Choice Air - San Juan Departure

[momof4_tn]

I'm looking at airfare for a February cruise on Adventure out of San Juan, PR. If the price is the same as the airline, is there any disadvantage to use Choice Air??

 

We are flying in day of since the departure from San Juan is later in the day. I realize that is risky, but between insurance and Choice Air I'm thinking we should be o.k.

 

I'll take any input, opinions, or experiences anyone wants to offer. This is our first time flying for a cruise, as we normally drive. We will be flying from Atlanta if that helps also.

[Ashland]

Any reason you don't book your own flights?

 

We usually spend a few days pre-cruise in Fort Lauderdale..as we fly in from the west coast round trip on DL...then the morning of cruise we take an early flight on Southwest..we then either fly back to FLL on Southwest or depending on cost take a DL flight directly home.

 

Check into doing your own flights..no need to use Choice air.

[irishgal432]

Correct me if I am wrong, but booking Choice Air will guarantee the ship will wait for you if you are delayed or catch you up at the next port.

[momof4_tn]

I normally do book my own flights and I'm actually doing this one on my own through Choice Air. My understanding is the advantage of using them is they guarantee getting you to the ship even when flying in on the day of the cruise. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I'm trying to avoid having to take off work on Friday before the cruise as well as a hotel on Friday night.

[Clarea]

Correct me if I am wrong, but booking Choice Air will guarantee the ship will wait for you if you are delayed or catch you up at the next port.

This is Choice Air's guarantee:

 

What happens when my flight is delayed?

Assured Arrival is our guarantee to assist our ChoiceAir® guests when they encounter any flight disruptions that occur through no fault of their own. We have a team of Emergency Travel Specialists standing by that proactively monitor flights and act as a liason between our ships and our guests. This team is available to assist you 24/7 @ 800-256-6649 (domestically) or 305-539-4107 (internationally).

[Hoopster95]

This is Choice Air's guarantee:

 

What happens when my flight is delayed?

Assured Arrival is our guarantee to assist our ChoiceAir® guests when they encounter any flight disruptions that occur through no fault of their own. We have a team of Emergency Travel Specialists standing by that proactively monitor flights and act as a liason between our ships and our guests. This team is available to assist you 24/7 @ 800-256-6649 (domestically) or 305-539-4107 (internationally).

 

Just an fyi to add to this... as explained to me from a cruisecare rep when I booked flights to Europe last year on my Med cruise, if you are purchasing "Cruisecare" insurance through Royal Caribbean, ChoiceAir flights are fully covered. If you buy your own insurance, these flights are not. I recommend calling the phone# Bob quoted above to confirm what's allowed if a delay/cancellation happens just to make sure there's been no other changes in policy as it seems the insurers change the small print often.

[cruisenfever]

Just an fyi to add to this... as explained to me from a cruisecare rep when I booked flights to Europe last year on my Med cruise, if you are purchasing "Cruisecare" insurance through Royal Caribbean, ChoiceAir flights are fully covered. If you buy your own insurance, these flights are not. I recommend calling the phone# Bob quoted above to confirm what's allowed if a delay/cancellation happens just to make sure there's been no other changes in policy as it seems the insurers change the small print often.

When booking through Choice Air, not only do we take out Cruise Care, but we also take out 3rd party insurance since we always pay for our air at the time of booking. This way we are covered if we have to cancel prior to the cruise.

[Havingfun2010]

I'm looking at airfare for a February cruise on Adventure out of San Juan, PR. If the price is the same as the airline, is there any disadvantage to use Choice Air??

 

We are flying in day of since the departure from San Juan is later in the day. I realize that is risky, but between insurance and Choice Air I'm thinking we should be o.k.

 

I'll take any input, opinions, or experiences anyone wants to offer. This is our first time flying for a cruise, as we normally drive. We will be flying from Atlanta if that helps also.

 

I picked my own flights, got the prices and did all the research. Than I called Choice Air, and had them book it. Bottom line, it was the same price. However, if something happens, they will help you. Since you are flying the same day, that extra piece of mind can be helpful.

[Ashland]

When booking through Choice Air, not only do we take out Cruise Care, but we also take out 3rd party insurance since we always pay for our air at the time of booking. This way we are covered if we have to cancel prior to the cruise.

So you purchase the cruiseline insurance and a private policy ?

 

Also why have so many on these boards had negative things to say about Choice Air...I consider your advice among the best and wonder when and how often you book your air through Choice Air ?

[cruisenfever]

So you purchase the cruiseline insurance and a private policy ?

 

Also why have so many on these boards had negative things to say about Choice Air...I consider your advice among the best and wonder when and how often you book your air through Choice Air ?

Yes because we pay for our flights at the time of booking which is usually 6-8 months from departure and much earlier than when final payment is due. Plus I have a little more control if there is a schedule change when having the flights paid for in advance.

 

We only use Choice Air for international travel because they always seem to have the least expensive flights and we like to splurge and fly business class.:o In fact, right now I am looking at flights to SJU for December and Choice Air is about $150 cheaper than booking direct with the airline.

 

We have never had a bad experience with Choice Air.

Edited May 16, 2015 by cruisenfever

[Ashland]

Yes because we pay for our flights at the time of booking which is usually 6-8 months from departure and much earlier than when final payment is due. Plus I have a little more control if there is a schedule change when having the flights paid for in advance.

 

We only use Choice Air for international travel because they always seem to have the least expensive flights and we like to splurge and fly business class.:o In fact, right now I am looking at flights to SJU for December and Choice Air is about $150 cheaper than booking direct with the airline.

 

We have never had a bad experience with Choice Air.

Thanks so much for your answer.....I just never considered having cruiseline ins (RCI) and a private policy too.

 

I understand the advantage (or so I've read) of using Choice Air for one way international flights..but haven't had the need to do this yet. I book my cruises usually 1 year or a little less out..buy my ins. and then add the additional cost of my flights to the policy when I book them.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Ashland

[waterbug123]

Correct me if I am wrong, but booking Choice Air will guarantee the ship will wait for you if you are delayed or catch you up at the next port.

 

They do not guarantee anything; they simply promise to "work with" the airlines to get you reacommodated. Maybe the ship will wait, maybe it won't. Likely that will depend on how many Choice Air pax are delayed, how long they are going to be delayed, and the cost of rebooking them. If the ship doesn't wait they are supposed to get you rebooked to catch up to the ship, but that could still be several days if there are sea days early in the itinerary, no available seats on flights, pending weather forecast, etc.

 

My understanding is the advantage of using them is they guarantee getting you to the ship even when flying in on the day of the cruise. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

See above. There is no absolute guarantee that they will get you to the ship on time, particularly if you fly in the day of departure. If something goes wrong with your flight, the airlines will not kick someone else off a later flight in order to accommodate you, and there is nothing Choice Air can do about that.