problems with Princess air

[Thoth]

First a disclaimer :D I'm a glass half full kind of guy...I love love cruises and a huge Princess fan. I'm not complaining, just giving some friendly advice...;)

If you have cruise air like I did, please do check with the airline that the flights are still current. Your cruise personalizer at Princess.com is meaningless, while what the airline has is the word of the gods.

I typed in the record locator on the airline's site and surprise !!...Come to find out that the airline had changed their flight schedule without the knowledge of Princess nor myself, so the cruiseline had me booked on flights that no longer exist. The airline had switched to a 0630 flight post cruise...no way could I make that flight :eek:

So I called Princess and they assured me that their records are legitimate. " oh no sir, you are booked on that 1:20 PM flight" . So I call the airline and was told "there is no longer that 1:20 flight". It seems that the cruiselines and airlines simply cannot communicate !

After 3 hours and countless phone calls, I finally had to cancel cruise air and re-book independently in order to get to the ship and back home .

Supposedly, I'll get refunded the money, but who knows how :confused: They aren't on the same page on that either.

[Pam in CA]

Princess is just the booking agent and if the airline hasn't updated it's records, the Princess rep will see what's on the screen.

 

Airlines change flight times and flight numbers all the time. You are correct that even if you have Princess Air, you should check your flight schedule every now and then.

 

I booked my air using miles for my upcoming cruise and the flight times and flight #s have changed twice since I booked. One flight change gave me an hour to change planes in Heathrow so I called and rebooked. The new flight leaves at the same time as my original flight but had a different flight #. Go figure.

[Miaangel2000]

I agree, unless it less expensive than booking on your own, make your own flight plans. We have used cruise air twice. Once from Costa Rica when princess stuck us on a charter plane that had 100 extra passengers to LAX. We didn't have seat assignments until 2 weeks before the cruise and couldn't move.

 

The second time was a simple one to LAX but the pre cruise transfers sent us to a hotel for 5 hours instead of the cruise ship.

 

I only book transfers to the airport now with the cruise line.

 

 

Mia

[TERESAh]

One time we booked our air through Princess for a Med cruise and while we were on the cruise someone from Princess cancelled the first leg of our flight home from Italy. The Princess rep in Italy couldn't do anything but tell us to call corp.which was closed since it was midnight back home.The airline accommodated us by paying a couple to give up their seats since it was a sold out flight.

[caribill]

After 3 hours and countless phone calls, I finally had to cancel cruise air and re-book independently in order to get to the ship and back home .

 

Assuming you stayed with the same airline, the airline should have been willing to simply change your reservation to an appropriate flight and do this at no charge since they changed the flight times.

[Thoth]

Princess is just the booking agent and if the airline hasn't updated it's records, the Princess rep will see what's on the screen.

 

Airlines change flight times and flight numbers all the time. You are correct that even if you have Princess Air, you should check your flight schedule every now and then.

 

I booked my air using miles for my upcoming cruise and the flight times and flight #s have changed twice since I booked. One flight change gave me an hour to change planes in Heathrow so I called and rebooked. The new flight leaves at the same time as my original flight but had a different flight #. Go figure.

cruises are wonderful...getting there or home not so much ;)

[Thoth]

I agree, unless it less expensive than booking on your own, make your own flight plans. We have used cruise air twice. Once from Costa Rica when princess stuck us on a charter plane that had 100 extra passengers to LAX. We didn't have seat assignments until 2 weeks before the cruise and couldn't move.

 

The second time was a simple one to LAX but the pre cruise transfers sent us to a hotel for 5 hours instead of the cruise ship.

 

I only book transfers to the airport now with the cruise line.

 

 

Mia

Me too with booking all transfers with the cruise-line. I like to have someone watching out for me. Having a bus reservation is nice.

With my first Princess cruise I booked my own air and had issues, so from then own I decided to take ship's air. Now I'm back to doing my own, so I never know what is best.

[Thoth]

One time we booked our air through Princess for a Med cruise and while we were on the cruise someone from Princess cancelled the first leg of our flight home from Italy. The Princess rep in Italy couldn't do anything but tell us to call corp.which was closed since it was midnight back home.The airline accommodated us by paying a couple to give up their seats since it was a sold out flight.

