Booking Airfare through HAL?

[Columbia]

Hi All,
My family and I are taking an Alaskan Cruisetour ,(#15), through HAL July '07 leaving from Vancouver. We have booked airfare through them, as well, originating and finishing in Boston. We did this back in August, '06. What have been your experiences booking air through HAL? This is a major trip from Boston to Vancouver, then from Fairbanks to Boston. I have checked on-line air sources, and the costs are not very different from HAL. We have paid $820 pp for the airfare. What I am most concerned about is HAL's ability to schedule good flights.
Your opinions?
Thanks!

[Jade13]

booking diretly through the airline plus 90% refundable if we cancelled up 24 hours prior with the platinum. We did pay the extra 50pp for air diviation so we cpuld pick the flights we wanted from those they use. We took Northwest since we got into Anchorage the earliest at about 12:00pm.

[Krazy Kruizers]

If you do choose to use HAL's air, definitely pay for the air deviation. All the cruise lines choose flights that are the cheapest for them but may be a horrible schedule for you.

[happy cruzer]

Don't forget to cover your flights in your travel insurance. That way if anything does happen it will probably be covered. HAL just acts as an agent for the air.

Sounds like a great trip.

[agabbymama]

Hi All,
My family and I are taking an Alaskan Cruisetour ,(#15), through HAL July '07 leaving from Vancouver. We have booked airfare through them, as well, originating and finishing in Boston. We did this back in August, '06. What have been your experiences booking air through HAL? This is a major trip from Boston to Vancouver, then from Fairbanks to Boston. I have checked on-line air sources, and the costs are not very different from HAL. We have paid $820 pp for the airfare. What I am most concerned about is HAL's ability to schedule good flights.
Your opinions?
Thanks!

Everyone on this board says the cruiselines airfare is not the best way to go, but I did the same thing for my Aug '07 Cruisetour #1. HAL airfare was about $20 more than I could get independent, but it included transfers, so I went with them.

In '99 when we did the Inside Passage Cruise we went from LAX to Seattle to Anchorage right onto a bus to Seward to the ship, then from Vancouver back to LAX. It wasn't bad flight times either. The only thing I really don't like is not knowing our flight information before we get our documents. Right now, I don't know who we are flying with, what time, or what hotels we will be at once in Alaska. I'm assuming the hotels listed in the brochure (mostly Westmark) but was surprised to see the Anchorage Hilton listed instead of the Westmark.

Hope you have a fantastic trip!:p

[Randyk47]

We've both booked our own and gone with HAL. Typically you pay more, sometimes a lot and sometimes a little, with HAL's air. We've not had a bad experience with HAL arranged air. Flights were as direct as we could have gotten ourselves and the times were not unacceptable, at least they weren't extremely early in the morning or late in the evening. Admittedly there was one situation where I was really glad we'd booked HAL air. Our honeymoon was only my third cruise and I really wasn't as "cruise smart" so I scheduled us to go in the day of the departure. Thanks to broken planes and weather we almost didn't make the cruise. HAL really looked out for us at Ft Lauderdale, knew exactly where we were and got us to the ship literally minutes before she sailed. The other HAL air experience was because we didn't book the cruise until the last minute and HAL had the only air available, or at least reasonably available, during "spring break". I'm certainly not against HAL air though I know some folks have gotten some very strange arrangements or did/could have paid significantly more with HAL than self-arranged.

[Nasmas]

We quit using the cruise air after a very bad experience, but always before it had been fine. This was a last minute trip and maybe they did the best they could do, and we weren't aware of the deviation plan. We tried to change thru the airline and they told us our ticket was only worth about $40. Then, we got to Atlanta, after standing in the hot sun in FLL for hours(they made us check in in the basement and they were taking people according to the time their flights left, and wouldn't let us in) at 11:00 pm and we'd been bumped. We did get on the plane, but the people were so rude. They acted like we were freeloading because we had a 'cruise ticket'. We decided then that we would never use it again.

[Jemima]

... The only thing I really don't like is not knowing our flight information before we get our documents. Right now, I don't know who we are flying with, what time, or what hotels we will be at once in Alaska...

Flight information is supposed to be available about 45 days ahead for domestic and 60 for international. We found our upcoming flight information more than 75 days ahead plus we received a copy along with our final payment information. Also the first leg of the return flight shows on our immigration forms. (We sail 4/1).
You should have gotten the hotel name(s) at the time of booking. We have the few times the hotel has been through HAL.

