Tentative Itinerary given to us by TA

[sarawithanh]

Hellooo

 

So we got our tentative flight itinerary. and like I said before, our TA sucks. She is an older lady but she forwarded the itinerary to my mom (not my grandfather) and didn't even put a comment or anything.

 

6/20 6:30PM IAD ---> Heathrow 6:40AM 6/21 (8hour flight)

5 hour layover in London

 

6/21 11:40am London ---> Nice, France 2:40pm

 

I guess this gives us time to get our bearings, a nap, shower, late dinner/casino if we feel up to it.

 

The return flight is a bit hairy.

 

6/29 2:30pm Barcelona --->Charlotte NC 6:15pm

 

7:49pm Charlotte---> Dulles 9:07pm.

 

I'm worried about that 45min layover to get through customs and onto our connecting flight. That is so not enough time - is it?

[Travelcat2]

What airline?

[sarawithanh]

British Airways going to Europe 6/20-6/21

 

US Airways coming home 6/29

[sarawithanh]

Mom accidentally called Regent instead of the TA.

 

So since she was on the phone with them she asked if they knew what our hotel would be:

 

http://www.fairmont.com/monte-carlo/ <--looks great!!

[marinaro44]

Hellooo

 

So we got our tentative flight itinerary. and like I said before, our TA sucks. She is an older lady but she forwarded the itinerary to my mom (not my grandfather) and didn't even put a comment or anything.

 

6/20 6:30PM IAD ---> Heathrow 6:40AM 6/21 (8hour flight)

5 hour layover in London

 

6/21 11:40am London ---> Nice, France 2:40pm

 

I guess this gives us time to get our bearings, a nap, shower, late dinner/casino if we feel up to it.

 

The return flight is a bit hairy.

 

6/29 2:30pm Barcelona --->Charlotte NC 6:15pm

 

7:49pm Charlotte---> Dulles 9:07pm.

 

I'm worried about that 45min layover to get through customs and onto our connecting flight. That is so not enough time - is it?

Looks more like 94 minutes as you've written it.

[Caroldoll]

for me. I didn't think they were allowed to make connections that tight.

[Travelcat2]

Mom accidentally called Regent instead of the TA.

 

So since she was on the phone with them she asked if they knew what our hotel would be:

 

http://www.fairmont.com/monte-carlo/ <--looks great!!

 

It was a good mistake:-) British Airways is really a nice airline and the Fairmont in Monte Carlo should be lovely -- they are a good chain of hotels. In terms of the short layover, it should be fine as long as the plane is on time.

[rallydave]

Sarah,

 

You are absolutely correct to be concerned with your connection. Checked a Charlotte airport site and they say 2 hours minimum and I totally agree. Especially with your elderly Grandfather who will be slow to walk. You really should request a wheelchair for him in advance as it normally is a long walk to immigration.

 

You both will need to wait to go thru immigration, pick up your bags, go thru customs then recheck your bags and go thru security again before heading for your gate. 94 minutes would be tight for people your age and if your inbound plane is late, you will miss your connection. You will be traveling on a Sunday evening and your connection may be the last flight to DC that nite and the airport could be busy with business people getting to business meeting for Monday.

 

Most certainly you need to get your TA to contact Regent Air Desk and get a better connection. Good luck and have a great cruise.

[Gilly]

If you're travelling Business (Club) with BA, the lounge at Heathrow T5 is great and you can book a complimentary facial in the spa whilst you're there. Above all, the lounge has enough quiet corners for you to relax after your transatlantic flight.

Have a great trip!

[Mudhen]

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

[RachelG]

The outbound connection looks fine to me, perhaps a little long, but the BA business class lounges are great, you can eat, take a shower if you wish, relax.

 

Coming back, I am actually not that concerned about the connecting time. In business class, you will be first off. Be sure and reserve a wheelchair for grandpa, even if he doesn't think he needs it. This will put you in a priority lane at customs and immigration. You should be fine. Worst case is you missthe flight and they rebook you. If you have to spend the night,the airline should cover it as they issued the ticket. But I really think you will be fine.

[debijaynes]

Forget the wheelchair in Charlotte-- get the golf cart! I requested one when we had to take Mom up to Annapolis for Dad's funeral--smooth as silk getting from point A to B and the people are very very nice. It can be a VERY LONG way around the Charlotte airport and very crowded on a Sunday night. Some of the gates have been standing room only many times when I have been there.

