sarawithanh

Sigh.

The code I was using yesterday to log Into Lufthansa is NOT working. Can't locate booking

My mom sent me a new code and that doesn't work either.

The saga continues.

So I have no idea if my name was corrected. I think regent thinks my name is a particular way bc my grandfather incorrectly told them my name. But when the TA sent me the official regent paperwork asking for passport info etc, I corrected my name accordingly and signed the form

So somehow my name keeps getting screwed up. So annoying

And now I'm annoyed that I can no longer find our booking using codes given to me

Hello,

Has anybody visited the Casino? Our hotel is right next to the Casino.

I know it costs like 10 Euro just to get into the casino - is there a dress code? Shoulders covered etc etc?

Will I be able to use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card in Monaco?

Thanks.

Sarah

I logged into Lufthansa to verify everything.

The inept TA got my name wrong again!!! Mom is calling her today to change my name.

Mobility assistance is confirmed for all 4 flights.

Seating is confirmed for 3 of the 4 flights. The last flight home doesn't show our seating assignments, which makes sense because the scanned document the TA sent us yesterday said "pending" so it might take a few days for the system to confirm our seats officially for that flight.

63 days and 6hours til takeoff! handy countdown timer on the website LOL!

Nana - my mom showed me the official itinerary that shows our seats. And those are confirmed and cannot be changed

I looked on seat guru.com and we are good. Decent seats all around and the connection times look good. Getting excited - 2 months!

Now I just need a tan and some time at the gym LOL. Scheduled my spray tan for the day before we leave!

It's official!!!

Gramps upgraded to Biz Class for the flight THERE. And coach for the way back - which is fine

Frankfurt connection

And we get into nice at 10am! Which gives us time to take a nap, freshen up and explore some of Monte Carlo before it gets dark. Huzzah!!

Grandpa wears compression hose to help blood flow in his legs.

He also gets up to go to the bathroom a lot.

He doesn't like to drink water.

Don't worry, I will bug him about getting up and walking around and drinking water when possible on the flight.

I am a big water drinker - but I tend to drink less on flights b/c I don't like having to make the aisle person get up and down for me and my bladder - esp on international flights!!! :rolleyes: BUT if gramps is in the aisle with me, then I'll just tell him to nudge me when he is getting up to potty. teehee.

He survived a much longer flight to Israel in Coach. I have no doubt he can handle this 8 hour flight to London...

He did call the TA on Monday - not sure exactly what he was inquiring about specifically, but she would get back to him.

Any way you can throw in a couple of bucks yourself to "ease Grandpa's pain"?

 

No matter what you do, you'll have a wonderful time on the ship! Enjoy every minute!

I can't help him with $$. The only reason I'm going is bc he needed a traveling buddy and he was paying.

I work full time and I'm in grad school part time. My husband and I barely make enough to keep up with mortgage and other stuff and pay tuition to get thru school debt free.

I also don't get paid for vacation time. So there's that and I'm taking off 7 days for this trip

I'm fine traveling coach. Always done it. gramps can do whatever he feels - it's his money.

I have no doubts that BC is a good deal. But he may just not be willing to pay it. I'm easy going and go with the flow...

Does anybody know if the $500 BC upgrade for roundtrip flights or only One Way?

All - for what its worth, my mom thinks he should upgrade to business class too....but its worth mentioning that he and my parents traveled coach to Israel and survived just fine - that was a much longer flight than our first flight from IAD to Heathrow.

I mentioned business class to him and the advise of well seasoned and prior regent customers here on this board..., but he is a tough nut to crack!

I'm pretty sure he will change that connecting flight....but i'll have to wait and see later - he is supposed to talk to travel agent today sometime.

Agreed - if you are relatively educated about carb counts in general you should know what items you can and can't eat. Or shouldn't be eating ;)

Generally stick to clean whole foods like protein, green produce, healthy fats and fruit (if allowed) and you should be good to go

There are Much MORE Important things than money!

Agreed. But it is what it is.

This will the be the FIRST trip grandpa has EVER taken me on - and I was Third choice at best ;) I volunteered to go instead of my mom going.

He has never taken any of his grandchildren on any trip....

I think that grandpa is firmly in charge of his pocketbook, remember he wanted nothing to do with the deviation fee, so I guess the upgrade to BC would be really out of the question.

Good memory Nana! I tried to impress upon him that the $500pp for upgrade was worth it but who knows. He will chat with inept TA tomorrow!

PS: Did he buy travel insurance?

He isn't that familiar with flying in recent years but mom and I have been helping....

Holy crap $700 on groceries? I hope it lasts the month! Here in the US I go shopping once a week and we spend about $500 for the month total. Lately due to our schedules and lack of cooking at home - we will do smaller trips to Trader Joes for things as needed.

Yes gramps got us both travel and medical insurance for the trip - since Medicare (for him) doesn't cover anything outside the US and he has been known to have the occasional issue crop up! Ya never know

Please please Sarah upgrade to Business Class. How many more trips like this will your grandfather be taking? Be comfortable! And Business class will get you the lounge for that layover. And get the later flight!

 

I remember when we took Mom to Annapolis for the interment of Dad's ashes. I asked the banker about First Class for the trip--his response was --if not now , When?. It's only a $1000 expenditure that will make him so much more comfortable--and by doing that, you as well.