[parislady40]

How does the deviation fee work? Does it allow you to pick specific flights, or do they give you a list of flights to choose from? Also, if the flights you wish are a lot higher in cost, do they pass it on to you? Forgive the questions, but I am new to HAL.:) Final payment is in. Is it too late to add the deviation fee? I have no flights yet.

[sswitenki]

I know this has been discussed but we did book the air with HAL for our upcoming Australia/New Zealand cruise. In thier book for this cruise, it says if your flight is canelled or a revised schedule no longer connects to the ship or tour, we will alter your ticket at no charge, if ncessary, we will even rebook on an alternate airline. If the flight is delayed we will make sure someone is at the airport to meet youand help with luggage.
Maybe the problems come in if there is a storm or mechanical failure and the connections are not met. If this happens you would be in the same boat - no pun intended -as if you booked it yourself? Then the airlines are responsible to get you to the ship?
Such hard decisions

[Jade13]

which flights we wanted and got them (wanted ones where we could use the frequent flyer mileage). For Alaska we were told that HAL did not have an arrangment with US Airways and so we asked for the Northwest Flight that arrived the earliest. Note that it is also considered a diviation if you are coming a day early, which we did.

The price was still the same or better than buying direct (for Alaska) and we had the added cancellation insurance since HAL charges the same for the insurance (based on cabin cost), whether or not you book your air through them.

Since this is your first time with HAL I'd be interested to know what you think of their platinum insurance plan? They say it is the best in the industry. It was cheap for Alaska at $169pp (we had an outside cabin). I know NCL insurance sounds terrible because if you cancel you get a voucher at 75% for another trip where HAL gives you 90% back on your credit card up to 24 hours before departure.

[hammybee]

Cruise line air can be equal to or less costly than doing it on your own, especially when the departure and final port are different. It can also make a huge deal when sailing to/from Florida during prime time Spring break.

The benefit of using cruise line air is that if the carrier fails to get you to the ship for reasons it controls, like mechanical problems or overbooking, they have to get you to the next port. This is not the case when you book your own air. Of course weather delays are no one's fault and this is why it makes sense to fly in a day early and of course have appropriate trip insurance.

It always pays to shop it.

[sswitenki]

Do you mean to say that when you choose your flights with the air deviation that you can say - choose NW airline and use your points to upgrade to first class for that segment?

[parislady40]

From what I can tell for a newcomer to HAL, the platinum insurance seems to be a very good deal, especially in comparison to others out there. I have definitely paid quite a bit more on previous cruises.

Thanks for the info regarding flight deviation. I was able to arrange arrival in Tampa a day earlier, and surprisingly, they came back to my TA with the flight I wanted right away. Now I have good timing, frequent flier miles and a seat number!

I know that I am doing this in a very choppy manner, having just decided to take the cruise last week, but can you or anyone advise if you make a deviation on the outbout flights, do you have to pay another deviation fee if you later decide to try for specific flights on your return. I have no return flight booked as yet, just my flight to the ship. Sorry if this sounds confusing. I love to do things on the spur of the moment!:o

[Jade13]

outbound too. Again, you can do this as long as its an airline that they have an arranment with.

My boss used HAL for tranasportation to Tampa during Thanksgiving. It was cheaper from Chicago vs arranging this himself.

[bbuchanan]

Air Deviations:

Everytime any deviation is requested for a flight schedule, there is another charge. If you deviate the inbound and later decide you want to change the return, another fee will apply.

Cruise lines contract with airlines for specific classes of travel. In addition to the non refundable deviation fee charged, if the desired schedule you want has no seats available in the contracted class of service, there will be an additional custom air fee. That can range from a few dollars to a few hundred depending upon the schedule.

Carefully read the "Airplus Service" section of the brochure....."Requests should be submitted prior to final payment in order to assure proper consideration. All requests are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. If confirmation is possible, a US$50 non-refundable service charge and additional airline costs incurred will be assessed. A service charge will be assessed for each additional request that is confirmed."

Travel Insurance:

Travel protection insurance should always be taken. I am always amazed.....and have listened to heartbreak stories for those who choose to not purchase a policy. Bottom line is, you do not control your life.........from that car that T-Bones you in the intersection down the street, or for the broken hip when you slipped on ice, and on and on and on. If I could control my future, suspect I wouldn't need an auto policy or homeowner's policy because I would know whether I was going to have a loss or not.

