Jump to content

Viking Business class air


zitsky
 Share

Recommended Posts

Do prices for business class air change depending on demand, time of year etc? Last time I saw a quote from my TA, it was about $4,000 per person.

 

My partner and I are spoiled. We originally booked Mediterranean Odyssey in coach but I'm thinking to change it to business class. The trip is already a little pricey but I think it's worth it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do prices for business class air change depending on demand, time of year etc? Last time I saw a quote from my TA, it was about $4,000 per person.

 

My partner and I are spoiled. We originally booked Mediterranean Odyssey in coach but I'm thinking to change it to business class. The trip is already a little pricey but I think it's worth it.

You may be able to get premium economy which is far superior to economy for long flights. I just booked 1 way premium economy from South America for half the price of business but had to go through the viking special air ($50 fee)

 

Sent from my SM-T813 using Forums mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many times you can do much better price-wise and route-wise booking first class/business on your own, provided you are willing to arrange your own transfers. You can cancel your Viking flights up to x many days before departure; just ask Viking what that cut-off is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can some one tell me the steps involved working with Viking Air? I did not originally include air with our cruise next spring. Prices are high for business class so I thought I would check with Viking to see what they offered. Do I have to add the air to my package to even talk to them? We would do Viking Air Plus (small departure airport, so I need specific flights, plus we plan to arrive a day early). When do I have to pay that additional fee? Before I find out their price for business class?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can some one tell me the steps involved working with Viking Air? I did not originally include air with our cruise next spring. Prices are high for business class so I thought I would check with Viking to see what they offered. Do I have to add the air to my package to even talk to them? We would do Viking Air Plus (small departure airport, so I need specific flights, plus we plan to arrive a day early). When do I have to pay that additional fee? Before I find out their price for business class?

 

Honestly, I would put these questions to Viking and I would start by asking, "If we wanted to add business air to our existing reservation, how much would it cost us?" You should be able to at least get this bit of information without paying a fee. Now you will have a starting point. To that add $50pp custom air fee and $100pp deviation fee minimum additional costs plus the possibility of additional air fare based on the flights you ultimately choose. You haven't paid any fees yet but you should have enough information to decide if you wish to proceed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dear zitsky,

 

We’re sorry to hear that your email has gone unanswered, and certainly would appreciate the chance to assist you directly. If you haven’t been able to connect with us already, we encourage you, and any guest who has a question or concern about an upcoming journey, to send your inquiry our way at TellUs@vikingcruises.com where a team of specialists will be happy to help you seven days a week.

 

Thank you for alerting us to this instance, zitsky, and we hope to hear from you soon!

 

Warm regards,

Viking Cruises

 

 

I would give Viking a call. They seem helpful. Not good by email. I asked a question this morning. Still waiting for an answer.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dear zitsky,

 

We’re sorry to hear that your email has gone unanswered, and certainly would appreciate the chance to assist you directly. If you haven’t been able to connect with us already, we encourage you, and any guest who has a question or concern about an upcoming journey, to send your inquiry our way at TellUs@vikingcruises.com where a team of specialists will be happy to help you seven days a week.

 

Thank you for alerting us to this instance, zitsky, and we hope to hear from you soon!

 

Warm regards,

Viking Cruises

 

I did finally get a phone call at the end of the day. I was expecting an email sooner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did finally get a phone call at the end of the day. I was expecting an email sooner.

Really? You’d expect a reply in the same day? If I need that urgency I’d call. If a business replies within 24 hours then I think that’s fantastic service. If I need it sooner I call.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really? You’d expect a reply in the same day? If I need that urgency I’d call. If a business replies within 24 hours then I think that’s fantastic service. If I need it sooner I call.

 

Viking's own website promises a 1 hour response to a quote request. Maybe you should help them update their website, if you think that is unreasonable.

 

This is the 21st century. There are more ways to communicate than just a telephone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really? You’d expect a reply in the same day? If I need that urgency I’d call. If a business replies within 24 hours then I think that’s fantastic service. If I need it sooner I call.

 

I have to admit that was my response as well. I've never had an issue with Viking's communication.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Viking's own website promises a 1 hour response to a quote request. Maybe you should help them update their website, if you think that is unreasonable.

 

 

 

This is the 21st century. There are more ways to communicate than just a telephone.

 

 

 

I think that is an unrealistic target. Given time zones I’d say it’s impossible. But you also did say yours was a question not a quote request? Maybe that’s different. Do you have the link? I can’t see the promise on the website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that is an unrealistic target. Given time zones I’d say it’s impossible. But you also did say yours was a question not a quote request? Maybe that’s different. Do you have the link? I can’t see the promise on the website.

 

Ok I admit I might be wrong about the time. I can't find the one hour promise on their website. It was a question. I still think 24 hours is certainly reasonable for a response.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok I admit I might be wrong about the time. I can't find the one hour promise on their website. It was a question. I still think 24 hours is certainly reasonable for a response.