What I discovered was that I could not speak with Princess's air people, only the customer service representative could speak to the air people.

I would be put on hold in the meantime :rolleyes:

[Thoth]

Assuming you stayed with the same airline, the airline should have been willing to simply change your reservation to an appropriate flight and do this at no charge since they changed the flight times.

Exactly. The airline switched me from 0630 to 10:20. The cruiseline then told me this was too early and after much difficulty told me that I could not fly out before 1300 (1PM) . The airline could not get me onto another outbound flight until about midnight and I would be sleeping in DFW airport. LAX to DFW and no available seats between 1300 and midnight ?? :confused: World's #2 busiest airline ?

luck for me the world's #3 airline had plenty of flights to meet my needs. ;) Crazy still was my flight to the cruise was fine, but I had cancel the whole package. So I canceled my inboard flight( pre-cruise) and rebooked the very same flights :rolleyes: So I'm flying in on one carrier and out on another.

After being told by one Princess customer service person..."take it up with the airline" another one told me "why book your flights with the airlines when WE can book those flights ?"

NO THANKS was my confused response. :(

[FawnRiver]

Princess reps can be a bit of a hit and miss kind of bunch. I seem to get all the lemons:rolleyes:, while DH seems to get the ones with brains, so he makes all the phone calls now;).

 

We generally make our own flight arrangements (the one time we did through Princess, everything went fine and they had the best price, although not the best selection, but pricing won out that time). We always fly in a day early and sometimes book the hotel stay through Princess, so we still get the transfers to the hotel and to the port. It is nice to step off the plane and have someone there waiting for you with a luggage trolley at baggage claim.

[whatsup6897]

When we booked our flights to China six months ago through Princess Air, we had a 2 hour layover in LAX. They have changed the flights five or six times, and now we have a 45 min. layover in LAX. We're not happy but they won't change it unless it is less than 45 min.

[Colo Cruiser]

In this case you are better off booking on your own.

Not worth the hassle.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[billco]

In this case you are better off booking on your own.

No worth the hassle.

So far, not having to pay until final payment and being able to change or cancel up to 45 days before the flight has been worth the hassle. After having booked flights using EzAir five times, it has mainly been an exercise in learning how to play the system.

[Colo Cruiser]

So far, not having to pay until final payment and being able to change or cancel up to 45 days before the flight has been worth the hassle. After having booked flights using EzAir five times, it has mainly been an exercise in learning how to play the system.

 

We have used the EZ Air probably 15-20 times, in the OP's case and his cruise coming up very soon, IMO its not worth the hassle. Cut your losses and have peace of mind is the way I look at it and it sounds as though the OP did the same.

[Posaune]

We had a flight two years ago booked directly with the airline that sent an email that contained a change in time. The new times suited our cruise so I did nothing. I happened to look back at the email a few days before the cruise and noticed that they had not only changed the time, but also the airport. We had booked Gatwick and it was changed to Heathrow. We had prepaid transport from Gatwick to Dover and we were just out of luck. The airline no longer flew to Gatwick. I am so glad I looked back!

[PescadoAmarillo]

Our experience was that we booked with EZ Air because of a promotion and substantial savings ($700pp). We chose our flights with flexible air and were happy to have seat assignments while not having to pay until final payment. The flights we chose were with an airline with which we have no checked baggage charges. Life was good...until Princess changed our flights to another airline. When I called and asked why, the reason given was that they didn't have a contract with the first airline. So why did Princess sell us a flight on that airline? They couldn't answer that one. And if we changed anything, we'd lose the $700pp air savings.

 

In the end, our $700pp savings became $600pp, but not paying until final payment and being able to cancel until 45 days before traveling still wins out. I, too, dislike having to go through the CSR instead of talking with Princess Air directly. Things always get lost in translation.

[gbldcl]

I used EZ Air once and it was a mess. Now I book with an air travel assistance concierge. The service they provide that I find invaluable is monitoring all aspects of your flight. If things change they can rebook, even if you are in the air or in transit. Google "air travel assistance concierge" and the company I use should come up. I don't like to post ads here on cc but the name of the company starts with "C".

