New air policy

[basor]

1 hour ago, patty1955 said:

Yes, in 4 month, 28 days

We embark in Venice on the 09NOV and will see you onboard when you embark!

 

[lorimay]

11 hours ago, pinotlover said:

1. Perhaps being on the Marina, which has an announced restart matters.

 

2. Do you have an actual airline booking number so you can get seat assignments?

 

3. perhaps it is new to this week.

I do have a record locator and seat assignments. I can see my reservations on both the Alitalia and Lufthansa sites. 

[davencl]

Just booked today on Serena but the general FAQ says the following "Air itineraries are available 75 days prior to sailing."  Says it was updated Aug. 2019.   I think an air deviation is still valid if you ask for one.

[nikless]

We are on the Marina, Nov 9 TA and requested custom air yesterday.  We received an email confirming our request and said to expect to hear back in 48 hours.  Deviation fee of non-refundable $175 pp applies if we accept the flights, but we would have had to pay it anyway since we are arriving a few days early.

[jagoffee]

On 5/18/2021 at 9:06 AM, arkansastraveler said:

I am requesting my flight info for cruise this October. Oceania reply to travel agent:New policies with air.  Because schedules change and are revised so often, Oceania does not assign air until 75 days prior to the sail date.  Not getting any more info from Oceania, I guess there is no  air deviation allowed

the way I am used to using.

Based on the input being received, it might be time to consider a new TA.  Could it be a TA policy or misunderstanding?

[nikless]

6 hours ago, nikless said:

We are on the Marina, Nov 9 TA and requested custom air yesterday.  We received an email confirming our request and said to expect to hear back in 48 hours.  Deviation fee of non-refundable $175 pp applies if we accept the flights, but we would have had to pay it anyway since we are arriving a few days early.

Just got my custom, less than 24 hours from when the request was submitted.  

However, we are connecting in Frankfurt then on to Venice; the stop is only 1 hr 15 minutes...does anyone know whether we clear customs/ immigration in the first EU stop, (similar to US) or do you clear it at the destination?  75 minutes is kinda tight to pickup baggage and clear immigration/customs...

[pinotlover]

For the Schengen countries, one clears immigration at the first Schengen stop.

 

I would normally find 75 minutes in Frankfort to not be enough time, especially since you will almost certainly be changing terminals.

 

An important thing to remember for future bookings is that England is no longer under the Schengen Agreement. Therefore, as I read the requirements, for those entering a Schengen country via LHR , they will have to clear immigration at both LHR and then again at the first Schengen arrival city. Watch those connections!

 

Perhaps Flyertalker can give an update on this.

Edited May 19, 2021 by pinotlover

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, nikless said:

Just got my custom, less than 24 hours from when the request was submitted.  

However, we are connecting in Frankfurt then on to Venice; the stop is only 1 hr 15 minutes...does anyone know whether we clear customs/ immigration in the first EU stop, (similar to US) or do you clear it at the destination?  75 minutes is kinda tight to pickup baggage and clear immigration/customs...

Hopefully your luggage will be "through checked"  to VCE

But  yes you probably clear in Frankfurt

https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en/flights-and-transfer/transferring-at-fra.html

[edgee]

10 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Hopefully your luggage will be "through checked"  to VCE

But  yes you probably clear in Frankfurt

https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en/flights-and-transfer/transferring-at-fra.html

75 minute connection in Frankfurt including going through immigration to enter EU is an extremely tight connection, even though bags are checked through.

Edited May 19, 2021 by edgee

[LHT28]

3 minutes ago, edgee said:

75 minute connection in Frankfurt including going through immigration to enter EU is an extremely tight connection, even though bags are checked through.

You could be right

I have never connected in FRA  but  we made it in AMS  without a problem  but of course anything can happen  on the day you hit any airport  😉

 

[edgee]

3 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

You could be right

I have never connected in FRA  but  we made it in AMS  without a problem  but of course anything can happen  on the day you hit any airport  😉

 

The size and complexity of FRA is unbelievable. Unless things have changed since we connected 5 years ago you often have to get unloaded from your international jumbo jet onto busses which take you to the terminal. That takes a lot of time in addition to passport check lines where waits will vary and then often a long walk to your intra European flight gate.