Debi

[ridolphi]

I would agree with those above, the outbound flights look fine, pretty normal for flights to Europe, and BA will be very nice. The layover in the morning will allow you to relax and get your bearings, the biz lounges are nice. The Fairmont is a great hotel in a great location, although in Monte Carlo walking might be difficult for your Grandfather, so factor that in, but the hotel has nice restaurants and is fairly close to the casino, so you could consider taking a cab and then walk around up there. Coming back does look a little tight and I would definitely ask your TA to check and see if they can do something, or route you differently......but if not the suggestion of the golf cart is a really good one, and at the very least the wheelchair is a must. Just tell Grandpa to relax and enjoy the ride, and true it will get you in the priority lines at customs. Good luck, and enjoy the cruise.

[ridolphi]

Meant to add that this is apparently only a preliminary itinerary, and it could still change, have seen that happen, so there is time for your TA to call Regent and explain the situation with your Grandfather and see if they can do a little better. At that point, if you like the itinerary, you can lock it in for the deviation fee, so you might want to think about that as well, otherwise they will not actually confirm until 60 days out, and as I said it could change without you knowing.

[sarawithanh]

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

We are not flying business class I don't think. If it costs extra that means we won't do it

 

Grandpa is more pissed that we are getting into Monte Carlo "so late" at 2:40pm. Welcome to my life!!

[sarawithanh]

The return Charlotte flight has another flight that evening at 10pm. Should we book that or just wait?

 

This is all so confusing and I know grandpa "wasn't aware" that he has to pay deviation fee....so of course that argument will be taken up with TA or Regent knowing him. Sigh.

 

Things got a little loud on the phone last night between my mom and grandpa as she was trying to relay the information to him. My dad was texting me letting me know situation lol

[sarawithanh]

And yes we will he requesting wheelchair/golf cart service at all airports. My mom said which service varies airport to airport...,she said wen they traveled to and from Israel they had cart in one airport and wheelchair in another

[rallydave]

The return Charlotte flight has another flight that evening at 10pm. Should we book that or just wait?

 

This is all so confusing and I know grandpa "wasn't aware" that he has to pay deviation fee....so of course that argument will be taken up with TA or Regent knowing him. Sigh.

 

Things got a little loud on the phone last night between my mom and grandpa as she was trying to relay the information to him. My dad was texting me letting me know situation lol

 

FYI, you can't book anything on your own and by not deviating you really have to take what the air department gives you. What I would suggest is that you have the TA go back to Regent Air and request that you connect with the 10 PM flight due to the fact that you are traveling with your elderly grandfather. That will relieve you of worry about possibly being on your own at Charlotte for that nite.

 

Yes, if you miss your connection US Air will try to book you on the 10 PM flight but, there is no guarantee that space will be available and contrary to what another poster wrote, there is no longer a guarantee that they will provide a hotel room for the nite. For example weather delays do not automatically mean the airline will get you a room and food. Remember all of the people sleeping in the airports this winter when weather closed several airports. Free rooms are no longer automatic and depend on the individual circumstances.

 

While it is likely that you will make your connection, for peace of mind, if I had a 94 minute connection international to domestic and I could get a later connection, would do that in a heart beat. And, this is not a request that should change the ticket price so Regent should make the change without any problems. A couple of years ago Regent gave me a short connection in Newark and I asked for the next flight home and no problem.

 

You do need to go thru your TA to make this request. Good luck,

[Travelcat2]

Actually you can call Regent Air directly even though you have a TA. We've done that fairly recently without a problem. Since you indicated that your TA is so bad that you would rather not contact her (think it's a woman:-), suggest you do it yourself or have your mother call. The last thing you need is more aggrevation:D

[sarawithanh]

Thanks for the tips RallyDave!

 

I think gramps is speaking to the TA later......

[sarawithanh]

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

[RachelG]

Just rereading this thread and realized that somehow I missed before that you are in coach on your flights. Is this really true?? If so, I can't even imagine doing this trip with someone as elderly as you grandpa. For one thing, he could get a DVT. For another, you will have no lounge access. Strongly suggest you figure out a way to upgrade to business. Very important. I would not do this trip in coach myself, and I am way younger than your grandpa.

 

As far as providing hotel rooms in case of missed connections, if they are weather related, they do not as it is not the airlines fault. But if it is due to mechanical or operational issues, they usually will. You just have to be persistent and persuasive. And be ready to book yourself a room in worse case scenario.

[ridolphi]

I must say I too missed that you were flying in coach. I also agree, if Gramps will consider it, flying in biz class will be much much more comfortable and well worth the price, I also think you could just do biz class one way, on the overnight outbound and they charge only half the cost, so maybe he would consider that if nothing else. At least being in Concierge class you do get the upper level hotel, but i would seriously try to get him to upgrade if at all possible.

 

I think I too would ask for the later flight in any case, but if you do an upgrade, your flight itinerary could totally change depending on biz class seat availability, but the 10pm flight will again just make your life easier and less stressful getting thru customs and rechecking your bags and such.

Edited April 11, 2014 by ridolphi

[sarawithanh]

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.

[sarawithanh]

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 :)