BadgerRedux

Thanks, I booked it; will see how it goes!

Thanks Wolfie11, I became interested in the salmon run when you responded to the post "Which port best to see bears" a few months back - you mentioned chilkatguides operating in Haines for around $150 (booked through skagwayexcursion.com) but I ended up looking at the one sold on alaskaexcursions.com for $225.50 which departs from Skagway. I'm assuming chilkatguides is the local operator behind the alaska excursions one too, right? The only difference is I'd be paying $75 extra to cover the Katamaran ferry round trip from Skagway to Haines?

I'm considering the Skagway Wildlife Safari Tour to Haines offered by (brokered by?) Alaska Shore Excursions; has anyone done this and would you recommend it? Our HAL cruise stops in Skagway July 24 and sounds like the salmon might be running then; hoping to see a bear but I know it's not guaranteed. I'm new to cruising and a little concerned about getting off the boat in time - we're supposed to be in Skagway by 7 AM, and excursion calls for meeting at the end of the pier by 7:30 AM; does this sound workable? Any thoughts appreciated! https://alaskashoreexcursions.com/skagway/wildlife-safari-and-bear-viewing-tour

I don't have reason to believe FE is any worse than other third parties, but in general, once things go wrong with a booking, the fact that it was booked through a 3rd party seems to slow down getting problems resolved. I guess we've all had an experience where the airline sends us back to the third party when there's an urgent problem. When I was using a credit card rewards portal to book our post-cruise flight, I almost went with the discount airline Westjet, but found it was impossible to get a question answered as Westjet's phone tree kept telling me they wouldn't deal with me if I was booking through a third party (and I was sure the credit card portal would not know the answer). I ended up going with a Delta flight for a few more points. Maybe some airlines cope with 3rd party booking better than others.

Weird, I'm still not seeing the 11 AM DTW to ORD flight #UA4749 (with connecting 4:14 PM ORD to ANC flight #UA450) on United's website, whether I'm logged in or not. I successfully booked the flight from the app so I'm all set, but it's odd that it was/is not visible to me as an option on the website.

Thanks everyone, for helping this first time cruiser! I ended up not using Flight Ease - booked the Detroit to Anchorage pre-cruise flights on the United app, and Vancouver to Detroit using my husband's credit card points which I'd forgotten about. As others predicted, Flight Ease wouldn't have saved much/any money since I was looking for economy, domestic flights. The weird issue I noticed must've been due to United rather than Flight Ease since the only place the flight didn't exist was united.com

That makes sense

You know, maybe it's not cheaper - looks like the cheap Vancouver to Detroit flight I saw on FE is only $287on Air Canada; now that Bob @rwmiller found our Detroit to Anchorage flight on the United App for $400, I'm going to try to book both flights direct.

I hear you, and that's always my feeling too. But by the time I opted for a balcony cabin, the land cruise cost more than I expected, and now looking at shore excursions; it's a lot. Would really like to save money on the flights. Be ready to say "I told you so" when Flight Ease loses my booking 😉

Yep, I think so - Flight Ease was offering me both Open Jaw flights (so, including the return from Vancouver to Detroit) for a total of $794 per person.

Thanks Bob! You're right, it shows up on the United app, but not on the United site. Maybe the information is propagating across the systems - the flight is either on it's way onto the schedule or on it's way off.

Thanks, I hadn't planned on using Flight Ease (kind of allergic to having another company "in the middle" of a transaction) but the Flight Ease price really did look great.

If I've posted in the wrong forum, hope mods will move it.

Thanks, just tried checking skywest.com but the site says to "visit one of our partner's websites" (including United)

Here are the details on the pre-cruise flight from Detroit to Anchorage, with a layover in Chicago United Airlines 4749 operated by SKYWEST DBA UNITED EXPRESS Jet Embraer 175 Economy class From DTW Detroit Metro Departing Date: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Departing Time: 11:00 AM To ORD Chicago Ohare Arrival Date: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Arrival Time: 11:27 AM United Airlines 450 Jet Boeing 737 Economy class From ORD Chicago Ohare Departing Date: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Departing Time: 4:14 PM To ANC Anchorage Arrival Date: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Arrival Time: 7:57 PM Since it's open jaw (as opposed to round trip) I figured the post cruise flight isn't a factor here, but FWIW: Vancouver to Detroit via Air Canada. I can add those details too if that will help?