[caribill]

When we booked our flights to China six months ago through Princess Air, we had a 2 hour layover in LAX. They have changed the flights five or six times, and now we have a 45 min. layover in LAX. We're not happy but they won't change it unless it is less than 45 min.

 

You may (or may not) make your flight. Chances are dim if you need to go through security again. And often you must present yourself at the gate at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

 

However, your luggage has very little chance of making the flight to China. Make sure it is well labeled to follow you.

 

I would call the airline involved and ask their opinion on the connection time.

[Thoth]

Princess reps can be a bit of a hit and miss kind of bunch. I seem to get all the lemons:rolleyes:, while DH seems to get the ones with brains, so he makes all the phone calls now;).

 

We generally make our own flight arrangements (the one time we did through Princess, everything went fine and they had the best price, although not the best selection, but pricing won out that time). We always fly in a day early and sometimes book the hotel stay through Princess, so we still get the transfers to the hotel and to the port. It is nice to step off the plane and have someone there waiting for you with a luggage trolley at baggage claim.

Some reps are better than others has been my experience as well.

I too like that cruise representative with the luggage cart.

I'm booked in the Princess package hotel, it may be a bit expensive but hey it is fun and so convenient. The hotel is in downtown Vancouver within walking distance of the Canada Place cruise terminal.

[Thoth]

When we booked our flights to China six months ago through Princess Air, we had a 2 hour layover in LAX. They have changed the flights five or six times, and now we have a 45 min. layover in LAX. We're not happy but they won't change it unless it is less than 45 min.

I understand how you feel ! :o I don't trust the airlines enough for a 45 minute change time either. China sounds exciting though !!! ;)

[Thoth]

In this case you are better off booking on your own.

Not worth the hassle.

That's the way I feel. First priority is to get to the ship and back home.

[Thoth]

So far, not having to pay until final payment and being able to change or cancel up to 45 days before the flight has been worth the hassle. After having booked flights using EzAir five times, it has mainly been an exercise in learning how to play the system.

Too bad I was 30 or so days out :( That limited my possibilities . Learning how to play the system is an on-going adventure for me :D

[Thoth]

We have used the EZ Air probably 15-20 times, in the OP's case and his cruise coming up very soon, IMO its not worth the hassle. Cut your losses and have peace of mind is the way I look at it and it sounds as though the OP did the same.

 

100 % correct you are :cool: My cruise leaves in one month and I had no plans to miss that boat...I mean ship. ;)

[Thoth]

We had a flight two years ago booked directly with the airline that sent an email that contained a change in time. The new times suited our cruise so I did nothing. I happened to look back at the email a few days before the cruise and noticed that they had not only changed the time, but also the airport. We had booked Gatwick and it was changed to Heathrow. We had prepaid transport from Gatwick to Dover and we were just out of luck. The airline no longer flew to Gatwick. I am so glad I looked back!

Yeah ! :rolleyes: That Gatwick-Heathrow thing is confusing. At one time I think US planes flew into Heathrow, but then when I was in the US Air Force stationed over there all US airlines were using Gatwick. Now they have all switched back to Heathrow. Back in April we were through Heathrow which was wonderful for London's West End where we stayed.

Gatwick is about 30 miles to the South . :eek: At the same time I understand that Heathrow is murder to change terminals at. :eek:

[Thoth]

Our experience was that we booked with EZ Air because of a promotion and substantial savings ($700pp). We chose our flights with flexible air and were happy to have seat assignments while not having to pay until final payment. The flights we chose were with an airline with which we have no checked baggage charges. Life was good...until Princess changed our flights to another airline. When I called and asked why, the reason given was that they didn't have a contract with the first airline. So why did Princess sell us a flight on that airline? They couldn't answer that one. And if we changed anything, we'd lose the $700pp air savings.

 

In the end, our $700pp savings became $600pp, but not paying until final payment and being able to cancel until 45 days before traveling still wins out. I, too, dislike having to go through the CSR instead of talking with Princess Air directly. Things always get lost in translation.

I don't think the CSR and air specialist even speak the same language. Too many middle men/women :rolleyes: Neither one can pull up an air schedule.