Big box TA - can you get casino rate?

[DaveOKC]

A couple of current topics on the pros and cons of booking through a big box s?ore got my interest as one of them is opening soon in our town.

 

I always book through a HAL PCC and for the most part this works well.  It is easy to book and make changes, plus the upsell process is great.

 

So, my question - if I change to using a big box store agent, will I still be able to get my casino RATE (not the casino OFFERS, but just the rate) which saves me 10-15%.?

 

 

Edited March 31, 2019 by DaveOKC

[kazu]

1 minute ago, DaveOKC said:

A couple of current topics on the pros and cons of booking through a big box s?ore got my interest as one of them are opening soon in our town.

 

I always book through a HAL PCC and for the most part this works well.  It is easy to book and make changes, plus the upsell process is great.

 

So, my question - if I change to using a big box store agent, will I still be able to get my casino RATE (not the casino OFFERS, but just the rate) which saves me 10-15%.?

 

 

 

Assuming there is a casino rate, yes.

 

I’ve booked with big box and gotten it and a TA and gotten it.

 

Now I use my PCC first and then transfer it. 

 

In all cases the casino rate was honoured.

 

Sadly for my upcoming cruise, there is no casino rate 😞. Painful, but true.  I still qualify - it’s just not being offered on this cruise.

 

 

[DaveOKC]

Kazu - how does the upsell process work through the big box?  Do you think you are getting the upsells in a timely fashion (or at all)?  A couple of times recently I have gotten the upsell offers directly and was able to get great cabins at a good prices (like $99 a couple of weeks ago on a Signature to Neptune upsell which went very quickly)?  Plus, a year ago there was only one cabin offered at the lat minute (4 days prior) and I was the lucky one.  I am concerned that this will not be the same since I then will have to contact them, them contact HAL, etc.

[Alberta Quilter]

Not Kazu, but I've never received any upsell communications from the BBA. I don't mind because I choose a specific cabin and put do not upgrade on it.  Since we now need shower only cabins and there are few on the older ships, I nab one and stick with it.

[kazu]

3 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Kazu - how does the upsell process work through the big box?  Do you think you are getting the upsells in a timely fashion (or at all)?  A couple of times recently I have gotten the upsell offers directly and was able to get great cabins at a good prices (like $99 a couple of weeks ago on a Signature to Neptune upsell which went very quickly)?  Plus, a year ago there was only one cabin offered at the lat minute (4 days prior) and I was the lucky one.  I am concerned that this will not be the same since I then will have to contact them, them contact HAL, etc.

 

Crappy in one word.  They don’t call and they don’t offer.  At least, that’s my experience.

 

Why I don’t use big box anymore.  I stopped quite a while ago, but they did give the casino rate.  I have a TA who does a good job on upsells and I’ve had an offer if there are rooms available and already in place because of pricing based on her recommendation.  Category is now sold out.

 

 

[DaveOKC]

AQ and Kazu - thanks for the responses.  This is exactly what I was afraid of, since they are sooooo large that it would be difficult for them to pass along all the upsells and then to handle the extra communications afterwards.  I totally understand why, after all they are a low price high volume operation and that can be very good.  

 

Since I often travel off peak seasons, and since I "work" the upsell process, this is a big deal for me.  

 

In the future when I book a cruise and do not need or want an upsell, I will give them a try.