[LHT28]

16 minutes ago, edgee said:

The size and complexity of FRA is unbelievable. Unless things have changed since we connected 5 years ago you often have to get unloaded from your international jumbo jet onto busses which take you to the terminal. That takes a lot of time in addition to passport check lines where waits will vary and then often a long walk to your intra European flight gate.

Sounds like fun  ..NOT!!

Reminds  me of LHR  they never seem to land ontime  then you are bussed from the tarmac

 

 I will usually take  2 +  hrs connecting time  over  the short ones   but that is me

It may be too late for NIKLESS to change the flights now  without incurring  more fees

[PhD-iva]

2 hours ago, edgee said:

The size and complexity of FRA is unbelievable. Unless things have changed since we connected 5 years ago you often have to get unloaded from your international jumbo jet onto busses which take you to the terminal. That takes a lot of time in addition to passport check lines where waits will vary and then often a long walk to your intra European flight gate.

I transferred in Frankfurt in July of 2019. I thought EU infrastructure was supposedly better than US? NOT IN FRANKFURT!

The plane will park somewhere very far from any terminal and you will have to carry all your carryon luggage down the airplane stairs, NOT a ramp, and then a long bus ride, as mentioned. Even in the terminal I found I had to negotiate stairs with all my carryon luggage, NOT FUN! 

[nikless]

3 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Sounds like fun  ..NOT!!

Reminds  me of LHR  they never seem to land ontime  then you are bussed from the tarmac

 

 I will usually take  2 +  hrs connecting time  over  the short ones   but that is me

It may be too late for NIKLESS to change the flights now  without incurring  more fees

Thanks to all for your help.  Back in the 70s, flew thru FRA several times while stationed there...obviously a different time.

I flew into Frankfurt enroute to Milan back in 2005 and remember the buses.

I have not accepted the flights; I asked if they could put us on a later (with a 2-1/2 hour) layover and hope that will be enough.

It's good to hear that you don't need to grab your checked bags as you do in he US.  We came back from Sydney into Houston on United with a short connection time, had to gather checked bags and put them on another conveyor while going thru customs....and then walk (had to have been miles} to the next terminal...but United did hold the flight for us and others.

And, my experience is that flights heading to Europe arrive early due to the Jet stream.

Fingers crossed.

[edgee]

1 hour ago, nikless said:

Thanks to all for your help.  Back in the 70s, flew thru FRA several times while stationed there...obviously a different time.

I flew into Frankfurt enroute to Milan back in 2005 and remember the buses.

I have not accepted the flights; I asked if they could put us on a later (with a 2-1/2 hour) layover and hope that will be enough.

It's good to hear that you don't need to grab your checked bags as you do in he US.  We came back from Sydney into Houston on United with a short connection time, had to gather checked bags and put them on another conveyor while going thru customs....and then walk (had to have been miles} to the next terminal...but United did hold the flight for us and others.

And, my experience is that flights heading to Europe arrive early due to the Jet stream.

Fingers crossed.

The 2.5 hour connection should alleviate stress...just have to deal with the inconveniences built into that airport.

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, nikless said:

Thanks to all for your help.  Back in the 70s, flew thru FRA several times while stationed there...obviously a different time.

I flew into Frankfurt enroute to Milan back in 2005 and remember the buses.

I have not accepted the flights; I asked if they could put us on a later (with a 2-1/2 hour) layover and hope that will be enough.

Good you have not accepted yet then you have some options

 Not sure what Munich is like  but could be an option

 I usually check  https://matrix.itasoftware.com/   

then request the flights that work for me

 

 

[KS&JW]

8 hours ago, nikless said:

Just got my custom, less than 24 hours from when the request was submitted.  

However, we are connecting in Frankfurt then on to Venice; the stop is only 1 hr 15 minutes...does anyone know whether we clear customs/ immigration in the first EU stop, (similar to US) or do you clear it at the destination?  75 minutes is kinda tight to pickup baggage and clear immigration/customs...

 I would never schedule  less than 2 hours for a Frankfurt transfer.  The airport is huge, transferring from one terminal to another involved trains and can be confusing, you need to clear customs, security is very tight and you must clear it as well.    