The one time you need it, it will probably pay for all the trip insurance purchased up to that time.

Holland offers a travel insurance alternative with their Platinum plan that includes a 90% monetary refund if you cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the cruise.

A great choice should you need to cancel your trip due to other than health related issues. Holland's plan, however is unique. They are the only cruise line that if you cancel your trip prior to final payment and before cruise line cancel penalties begin, you will lose the insurance premium. Holland's plan must be purchased with deposit and is non refundable!

Most, if not all, other travel insurers will refund premiums paid when cancellations occur prior to penalties; there was nothing to insure.

[SteveFriday]

On Friday, Jan 26, the Noordam came through a major storm at sea, and arrived in NYC on Saturday, Jan 27 not at 7am but at noon. Announcements were made that if one had booked return flights through HAL, they were already in the process of re-booking for the later time. For those who did not book flights through HAL, they offered to assist .. but that was done on ship whereas the home office handled those flights booked through the company. So, there is one advantage to booking with the cruise line. (I was traveling locally by train, so although I was late returning, it was no big deal.)

[agabbymama]

Flight information is supposed to be available about 45 days ahead for domestic and 60 for international. We found our upcoming flight information more than 75 days ahead plus we received a copy along with our final payment information. Also the first leg of the return flight shows on our immigration forms. (We sail 4/1).
You should have gotten the hotel name(s) at the time of booking. We have the few times the hotel has been through HAL.

My invoice only states I booked HAL Yukon Wildnerness Cruisetour #1 with air and transfers. Does not list flights, hotels, and the only complete itinerary is on the HAL website when I booked excursions. It is still 8 months out, but it would be nice to know the air arrangements. Just have to be patient.:p

[Jemima]

My invoice only states I booked HAL Yukon Wildnerness Cruisetour #1 with air and transfers. Does not list flights, hotels, and the only complete itinerary is on the HAL website when I booked excursions. It is still 8 months out, but it would be nice to know the air arrangements. Just have to be patient.:p

The flight details are sent after final payment. We booked with HAL this time. We received both final payment confirmation and an e-mail with the flights later that day. (I was wrong on the number of days I stated earlier in this thread.)

[Jade13]

"..charged, if the desired schedule you want has no seats available in the contracted class of service, there will be an additional custom air fee. "

We asked for x flights (US Airways) and were told that HAL did not contract with them (at least not for Alaska), we then asked for NW flights, specific times and flight numbers sent by e-mail in both directions We got exactly what we asked for an additional $50pp Air Diviation fee (which may be more in Europe etc.).

Do know that if you call the airline 8 months in advance they will not yet have you in their system as HAL has not yet given them specific guest names. There is no reason to pay the fee unless you get what you want. The fee applies if you want to go 2 or 3 days early as you are deviating from the standard of getting you the day of departure.

[bbuchanan]

"..charged, if the desired schedule you want has no seats available in the contracted class of service, there will be an additional custom air fee. "

Do know that if you call the airline 8 months in advance they will not yet have you in their system as HAL has not yet given them specific guest names. There is no reason to pay the fee unless you get what you want. The fee applies if you want to go 2 or 3 days early as you are deviating from the standard of getting you the day of departure.

Hello Jade. If you have a current HAL brochure, look in the back of the brochure explaining "Airplus Service", including the fine/small print. In addition to the, one time, non refundable, custom fee, if Holland cannot book the class of service they use, they will offer you another class and assess the differential between the fare they use and the one available.

The following comes directly from Holland's site.
Airplus Service®
AirPlus Service is available for Fly Cruise guests who wish to travel to or from their (dis)embarkation port on dates other than those usually booked, who have specific airline/flight and time requests, or who wish to travel in business or first class. These services will be furnished only under the condition that the booking is on deposit.

Requests should be submitted at the time of initial payment to assure proper consideration. All requests are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. If confirmation is possible, a non-refundable service charge and additional airline costs incurred will be assessed. A service charge will be assessed for each additional request that is confirmed.

Deviating is considered any change such as arriving before the cruise, staying after the cruise or requesting a specific carrier and/or schedule. In other words, without a deviation, or custom schedule, you can be booked on any schedule with any carrier. Holland's obligation is to get you to and from the ship. Air schedules are released as early as sixty days in advance and are subject to change. Cruise lines generally "ticket" their passengers air approximately 30 to 45 days out.

[bbuchanan]

Sorry, double post.

[bbuchanan]

Double post.