"Flights by Celebrity"

[Talldkny]

I have taken 8 Repositioning Cruises with Celebrity which require only a one way airfare.  We have been using their service, "Flights by Celebrity" to book our flights.  In the past we have gotten extremely discounted rates using this service.  We were about to book another repositioning cruise on April 20 on the Silhouette when I was getting one way price quotes of $1,895.0.  This was one way airfare from London to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.  I thought it might be a computer glitch with Celebrity's website as that was the price being quoted for all the economy flights.  I called Celebrity and they confirmed these were the prices.  We used to pay no more than $450.0 for a one-way ticket.  Has any one else experienced this issue?  If this is the case the 6 of us will not be booking this trip, when the airfare is more expensive then the cruise. 

[Texed]

10 minutes ago, Talldkny said:

We used to pay no more than $450.0 for a one-way ticket.  Has any one else experienced this issue?  If this is the case the 6 of us will not be booking this trip, when the airfare is more expensive then the cruise. 

It looks as though the airlines have definitely hiked their rates direct a lot.   So, I imagine they have increased the price to Celebrity also.  

[BEAV]

Keep checking...

 

What you’re seeing now is in no way the end of the story. 

 

Keep checking...

[Talldkny]

7 minutes ago, Texed said:

It looks as though the airlines have definitely hiked their rates direct a lot.   So, I imagine they have increased the price to Celebrity also.  

Out of curiosity I did a multi-city search on the "Flights by Celebrity" site.  NYC to Miami, London to Miami and got a fare for $700.0.  This obviously does not help us as we live in the Miami area.  Typically purchasing a one-way ticket directly with the Airlines was more expensive, That is why using "Flights by Celebrity" was such a great service.  They always gave us great discounted fares.  Even with airfares going up, $1800.0 is extreme.  Thank you for your reply

[Talldkny]

4 minutes ago, BEAV said:

Keep checking...

 

What you’re seeing now is in no way the end of the story. 

 

Keep checking...

Thanks, Checked several times same price quote. Even put in different return days.   Will wait a day or two and try again.  Thanks for your reply.

[FlorenceItaly]

Yikes!  Just yesterday I purchased a one way Business Class(Polaris) ticket for June 5, Amsterdam to GSP for under $1400.  This is from Holland America.  It is a comped casino cruise so I am required to pay at time of booking.  I know it is early, but decided since I was comfortable with the price I would go ahead and purchase.  This is on United.  I hope as you check daily you find a good rate!

[BEAV]

18 minutes ago, Talldkny said:

Thanks, Checked several times same price quote. Even put in different return days.   Will wait a day or two and try again.  Thanks for your reply.

Just be aware two or three days might not be enough. 
 

I’ve done several of the same cruises over the years, have initially got the same results as you’re currently seeing. It can take a long time (and patience), before you see the type of rates you’re accustomed to. 
 

Good luck! ✈️

[jwlane]

1 hour ago, Talldkny said:

 I called Celebrity and they confirmed these were the prices.  

I'd be comparison shopping on the airline websites.

[Jim_Iain]

I've noticed that after the shut down Flights by Celebrity has mostly shifted to refundable fares due to getting stuck with all the non-refundable.    I do see some good deal occasionally but most of the time I only find the same fare that I can get with the airline.

 

The main advantage of Flights By Celebrity now is that you can book it about a year in advance and not pay anything until final payment.   Downside is once final payment - even with a fully refundable fare FBC charges $100 pp administrative fee to change or cancel a flight.

[intr3pid]

Trans Atlantic one-way fares can sometimes be more expensive these days than roundtrip.  Many airlines discourage one-way fares.  Try a roundtrip fare and see if you get different prices.   The one-way fares will get cheaper closer to flight times once the airline knows how well the flight is selling.

[DaKahuna]

Can Flights by Celebrity accommodate arriving a day early or do the require you to fly the day of sailing? 

[BEAV]

20 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Can Flights by Celebrity accommodate arriving a day early or do the require you to fly the day of sailing? 

You can select your own travel dates.
 