 

It's a wonderful trip--don't ruin it by having to rush around on the way back and be cramped and uncomfortable. Live every day.

 

Debi

Thanks Debi - it's not my money to upgrade but I did impress upon grandpa that people on this board were highly suggesting we upgrade to biz class bc it was a good deal. Ultimately not my decision because I am not paying for it. I am fine flying coach and if gramps is fine flying coach then that is his decision.

Thanks guys! Your tips have been very helpful! I have some travel experience but not much since I don't travel very often...(last time I flew someplace was Minnesota in August for a wedding)

The travel agent is closed this weekend but Grandpa plans to speak with them on Monday to clarify seat assignment situation and whatnot.

4 weeks until I can really hone in and focus on this stuff/packing/shopping for new clothes....10pg paper on tap for this weekend and here it is 2pm and I haven't started. In my defense i've had a sinus infection since Sunday and pink eye since Wednesday and the antibiotics are finally starting to kick in :)

Mom is at the beach with my dad and their friends so she get a mini vacation break from all of this TA flight and travel insurance discussions with my grandfather. hehehe. :D

Sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks, or something like that.

 

 

Wishing you good luck and a wonderful cruise.

Thanks for your kind words and insight. You are right. Can't teach an old dog new tricks ;)

I myself am new to the whole cc points flying thing. Hubby and I only ever used Amex blue and used our measly points for dining gift certs. Bc we don't have the money or time off work to travel as often as we would like (a reason why I am currently getting my masters and hubby is finishing his bachelors) Our friend convinced us to switch the chase sapphire preferred so that is what we have now - esp since we can put a few of hubby's tuition payments on it for the time being. So I'm using that as a way to slowly build up points bc we are poor and don't spend that much LOL. So I'm hoping next year we will have enough for at least 1 plant ticket to Europe/Baltics to visit his sister and brother in law while they are stationed there (BIL works for USAID). Supposed to be kiev but could be Madagascar for 1 year due to conflict in Ukraine. At any rate. That is what our cc is for.

Still contemplating the connection time tho I just talked to gramps and he said he is still mulling it over. I asked him to ask TA how much time we have to make that decision to change the connection.

Also - does anybody know when they give us seat assignments? It's not listed on the itinerary and while I know the TA made a notation of his request for an aisle seat. I won't believe it until we have it in print on paper (this TA has seriously been the worst)

Remind Grandpa "he can't take it with!

Ted C you are right about that!! LOL your comment made me laugh. He hasn't traveled much due to various medical issues so I guess we will see how this trip goes. Maybe he will want to go somewhere next year. ;)

How much was the upgrade worth? $75 OBC doesn't seem like much (although it sounds like you weren't expecting anything, which sort of goes against this whole thread). And I haven't heard of people getting an upgrade to a new class at booking time. Has anyone else?

Not sure what the upgrade was. Mom was booking us balconies. And then the TA surprised her with free upgrade to CC. And then surprised her with $75 OBC per room.

Don't really care how much it's "worth" Because what it's worth to us and mom might not be what it's worth to you

Mom did say however that the only other bonus she remembers from booking a prior cruise with a TA, was two bottles of wine in their cabin - which is a nice gesture but in our case with the premium package would not be so that may be the why for our OBC

At any rate. Not over analyzing it. Mom is loving the TA she is using and it opens to my eyes to the pluses of sometimes using a TA to book a cruise

Grandpa scoffed at the $175 deviation fee. He's certainly not doing the $500 for biz class....

The only reason he can "afford" this cruise is because he sold some land, so he pocketed that money and left a small amount for this cruise. Nothing extra.

All -

So you're telling me I'm going to have to be in charge of both of our checked bags, plus both of our carryons while we wheelchair Grandpa through Charlotte through immigration and customs??? that doesn't make a whole lot of sense!

oh well.

My mom just booked 2 rooms (for her and my dad and for me and hubby) on Summit in January through a travel agent. She was going back and forth on concierge class and ultimately decided not to.

She made the phone call to the TA to book us, and the TA upgraded us to CC for FREE. We also got the 123 perk, so we upgraded that to premium alcohol package.

And when my mom got the bill, it turns out the TA gave each room $75 in OBC!

Mom was so happy! Qsine here I come!

Thanks Nana, I think ultimately we will change that connecting flight.

We are still mulling over changing the connecting flight. He asked the TA to see if we can request a golf cart for Charlotte, thinking that might help speed things along. So I guess we are in a holding pattern at the moment.

Our itinerary is becoming very permanent :)

I appreciate all the tips, really I do.

But money doesn't grow on trees - we are not flying business class.

We are flying coach. I've always flown Coach, and my parents/grandpa did it for Israel and its fine.

As long as he has an aisle, he will be getting up and down to go bathroom.

The Fairmont Monte Carlo is "to die for good"! Been there, done that and loved every fleeting minute! You'll be happy!

Thanks! I was exploring website and trip advisor. looks amazing. I can't wait to take pics of the famous hairpin turn and get gramps to take pics of me with some of the luxury cars in front of casino. a lot of my friends are "car" people so I look forward to posting those pics on fb :D:D