 

 

 

Yes, as I first stated I agree that 24 hours is reasonable. If I email say in the morning I’d like to see a response the next morning. I don’t expect same day response. Guess their website doesn’t need my help then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok I admit I might be wrong about the time. I can't find the one hour promise on their website. It was a question. I still think 24 hours is certainly reasonable for a response.

 

 

 

I’ve just seen the “usually responds in 1 hour” on their Facebook page. Maybe that’s where you saw it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve just seen the “usually responds in 1 hour” on their Facebook page. Maybe that’s where you saw it.

 

I was at work when I saw it, and I can't access Facebook there. I think it was on the Viking site somewhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do prices for business class air change depending on demand, time of year etc? Last time I saw a quote from my TA, it was about $4,000 per person.

 

My partner and I are spoiled. We originally booked Mediterranean Odyssey in coach but I'm thinking to change it to business class. The trip is already a little pricey but I think it's worth it.

 

 

Yes….prices do change with demand, or you are given a flight with more stops. Ours changed to fly straight through, but we were able to not pay anything extra by flying in one day ahead. Just one day made a big difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Here is my story from the past week.

 

I asked my travel agent to update his 6 month old quote on Viking Air business class,

 

He did, it was the same, and it was horrible. But not as horrible as booking directly.

 

I sent my preferred flights (including the wrong return date) to my travel agent who advised there was an up charge for my preferred flights.

 

I asked what I could get for the Viking quote. He suggested a telcon with Viking. I was traveling so we arranged it for a week later. I did homework and searched Cruise Critic and identified the most likely airline.

 

Day of telcon arrives. I suggest their most likely airline and the response was “you don’t want to do business class on XYZ airline, it won’t be what you expect.” So I ask “what can you do for me within your quote?”

 

They gave me me KLM and Delta. Outbound is two connections and return is one. I am very, very happy. It was about 2/3 the price of booking directly with the airlines.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is my story from the past week.

 

I asked my travel agent to update his 6 month old quote on Viking Air business class,

 

He did, it was the same, and it was horrible. But not as horrible as booking directly.

 

I sent my preferred flights (including the wrong return date) to my travel agent who advised there was an up charge for my preferred flights.

 

I asked what I could get for the Viking quote. He suggested a telcon with Viking. I was traveling so we arranged it for a week later. I did homework and searched Cruise Critic and identified the most likely airline.

 

Day of telcon arrives. I suggest their most likely airline and the response was “you don’t want to do business class on XYZ airline, it won’t be what you expect.” So I ask “what can you do for me within your quote?”

 

They gave me me KLM and Delta. Outbound is two connections and return is one. I am very, very happy. It was about 2/3 the price of booking directly with the airlines.

 

Thanks for this. Very helpful. I'm one who has always believed in booking it myself. I'm monitoring fares and over the last month there has been a HUGE jump in business class fares - 20% increase or more. (Although, as always, they fluctuate.) If Viking Air can beat what I'm seeing with reasonable routes and airlines I'm willing to fly, I'll be all in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will go with business class air. My trip is late September 2019 so based on past experience I can select flights 9 months before. Has anyone been able to book a year before with Viking?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You normally can't book flights until around 300 days before your return date as airlines don't have schedules in place. We are travelling late March 2019 and couldn't book until late May. Going business and a good price.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You normally can't book flights until around 300 days before your return date as airlines don't have schedules in place. We are travelling late March 2019 and couldn't book until late May. Going business and a good price.

 

My TA just told me the same thing. And I agree price is good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I posted a question about business class air on this thread on June 27, and I have since then (Friday) booked through Viking Air. Here is my experience. I did what Peregina651 suggested and asked what it would cost to add Business Air to my cruise for April 2019. The price was over $2855 LESS per person than I could find on either the airlines (I searched several options.), or Kayak. Then I paid $100 per person deviation to fly in a day early, as well as $50 per person for Air Plus. I live in a small city, although I knew there were several one-stop options from my hometown and this was what I wanted. The Air Plus was worth it, as Vikings original option had two stops out bound, which added numerous hours of travel to what is a long flight with one stop. After talking with her supervisor (so she said...) she offered me my preferred one stop flights for an additional $750 per person. I also got to pick my seats, so I'm happy about that. The agent said business class to Asia is particularly high now and it was probably not going down, so I booked. I had been checking the fares for several months and they had not budged. Viking Air saved me a lot of money - about $2000 per person - even with the additional fees.

 

Two minor negatives for me concerning Viking Air. One, I still had to pay an additional $49 per person for transfers on the departure day, despite leaving the final day of the cruise. I did pay it because the airport is not near the port. I understand about arriving a day early and thus no transfer. We will get ourselves to the ship. But the last day is not a deviation, so it seems like I should not be charged. I not much in the overall cost of the cruise plus air, but a pet peeve of mine.

 

The other thing is the use of hiring non native English speakers for Viking Air Plus. If you're paying a premium to talk with someone, it would be nice not to have to struggle to understand them. She seemed to giggle a lot which became somewhat annoying on an hour long call.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...