You can even alter the city you fly into/out of other than the port of embarkation/disembarkation. 
 

Example: Cruise departs from Ft Lauderdale. You can book Celebrity air to Orlando because you want to do Disney World pre-cruise, then drive to Ft Lauderdale to board cruise. Tons of options…

 

[swigso]

Hi 

I just did a dummy booking from LHR to Mia round trip,you just do not need to use the return ticket. Remember May 6th is the coronation of King Charles so prices may be a bit higher. 
I have used a hotel at Heathrow and to stay there from May 3 to May 7 with a direct flight to Miami in economy is GBP£1650 for 2 pax or £825 each. You can book this with a £150 deposit.

I tried to change my location but it would not let me.

The hotel was the Renaissance at Heathrow, the train Ito central London takes about 20 minutes but London will be very busy that weekend. 
hope this helps
 

[Talldkny]

3 hours ago, swigso said:

Hi 

I just did a dummy booking from LHR to Mia round trip,you just do not need to use the return ticket. Remember May 6th is the coronation of King Charles so prices may be a bit higher. 
I have used a hotel at Heathrow and to stay there from May 3 to May 7 with a direct flight to Miami in economy is GBP£1650 for 2 pax or £825 each. You can book this with a £150 deposit.

I tried to change my location but it would not let me.

The hotel was the Renaissance at Heathrow, the train Ito central London takes about 20 minutes but London will be very busy that weekend. 
hope this helps
 

Thanks for the information. The coronation may be a good reason flights are so expensive.  Using Celebrity's service for one way flights you always would get a significant discount then booking directly with the airlines.  We never paid more than $450 for a one way international flight.  If that 825 pounds per person also includes the hotel that is not a bad deal.  We might just skip this one. 

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Can Flights by Celebrity accommodate arriving a day early or do the require you to fly the day of sailing? 

Yes.  They can also accommodate arrival a month early and a month late.   Also you can select different arrival or departures than those close to a port.    We often fly to Scotland a week or 2 before a cruise and then book a flight to the cruise independently ( (Southampton, Rome or Amsterdam) 

[D. B.]

You may always find flights Cheaper than what you see at F By C but the probably do not have the pay 90 days before sailing perk or they may not be Refundable fares.

 I sometimes check to see if I can get a better price on an airline's website or one of the online sellers but they usually are nonrefundable or want full payment at the time of booking.

F By C has been very good for us and once they pulled off a miracle to get us to the ship after unexpected weather delays and flight cancellations.

 One hint when checking flights on F By C is to look if the flight you want says X Airline "Operated By Y airline" it's better to pick the one listed as operated by X and not by Y  Airline  because most of the time F By C can let you do a Seat Selection at that Time with X while  airline Y "Operated By" will  probably Not allow you to select a seat until They get Paid in Full.

 I sometimes have F By C Pay in full for my flights Before the 90-day payoff date for that reason.

  As for the rising cost of long distance flights-We had a Japan Cruise with X booked for 2021 that was canceled. Our Round Trip  flights to Japan (SFO-HND) were $1000 each at that time. We have a Japan cruise with Azamara in April 2023 that will leave from the same port as the X cruise. Azamara was sold by X but still uses X's Flights by Celebrity for air tickets. The same ticket that cost $1000 in 2021 is now  $1700 in 2022.

 Why did we Choose Azamara? Because it stops in 14 ports in 15 days. 

[HoneyDad]

Looking for advice from the been there done that people.

 

I booked our flights through Celebrity. I tried using the record locator provided to select seats on out Air Canada flights. The message I received back was check with your travel agent. This was about a week ago.

 

I called Celebrity today and was told Air Canada does not let you pick your seats until 30 days before your flight, but I could call and check with them.

 

Called Air Canada and all was going great until it wasn't. They said that I would just need to get a ticket number from the travel agent.

 

My feeling is that even through they are saving room for us we really don't have a ticket yet? I purchased a premium economy ticket so that we could pick the seats we want. 

 

Any comments to help me get the seats or understand how this works is welcome.

 

Thanks!

