Viking Air Plus--When flight is delayed..

[rbslos18]

We have Viking Plus and trip cancellation insurance from an independent company.

There is only one non-stop option from Louisville to Miami. What happens if our flight is cancelled or delayed? Does Viking Air handle rerouting us or does the original airline handle the situation? And what if we have to meet the ship at the next port? 

Thanks. We are so excited to join the Viking Cruising family!

[Peregrina651]

5 hours ago, rbslos18 said:

We have Viking Plus and trip cancellation insurance from an independent company.

There is only one non-stop option from Louisville to Miami. What happens if our flight is cancelled or delayed? Does Viking Air handle rerouting us or does the original airline handle the situation? And what if we have to meet the ship at the next port? 

Thanks. We are so excited to join the Viking Cruising family!

 

I admit that when it comes to operational questions like this one that I am not a fan of "phone a friend" or "poll the audience" because "but they told me on Cruise Critic" is not going to fix the problem if friends or the audience get it wrong.

 

Since it is a question about Viking operations,  I would ask the folks at Viking Air Plus directly --and I would call a couple of times asking to make sure that I get a consistent answer. I would take names each time I talk. I would ask exactly what they will do for me in such a situation and I would ask exactly what telephone number I have to call to get the prompt attention that such a problem will require. Then I would ask the people who handle the concierge service for my insurance company what service they would offer in such a situation.

 

If you have to meet the ship in the next port or if you arrive in Miami late in the day, unless you are told that you will be met at the airport, plan on taking take a cab to the ship. Get a receipt and present it to Guest Services for reimbursement.

 

 

Edited February 20, 2020 by Peregrina651

[rbslos18]

Thanks. I was hoping to hear from people who have arrived late or missed departure. I find that cruise air departments are long on promises but sometimes short on delivering. Normally we leave a day or two before departure but simply can’t on our first Viking Cruise. Peregrina, I, do however, appreciate how helpful and wise your advice is. 

[Peregrina651]

3 hours ago, rbslos18 said:

Thanks. I was hoping to hear from people who have arrived late or missed departure.

 

You may still hear. People are usually happy to share their experiences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cienfuegos]

My wife and I bought the Viking Air package , and a pre-trip for our Trades Routes trip in 2019.  The offered routing was Miami - Frankfurt - Oslo via Lufthansa.

 

On the FRA-OSL leg, a passenger suffered a medical emergency, and was given CPR in the aisle. The captain made a decision to detour to Hamburg, where the passenger was removed by medics. (He eventually rejoined the cruise, he was a passenger.)

 

After a 90 minute ground delay, the captain announced they would refuel. Following that, he told us the crew was out of time, and the flight was cancelled. We would be escorted to the terminal, with luggage and would hear from Lufthansa.  Sorry!

 

My wife stood up and asked how many passengers were Viking travelers. Turned out to be about half the plane. We all got on our phones and called our travel agents, Viking, etc.

 

About fifteen minutes later the captain came back on to say there was a change in plans. An incoming Lufthansa crew would take our aircraft to Oslo. Much cheering, and we arrived about four-five hours late. 

 

There was a power in numbers. For sure.

[Peregrina651]

Great story, Cienfuegos!

 

 

NOTE TO SELF:

 

Make sure that 24 hour phone numbers for Viking, TA, Airline and Travel Insurer/Concierge are on both our phones in the contacts, along with any reservation numbers and policy numbers.

[Liz Masterson]

@Cienfuegos you married one smart cookie!

[mhb1757]

This past November we had Viking Air for a river cruise. We were booked Louisville to Detroit to Amsterdam to Marseille. They boarded the flight in Louisville, we sat at the gate for a while and then They made us all get off because the Detroit airport had closed due to an unexpected storm. We just went to the Delta agent and after a few minutes she had rerouted us through Atlanta and Paris getting us to Marseille about 4 hours later than planned. I emailed my TA in route and she contacted Viking to arrange for a later transfer to the ship. 
it all worked fine...Viking was there to meet us (and about 20 other people that had been rerouted around the Detroit storm) and wonder of wonders our luggage arrived when we did!  
so I would say if it’s a weather or airline related issue go first to the airline. It wouldn’t hurt to contact your TA if you are having a long wait to get to an agent to see if they can get to the airline faster than you. 
there is only 1 NS per day from Louisville to Miami but there are about 12 or 15 flights that could get you there with a connection, so if something happens there are other options. 

[rbslos18]

1 hour ago, mhb1757 said:

Thanks so much!

 

 

This past November we had Viking Air for a river cruise. We were booked Louisville to Detroit to Amsterdam to Marseille. They boarded the flight in Louisville, we sat at the gate for a while and then They made us all get off because the Detroit airport had closed due to an unexpected storm. We just went to the Delta agent and after a few minutes she had rerouted us through Atlanta and Paris getting us to Marseille about 4 hours later than planned. I emailed my TA in route and she contacted Viking to arrange for a later transfer to the ship. 
it all worked fine...Viking was there to meet us (and about 20 other people that had been rerouted around the Detroit storm) and wonder of wonders our luggage arrived when we did!  
so I would say if it’s a weather or airline related issue go first to the airline. It wouldn’t hurt to contact your TA if you are having a long wait to get to an agent to see if they can get to the airline faster than you. 
there is only 1 NS per day from Louisville to Miami but there are about 12 or 15 flights that could get you there with a connection, so if something happens there are other options.