FREE AIR - YYZ - AIR CANADA

[rochelle_s]

Yesterday I received an email with the flight arrangements for my cruise in January. I will be flying from Toronto to Tampa on Air Canada. 

 

In the the document that was in the email it said the flight category was ‘flexible’. When I went on the Air Canada website there was no seat assignment made at this point and when I went to choose my seat it incurred a charge. The amount was reasonable but from what I have read on here people have been able to choose their seats and incurred no charge unless upgrading. Perhaps I have misunderstood. Also on the Air Canada website it states a ‘Flex’ fare can choose their seat for free. Perhaps there is a difference between ‘flexible’ and ‘Flex’?

 

This is my first time using the free air offer so I would appreciate any insight, especially from anyone who has used the free air using Air Canada in particular out of Toronto.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Rochelle

 

P.S. For those who might be curious I received my flights 90 days out. Paid $25 air deviation to go two days early.  Nonstop flights in both directions.  Outbound  departure 6:15 am  - arrive 9:08 am. Return  departure 9:10 pm - arrive 11:59 pm.

[KaileighsMom]

I will also be flying out of YYZ but not until March.  I'm super nervous that we will have a connection as my trip summary on NCL shows MCO to Charlotte for our return.  No actual flight info yet so maybe this will change.

 

sorry can't comment about the cost for seat selection:)

[smplybcause]

The odds of NCL paying for anything other than standard economy seats is very slim. Their t&c say just economy.

[YVRBassElectric]

not through NCL but I have flown Air Canada and you have to pay for seat assignment unless you wait and choose at check in (get on line 24 hours in advance of flight and choose the best of what is available).

 

if you don't want to risk getting a middle seat, pay now

 

[xcell]

Were the flights really free?  Or did the price of your cruise go up after selecting this perk?

Edited October 9, 2019 by xcell

[Ryanryanryan]

2 hours ago, YVRBassElectric said:

not through NCL but I have flown Air Canada and you have to pay for seat assignment unless you wait and choose at check in (get on line 24 hours in advance of flight and choose the best of what is available).

 

if you don't want to risk getting a middle seat, pay now

 

Not true!  There’s 4 economy fares with Air Canada (standard, flex, comfort and latitude).  The only fare level which you have to pay for your seat is the standard fare.  All other fares offer complimentary seats at time of booking.

 

I don’t know why people answer questions when they have no clue what they’re talking about.

[rochelle_s]

1 hour ago, xcell said:

Were the flights really free?  Or did the price of your cruise go up after selecting this perk?

 

 

This is actually a casino comped cruise for me. But I have been keeping an eye on the rates and cabin availability in case I was interested in bidding for an upgrade if that became available. I have seen absolutely no increase in the base fare when I have been doing mock bookings with or without airfare. When you choose the airfare rate the system automatically adds the transfers to and from the ship, so you do see that increase. For Tampa this was originally $40, which I felt was quite reasonable. When I decided to deviate and go two days early I called to have the transfer removed. They also allowed me to remove my return transfer as well as it was not necessary. My parents are snowbirds and my mom will be joining me on the cruise so my dad will be my personal chauffeur for all time spent in Florida! 😀

 

Rochelle

 

 

 

 

[rochelle_s]

59 minutes ago, Ryanryanryan said:

Not true!  There’s 4 economy fares with Air Canada (standard, flex, comfort and latitude).  The only fare level which you have to pay for your seat is the standard fare.  All other fares offer complimentary seats at time of booking.

 

 

 

I should have clarified that this is an Air Canada Rouge booking, so there is the 5th category of Basic, which also incurs a fee for seat selection. 

 

From NCL I received the following;

 

Fare Type: FLEXIBLE
Passenger Information: XXXXX ROCHELLE
PNR Record Locator: XXXXXX
Ship: Norwegian Dawn
Sail Date: January 5, 2020

 

When I went to the Air Canada website and did a mock booking for the exact same flights and an Economy ticket I was given five sub categories to choose from, Basic, Standard, Flex, Comfort and Latitude. 