[drakes2]

On 11/17/2022 at 12:33 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Yes.  They can also accommodate arrival a month early and a month late.   Also you can select different arrival or departures than those close to a port.    We often fly to Scotland a week or 2 before a cruise and then book a flight to the cruise independently ( (Southampton, Rome or Amsterdam) 

I used FBC for our upcoming April TA.  You can choose any date both in and outbound. Booked a direct flight from Toronto to Florida and return had a connection Amsterdam to  Philadelphia then  Toronto 2 days post cruise. All for $700 🇨🇦 which is $500 USD.  Bookrd this in October. Those flights are not available any longer. The process was smooth and simple. 

[mahdnc]

12 minutes ago, HoneyDad said:

Looking for advice from the been there done that people.

 

I booked our flights through Celebrity. I tried using the record locator provided to select seats on out Air Canada flights. The message I received back was check with your travel agent. This was about a week ago.

 

I called Celebrity today and was told Air Canada does not let you pick your seats until 30 days before your flight, but I could call and check with them.

 

Called Air Canada and all was going great until it wasn't. They said that I would just need to get a ticket number from the travel agent.

 

My feeling is that even through they are saving room for us we really don't have a ticket yet? I purchased a premium economy ticket so that we could pick the seats we want. 

 

Any comments to help me get the seats or understand how this works is welcome.

 

Thanks!

 

I have read multiple posts on this forum that Air Canada will not let you select seats when you book thru FBC.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Airfare today is very pricy 

I have a credit with AC for about $400 CAD from a cancel cruise in November 2021 for a one way trip to Rome 

I need airfare for the Conny TA in November 2023 and the flight are at $945 CAD economy on AC 

if price keep high , I will have stop doing TA cruises 

 

[HoneyDad]

15 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

I have read multiple posts on this forum that Air Canada will not let you select seats when you book thru FBC.

Thanks for the reply, I may to cancel and re-book direct or a different airline through FBC.

[Illsticktocrusing]

16 hours ago, HoneyDad said:

Looking for advice from the been there done that people.

 

I booked our flights through Celebrity. I tried using the record locator provided to select seats on out Air Canada flights. The message I received back was check with your travel agent. This was about a week ago.

 

I called Celebrity today and was told Air Canada does not let you pick your seats until 30 days before your flight, but I could call and check with them.

 

Called Air Canada and all was going great until it wasn't. They said that I would just need to get a ticket number from the travel agent.

 

My feeling is that even through they are saving room for us we really don't have a ticket yet? I purchased a premium economy ticket so that we could pick the seats we want. 

 

Any comments to help me get the seats or understand how this works is welcome.

 

Thanks!

I wonder if something has changed in general with FBC, I booked an AA flight and can not choose my seat even thought I have been able to do it in the past.  I am less than 90 days out and I have made full payment.  

[drakes2]

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Airfare today is very pricy 

I have a credit with AC for about $400 CAD from a cancel cruise in November 2021 for a one way trip to Rome 

I need airfare for the Conny TA in November 2023 and the flight are at $945 CAD economy on AC 

if price keep high , I will have stop doing TA cruises 

 

I guess we got a good deal on our YYZ - FLL. AMS PHL- YYZ.  for our April Western Europe TA.  Never done a TA before so pretty excited. 

[FlorenceItaly]

1 hour ago, Illsticktocrusing said:

I wonder if something has changed in general with FBC, I booked an AA flight and can not choose my seat even thought I have been able to do it in the past.  I am less than 90 days out and I have made full payment.  

I suspect the cruise line has not made payment to the airline.  You may call and asked for it to be ticketed.  I did this with my HAL flight that I mentioned in previous post.  After I did this a ticket number showed up on my reservation.  In fact, I didn't even have to call HAL to ask for it to be ticketed as there was a button online in my HAL reservation to make the request.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 hour ago, drakes2 said:

I guess we got a good deal on our YYZ - FLL. AMS PHL- YYZ.  for our April Western Europe TA.  Never done a TA before so pretty excited. 

TAs are what we usually book , probably done 10 TAs , also try book the cruise before a westbound TA