Another Viking Air Question

[Tom2]

We have Viking Air Plus for business class seats for our May 2024 Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise. I normally book my own flights but because we have to get from Seward to Anchorage to get a flight home I decided to go with Viking Air to get the transfer. When I go on to My Viking Journey is says “Your air itinerary will be available starting on February 12, 2024”. I have other Delta Flights booked for this year and when I go into the Delta website to check my flights it shows that we are already booked first class for our return flight from Anchorage, obviously booked by Viking, but nothing is shown for our outbound flight to Vancouver. If Viking booked our outbound on a different airline shouldn’t all flights be showing up on My Viking Journey and why would they only book our return flight on Delta instead of round trip?

[molymoo]

Give them a call and they can clear things up.  Having Air Plus gives you access to an agent to discuss flights with and my experience (of late) has been that they will try their best to accommodate your wishes but often it is not something they can do within the constraints of their contracts with the airlines.  I have spent hours recently working with them on flights for our next few cruises and, although they were not able to put me on the flights I wanted, in one case their flights were actually MUCH better than anything I had researched.  In two cases I am opting to book my own but that is not typical as we are two females travelling "alone" there are some instances where we prefer to have the Viking transfer (eg: Egypt).  

[Peregrina651]

31 minutes ago, molymoo said:

there are some instances where we prefer to have the Viking transfer (eg: Egypt).  

 

Even though we booked through Viking, we arrived in Cairo early and thus had to arrange our own transfer (because, for those who don't already know, Viking transfers are available only when you fly in the Day 1 of an itinerary and fly out on the very last day of the itinerary).

 

Out of convenience, we booked a limo through our hotel. We paid a bit more but at least who knew it was a trustworthy carrier. We paid extra for "Meet & Assist" service, which is a greeter in the airport who will meet you as you walk into the arrival area and guide you through the entire arrivals process from purchasing your visa (which he may already have in hand) to escorting you to you limo.

 

In other words, there is no reason to book through Viking for Cairo.

[molymoo]

5 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

Even though we booked through Viking, we arrived in Cairo early and thus had to arrange our own transfer (because, for those who don't already know, Viking transfers are available only when you fly in the Day 1 of an itinerary and fly out on the very last day of the itinerary).

 

Out of convenience, we booked a limo through our hotel. We paid a bit more but at least who knew it was a trustworthy carrier. We paid extra for "Meet & Assist" service, which is a greeter in the airport who will meet you as you walk into the arrival area and guide you through the entire arrivals process from purchasing your visa (which he may already have in hand) to escorting you to you limo.

 

In other words, there is no reason to book through Viking for Cairo.

Interesting!  

[pavementends]

About Cairo-

 

I booked my own air (at a significant saving, by the way) and Viking offered to provide transfers with no charge.

 

[Peregrina651]

1 hour ago, pavementends said:

About Cairo-

 

I booked my own air (at a significant saving, by the way) and Viking offered to provide transfers with no charge.

 

 

But only if you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary.  

[Eastporter]

I realize this is the Ocean board, but it has a Viking Air topic whereas the River boards don't address this issue.     I am on a Viking River cruise in Sept, flying premium economy Washington thru Brussels enroute Nice, as booked by Viking on Brussels Airlines.   Viking doesn't control seat assignments for this airline and tells one to contact the airline directly.   I tried several times over the past months but, as Viking had not yet paid for the ticket, the airline wouldn't allow me to select seats.   This was remedied just this week as the flight is now 60 days out and Viking has finally paid.   Lo and behold, in order to select one's seat ahead of time, there is a $55 fee, payable to the airline.   Otherwise, you can wait and get your seat assigned for free at checkin.   There was no such problem on the return flight - on United.   We selected our seats (for free) on United months ago.   I had visions of two middle seats in the back of the aircraft for eight hours and coughed up the fee.   The airline wanted a separate fee for the short Brussels to Nice leg, which I declined to pay and look forward to the middle seats on this flight.

 

I have taken many trips with Viking and as I fly from a major international airport, I usually let Viking make the arrangements.   This is the first time I have extorted for this type of fee.   I realize this is an airline (not a Viking) imposed charge, but I expect better from Viking and their airline partners.

 

I 

[May B]

I’m not sure how you can expect “better” from Viking, when it’s an airline policy.

 

I certainly agree with the decision you made. I wish it hadn’t caused you such angst.

[FlyerTalker]

11 minutes ago, Eastporter said:

Viking doesn't control seat assignments for this airline and tells one to contact the airline directly.

 

No cruiseline controls seat assignments.  It is always a function of the operating carrier. And the rules of the operating carrier.

 

12 minutes ago, Eastporter said:

Lo and behold, in order to select one's seat ahead of time, there is a $55 fee, payable to the airline.   Otherwise, you can wait and get your seat assigned for free at checkin.   There was no such problem on the return flight - on United.   We selected our seats (for free) on United months ago. 

 

Because the one flight is on Brussels and the other is on United.  Each airline has their own policies, and it has nothing to do with Viking.

