Free Air Promotion Question

[Liljo22]

Looking at booking an Alaska Cruise for this summer.  When I first did the Free/Discounted Air Promotion for an inside it was $375/pp.  I decided on a balcony and the price jumps to $816/pp.  Anyone know the reasoning for this.  

 

Airfare is running about $650/pp on my own so $375 was a great deal.  $816 not so much.  

 

Also, I see that the Joy is now in the US.  Is there a preference for Alaska between the Joy and Bliss?  

[ksmcdonald]

I've found the airlines change their ticket prices daily.  For example I looked on Southwest for a ticket to Washington DC, got a price of $164, wanted to think about it for a day, checked the next day and the price was $300!  Same day, same flight #,  just the price from one day to the next.

 

If the airline changes their price, NCL will change theirs.

 

 

[Liljo22]

16 minutes ago, ksmcdonald said:

I've found the airlines change their ticket prices daily.  For example I looked on Southwest for a ticket to Washington DC, got a price of $164, wanted to think about it for a day, checked the next day and the price was $300!  Same day, same flight #,  just the price from one day to the next.

 

If the airline changes their price, NCL will change theirs.

 

16 minutes ago, ksmcdonald said:

This was in the same booking window but I think I figured it out.  On the balcony you can get all perks.  For some reason if you take it as your first two perks the price is hire.  If you take it as part of the bottom three perks, it goes back to the lower price. Weird.  

 

 

[ksmcdonald]

1 hour ago, Liljo22 said:

 

 

 

 

Hmmmm......that is weird.  

[johnrich]

Yes, it is very odd. We booked for a Thanksgiving Cruise. The airfare from Pittsburgh to Orlando was $199/pp which was pretty reasonable however we needed two adjoining cabins and I couldn’t find them online so I called. Not only was the rep able to get us cabins beside each other, the airfare was only $99. Just wish NCL booked on Southwest. They have nonstop with great times. No other airlines offer nonstop. 

[don't-use-real-name]

NCL has booked a block of seats just like a travel agent would do.

These seats are sold at a set rate no matter what the market is.

Unlike the airline website with the roller coaster ride of fare high and low.

In booking seating on a airplane you should be looking at booking before

the 50-60 days sailing date. As you get closer the fares rise - at 30 days

before sailing the fares pretty much max out. To play the airline seat booking

game check the website frequently and often especially midweek and in the

late evening wee hours - be ready to pounce on a deal. I have scored 4

first class seats for the price of coach on a San Juan cruise - 3 hours later

the deal was gone. I have a great deal of success in booking around 55

days before sailing and use that as my target now. Something to note think

you got a great deal - go back within 24 hours of the booking and check to

make sure you did get a great deal - you can cancel and rebook your airline

tickets without penalty within 24 hours of the booking - know how to play the

game to your advantage. Have an affinity relationship with an airline know

how to upgrade economy no frill seats with bag charges to a comfort class

with free bag fees. Maybe you have miles or round qubits to bargain with.

 

It is nice when the total package is arranged by NCL - but look carefully at

how it is set up - perhaps you can do better breaking out the air fare from

the package.

And don't worry so much about seating parties together - with the seats

blocked there are lots of opportunities to put families together it is not

that big a deal unless booking at the last minute it is what you get left with.