reduce overtime pay.
On Friday they broke off negotiations with the state-run airport management authority, AENA.
"On Thursday will have a meeting of our executive committee which will take some decisions," a source at the Union of Air Traffic Controllers (USCA) said on Sunday.
"We still hope that it will not be necessary to call a strike and we can reach an agreement with" AENA.
Transport Minister Jose Blanco warned Sunday of "serious damage to the economy and tourism of our country" if the strike goes ahead.
Exceltur, an association that represents more than 20 major travel industry groups in Spain, also warned it may take legal action against the controllers if they proceed with the walkout.
It urged them to accept AENA's offer of arbitration to resolve the dispute.
The controllers are angry over a government decree on working conditions announced last month which would reduce rest periods and cut generous overtime benefits.
The government has called the "millionaire salaries" enjoyed by the controllers "incomprehensible privileges" at a time of austerity to slash Spain's public deficit, the eurozone's third-highest after Greece and Ireland.

[ridojar]

We are on Mariner 19 Aug leaving Venice. We have Regent air business class on Iberia leaving Miami via Madrid on 18 Aug. The air forum has a thread stating Spanish Air Traffic controllers are striking starting on the 18th. This will cause a massive disruption in european air traffic. Regent says they are "monitoring" the situation which I think is corp speak for don't bother us. They did offer to switch us to LH or AF for lots more money, deviation fees, canc. fees etc, etc. I hoped Regent would be more pro-active and show due diligence. Obviously, not the case. Has this happened to anyone else, and how was it resolved. How will Regent contact me to switch flights, luggage etc. Any guidance will be most appreciated.

Yeah the strike has been postponed. I can pull the DW off the walls and continue packing. Thanks for all your thoughts and best wishes.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

That's great news! Holidays should be stress-free, who needs this? I feel sorry for all the folks who are worrying about these situations this summer.