 

As the email from NCL states my Fare type is FLEXIBLE and having read here on Cruise Critic about others being able to select their seats once their flights were assigned I was assuming that my ticket is in the Flex category as this is the lowest category with seat selection as per the Air Canada ( Rouge) website;

 

 

economy Flex

Flex

Highlights*:

• 1st checked bag free
• Changes for a discounted fee
• 100% Aeroplan/Altitude Qualifying Miles
• Free standard seat selection

 

 

 

[AtlantaCruiser72]

“Flexible” in context of the NCL confirmation means that NCL can change/modify the flight prior to ticketing, which is usually done within 45 days of departure.  Until reservations are ticketed the flight/routing/carrier are all subject to change. 

 

The NCL use of “Flexible” has no correlation to the fare tiers you see on an airline consumer website. The fact that Air Canada has a fare tier termed “Flex” is entirely coincidental.  NCL purchase “standard” economy tickets and whether seating or baggage fees apply is dependent on the carrier. In your case Air Canada, who does charge for advance seat assignments and checked baggage on standard economy fares. 

 

Be aware that many airlines will not refund seating fees if the flight is later changed/cancelled. If you pay for seating prior to the reservation being ticketed and NCL subsequently changes your flights Air Canada may not refund you, nor will NCL. 

Edited October 9, 2019 by AtlantaCruiser72

[RetiredCruiser2]

I found Free Air on Norwegian is a joke.  I tried Dulles, JFK, Newark, and Seattle plus a few others for a Hawai'i crusie.  No flights were available.  So you are free to get on any one of NO flights.

[don't-use-real-name]

7 hours ago, RetiredCruiser2 said:

I found Free Air on Norwegian is a joke.  I tried Dulles, JFK, Newark, and Seattle plus a few others for a Hawai'i crusie.  No flights were available.  So you are free to get on any one of NO flights.

Seattle is the only one of those cities that would have the potential of cheap seats on frequent flights.

All the rest are from east coast cities - non stop flights (10+ hours of flight) with very limited cheap seats if available as noted.

Those cities would be having a connection at one of the west coast hubs LAX SFO SEA for the

flight over the Pacific pond to Hawaii (could also be Atlanta Chicago {ORD} DFW or seasonal MSP)

There are other flights from San Diego San Jose Oakland Portland Vancouver Salt Lake City

 

Airlines - United - Hawaiian - Delta - American - Alaska - and late entry of Southwest

 

Depending on what NCL calls FREE AIR - you may well be better off to book something on your own schedule.

Generally westbound flights fly with the sun - eastbound flights are red-eyes

[adhncruisers]

On 10/8/2019 at 7:06 PM, KaileighsMom said:

I will also be flying out of YYZ but not until March.  I'm super nervous that we will have a connection as my trip summary on NCL shows MCO to Charlotte for our return.  No actual flight info yet so maybe this will change.

 

sorry can't comment about the cost for seat selection:)

We are flying out of YYZ very soon. Our trip summary also showed a connection in Charlotte (figured out that it was American Airlines) but that changed a couple of times before ticketing. Ended up with direct, non-stop flights on Westjet. Early morning on way out and late evening on way back.

[KaileighsMom]

That would have worked for me.  But Costco travel cancelled my flight promotion when I called in to inquire about a change.  They admitted it was their mistake but since NCL isn’t offering that promotion anymore for my cruise i am now out of luck on the free flights.  

 

Lesson learned - don’t book your cruise with Costco travel.  

[don't-use-real-name]

3 hours ago, KaileighsMom said:

That would have worked for me.  But Costco travel cancelled my flight promotion when I called in to inquire about a change.  They admitted it was their mistake but since NCL isn’t offering that promotion anymore for my cruise i am now out of luck on the free flights.  

 

Lesson learned - don’t book your cruise with Costco travel.  

 

Something rotten about the way Costco is handling this -

You had a contract that you wanted changed - but had you not wanted the change you could have kept

it as is and worked out the flight changes directly with the airlines.

So it is as if Costco pulled the plug prematurely without any help from NCL to keep the travel bennies.

 

Your lesson learned:  Don't book with TAs that have a cavalier attitude about customer service !

 

Are you in the Final Payment period (120days) before sailing ?

Keep checking back to see if any other offers are being made -

cancel and rebook if the other side of the fence looks better.