[Belfastman]

18 hours ago, pinotlover said:

For the Schengen countries, one clears immigration at the first Schengen stop.

 

I would normally find 75 minutes in Frankfort to not be enough time, especially since you will almost certainly be changing terminals.

 

An important thing to remember for future bookings is that England is no longer under the Schengen Agreement. Therefore, as I read the requirements, for those entering a Schengen country via LHR , they will have to clear immigration at both LHR and then again at the first Schengen arrival city. Watch those connections!

 

Perhaps Flyertalker can give an update on this.

England was never under the Schengen Agreement.

[luvsmickey]

On 5/18/2021 at 10:50 AM, pinotlover said:

I touched upon this in another thread. Airlines schedules are being turned upside down. United has completely changed the flight itinerary for my November cruise 3 times in the last month, and that trip is six (6) months out. For my trips 45-60 days out, not only were they changed several months ago, they are still being reshuffled. If anyone paid a premium for a select routing, to end up with what we now have, they would be @*€🤬 to say the least.
 

With this in mind, one has to realize that NCLH continues to bleed cash profusely and Oceania/NCLH Air is working with minimal staffing. That minimal staff doesn’t have time to be chasing their tails trying to reshuffle all the changes, plus do new bookings. This is especially the case for flights on cruises that Oceania already knows won’t sail.

 

Add to this, the airlines are changing the rules again, back to pre pandemic standards, wherein if a flight is booked it has to be paid for. More cash NCLH doesn’t have, and moving final payment to 60 days for scheduled upcoming cruises hasn’t helped cash flow.

 

With the opening of the economy along with international travel, the airlines industry has done us a favor. They have forced those cruise lines offering air packages to make a go or no go decision at least 75-90 days pre cruise. No more waiting until 45-60. 
 

Our mid November cruise now has a mid September payment date. Trust me, NCLH can’t afford to fork over $$$K of dollars to the airlines at 75-90 days out to then cancel the cruise at 60 days. We’ll now know by August if the cruise is going. 

I’m on Riviera in mid November and haven’t heard about final payment moving out until September! 

[cotto22]

1 hour ago, luvsmickey said:

I’m on Riviera in mid November and haven’t heard about final payment moving out until September! 

Me neither. Ours is still mid June.

[pinotlover]

48 minutes ago, cotto22 said:

Me neither. Ours is still mid June.

Check with your TA.

 

We’re on the Nautica mid November. Got the change via my TA a couple of weeks ago.

 

Maybe the Riveria is sailing and we’re not???

 

Let us know the outcome please.

[pinotlover]

On 5/20/2021 at 8:56 AM, luvsmickey said:

I’m on Riviera in mid November and haven’t heard about final payment moving out until September! 

 

23 hours ago, cotto22 said:

Me neither. Ours is still mid June.

Wanted to bounce this up again. Have either of you checked with your TA to see if this is still the case?

 

Please report back. 
 

How about others with cruises booked in November. Has your final payment date been altered?

 

Insignia, Regatta, Sirena?

Edited May 21, 2021 by pinotlover

[Norseh2o]

Joining the Marina in Venice, 11/09/21. Final pay is in June, no delay. So hopeful that this cruise will stay on the books. 😊

[lorimay]

38 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

 

Wanted to bounce this up again. Have either of you checked with your TA to see if this is still the case?

 

Please report back. 
 

How about others with cruises booked in November. Has your final payment date been altered?

 

Insignia, Regatta, Sirena?

I'm on the Marina departing November 2. My final payment isn't due until August 4. However, I didn't book this until about a month ago so that may be why the later payment date.

[mauibabes]

We are to reboard Riviera Nov 7 in Monte Carlo to Rome to Miami, Grand Voyage and I just reconfirmed our Final Payment is due June 10 but the Specialist has gone forward to management to reconfirm the date. When I get an update I will post.  
 

We actually board Riviera October 18 in Istanbul and that FP is in August. Since that FP date has moved to 60 days out, it “could” mean that Grand Voyage sailing is IFFY but no one is talking yet. O has used the move to the 60 day Payment window as a way to reduce accounting workload for sailings that could be in jeopardy. JMO