 

13 minutes ago, Eastporter said:

I have taken many trips with Viking and as I fly from a major international airport, I usually let Viking make the arrangements.   This is the first time I have extorted for this type of fee.   I realize this is an airline (not a Viking) imposed charge, but I expect better from Viking and their airline partners.

 

Why should you think differently?  Brussels has a policy.  You are expecting them to change the policy just because the ticket was bought through Viking?

 

Did you bother to actually check what the policy was for Brussels before you made your flight arrangements?  Or did you you just make an assumption?

 

And your description of being "extorted" is most assuredly hyperbole.

 

Fact is -- you agreed to tickets with Brussels and United.  You didn't actually check what the rules were for flying with Brussels.  You made a major assumption.  And now, it is Viking's fault because you expect better.

 

Yep.

 

BTW, you had better check out the baggage policies as well.  No sense making assumptions there as well.

 

 

 

[Eastporter]

I didn’t choose either Brussels or United.  Viking did. I had no idea what carriers they would use.  They quoted air as part of the cruise price and I purchased my air transport thru Viking.  Why should I have to be concerned about varying policies; that’s their job.

 

BTW - last time I use Viking Air.  I will likely purchase my own directly in the future.

[sundaycreek]

4 hours ago, Eastporter said:

I didn’t choose either Brussels or United.  Viking did. I had no idea what carriers they would use.  They quoted air as part of the cruise price and I purchased my air transport thru Viking.  Why should I have to be concerned about varying policies; that’s their job.

 

BTW - last time I use Viking Air.  I will likely purchase my own directly in the future.

The moment I see what Viking Air has assigned me, I check the itinerary, airlines’ seating & baggage policies, etc immediately.  If I do not like what they have picked, I have the option to either purchase their Custom Air Plan & work with the Air Dept to find what I DO want or drop the air from my reservation and book flights myself.  Just because that is what Viking came up with for you does not mean that you have to accept it if it does not meet your needs.

[FlyerTalker]

6 hours ago, Eastporter said:

I didn’t choose either Brussels or United.  Viking did

 

And you chose to accept what Viking would give you. 

 

6 hours ago, Eastporter said:

Why should I have to be concerned about varying policies; that’s their job.

 

 

Because you are the customer.  Viking is a sales channel.

 

Do you always just accept whatever a sales person may present to you?

 

 

 

1 hour ago, sundaycreek said:

The moment I see what Viking Air has assigned me, I check the itinerary, airlines’ seating & baggage policies, etc immediately.  If I do not like what they have picked, I have the option to either purchase their Custom Air Plan & work with the Air Dept to find what I DO want or drop the air from my reservation and book flights myself.  Just because that is what Viking came up with for you does not mean that you have to accept it if it does not meet your needs.

 

Absolutely correct.

 

Eastporter did not do his due diligence in their purchase.  And keeps wanting to pass off any responsibility to others.

 

 

[Minion Minder]

Most likely you’re looking too early.  Most flights are set up about 6 to 9 months out. If you must, talk to a representative as the others recommended. 
 

Having said that, we’re on the Viking Star eastern seaboard explorer departing from YVR to NYC on 04Sep23. The first set of airline travel they gave us was… bad AI  inefficient. Like yourselves, we have paid for business class.
 

How inefficient? Vancouver to Seattle to Denver to NYC (UGH) then Montreal to San Francisco to Vancouver on the return.  I could hear the CBSA already from here… “Why did you leave Canada to go to the states and then after a 4 hour delay come back to Canada?” As they snap on the nitrile gloves for secondary and cavity searches….

 

happily (as others suggested) talk to a representative and they corrected the inefficiency. Vancouver to Toronto to NYC and Montreal to Vancouver.

 

take care and have a great cruise

 

MM

[pavementends]

Some airlines allow seat selection at time of booking; some don't. The ones that don't usually charge for early seat selection. It sucks but that's how it is. Seat selection is another profit opportunity.

 

It's more complicated that you might think because of code-sharing. For a recent purchase I had a choice between AA operated flights and BA operated flights with an AA flight number. Only the first allowed immediate seat selection without a charge. (For the particular fare class I chose, that is).

[loriva]

Slightly off topic, but what are the days and hours when the Viking Air Plus department is open?  I can find their phone number (1-877-523-0580) on the Viking website, but nothing on when they are open.  Our date to book air is this Saturday (310 days before we embark).  Is the department open that day or do I need to wait until Monday to call?  

[Peregrina651]

2 hours ago, loriva said:

Our date to book air is this Saturday (310 days before we embark).  Is the department open that day or do I need to wait until Monday to call?  

 

1. Call the number. If they are closed, the answering machine should give their open hours.

 

2. Something to consider: 310 days prior to embarkation may be a little too soon to start looking at flights for multiple reasons.  Not all of the airlines you might might want to consider may necessarily be open for booking, especially for the return flights. The date to base the count on is not the departure from home but the return flight.