You know that $175 air variation fee?

[shepherd really]

The air variation fee is about to increase to $199.99. 
 

 

[tgg]

5 minutes ago, shepherd really said:

The air variation fee is about to increase to $199.99. 
 

 

Cruise only fares become even more attractive.

[jonthomas]

cant wait to get 15 cruises under our belts....a long way to go...

[shepherd really]

Did I mention that the fee for Canadians will be $299.99?  

 

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, jonthomas said:

cant wait to get 15 cruises under our belts....a long way to go...

We get the free deviations but O couldn’t pay me to use their air for bizclass.

[jonthomas]

3 hours ago, shepherd really said:

Did I mention that the fee for Canadians will be $299.99?  

 

 

 

yes with our low dollar, that is exactly what it will be...and yes the goalpost could be moved....and probably will be...

 

although RCL has enhanced its loyalty perks....and silverseas is really becoming very competitive to O....

[Cliff-FLL]

9 hours ago, shepherd really said:

Did I mention that the fee for Canadians will be $299.99?  

Yikes!  US$199.99 is, at the moment, only CA$272.  They seem to be padding it a bit.  Perhaps they're anticipating a further imbalance and planning ahead?  I remember back in the late 60's, when I was living outside of Detroit - of course, I was but a child at the time - we used to use US & Canadian currency interchangeably.  Oh, and gas was 28 cents a gallon. 😁

[Furball83]

12 hours ago, shepherd really said:

The air variation fee is about to increase to $199.99. 
 

 

Thanks for that info!

[LHT28]

8 hours ago, Cliff-FLL said:

Yikes!  US$199.99 is, at the moment, only CA$272. 

Seems like an odd amount for  deviation fee

Sounds more like the non gateway  extra charge

 It has been a while but I think we were still only charged the $175 USD  when we booked  it  they did not convert to CAD  but maybe my memory is failling

[WESTEAST]

Oceania updated their website:

Updated March 1, 2023

Custom air requests for specific airlines, routings, flights, etc can be requested once payment has been made on the booking and no earlier than 270 days prior to sailing. The cost to request custom air is $199 per guest per request plus any applicable air differential.

The $199 service fee is non-refundable once the custom air is accepted.

 

[JRIH]

21 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

Oceania updated their website:

Updated March 1, 2023

Custom air requests for specific airlines, routings, flights, etc can be requested once payment has been made on the booking and no earlier than 270 days prior to sailing. The cost to request custom air is $199 per guest per request plus any applicable air differential.

The $199 service fee is non-refundable once the custom air is accepted.

 

Yes, it's true.

[LHT28]

32 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

Oceania updated their website:

Updated March 1, 2023

Custom air requests for specific airlines, routings, flights, etc can be requested once payment has been made on the booking and no earlier than 270 days prior to sailing. The cost to request custom air is $199 per guest per request plus any applicable air differential.

The $199 service fee is non-refundable once the custom air is accepted.

 

But no 99 cents as posted  that is what I found odd 😉

They could just go to $200 PP  & be done with it

 

 

[mauibabes]

Just talked with my Specialist and it sounds like a positive move.  No longer will we be required to pay a Deviation Fee to arrive up to 3 days early or depart 3 days after.  It used to be No Charge ONLY when flying in on the day of Embarkation. The 30 day window did come in handy when we were combining land and sea cruises though. They will still have Premium Economy available on European flights. Sure wish the PE was available to fly west to Asia as well though. 
Mauibabes

[ORV]

2 hours ago, mauibabes said:

 No longer will we be required to pay a Deviation Fee to arrive up to 3 days early or depart 3 days after.  I

I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you saying for all the people that want to come in up to 3 days early then there is no deviation fee? If so that is definitely a positive change. 

[jazznruby]

38 minutes ago, ORV said:

I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you saying for all the people that want to come in up to 3 days early then there is no deviation fee? If so that is definitely a positive change. 

According to my TA, policy has been changed so that you can now arrive or depart up to 3 days prior/after with no fee, BUT...if you want custom air (choosing flights, times, routes, etc.), it's as it's always been... deviation with increased fee of $199/pp. See my thread 'New air option'.

[mauibabes]

That is the way it was explained to me.  If we start selecting specific  airlines and flights, we will incur a fee.  I think with all the issues in the airline industry and flight and baggage issues over the past year(s) I believe this was a way of creating a win/win situation for the guests and Oceania and the Air Depts ability to deliver reservations. 
 

For people doing their own travel planning and bookings, nothing is new.  
 

Enjoy your travels, Mauibabes. 

[LHT28]

So if you take advantage of flying in early for no extra fee are free transfers still included ??

 

I am still not seeing where you can fly in early  for no fee

On the website  it states  I even read all the fine print

"Are you looking to extend your cruise experience? Since our arrival and departure ports offer such amazing opportunities for exploring before or after your cruise, we encourage you to arrive earlier or stay longer. For a modest fee, our dedicated team will do everything they can to assist you with your specific flight request. "

[jonthomas]

It never made any sense why there was a charge for those who want to come in a day or so earlier....with the current issues in airports and airlines, it is really stupid to charge people for wanting to come in a day earlier and not miss the ship....

 

in fact there should be a charge for those who want to come in ON the day and cause all kinds of difficulties with missed/cancelled flights....

 

but how to get a definitive answer?...TA knows nothing yet, O rep not sure yet....a policy comes out and no one can be sure what it means....

[mauibabes]

I spoke to my O Rep yesterday about 5:00 EST and she had just gotten out of the meeting discussing this change. I am sure more info will be readily available now or into next week.  Yes I have a great TA and his contacts are exceptional but no one knows everything but they work at it until they do. I know a lot of you are blessed with GREAT TA’s as well so we all share our experiences with those of you who might not be as fortunate. Jazznruby, I am not so sure their dissemination of their changes is so flawed but it can be enhanced by making it effective X days in advance as opposed to the same date the change is effective and often late in the day.  They have a lot of Reservations staff working in both Miami and Nebraska and some from their homes so it does take awhile to schedule and hold informational meetings with staff.  Once those meetings are held, and not all staff get the information at the same time due to their work schedules, then the information starts to flow to the Agencies and then to the TA’s. It is not instant osmosis or push a button and the world knows instantly. Sometimes the website messages can be confusing too as we all try to understand what something really means or includes. I can recall in my work life, information flow was ALWAYS an issue and always will be. 
Personally I have found the Air Department to be amazingly helpful when we used them and when O’s Contract Carriers were less than helpful, we just declined the flights and sent them back to work until it was acceptable. Never have we been stuck with an up charge from Oceania, but the airlines always have to extract their pound of flesh 😇💵. Since we are flying from the West Coast, I will only fly over the pond, no US hops when we are going to Europe. I want that opportunity to get about 6 hours sleep if I can so I am not “dead tired” by mid day after arrival. They have always been accommodating. 

Good luck with the new program and hopefully we will all benefit from it. I understand the Premium Economy opportunities are continuing so that is great but I know the airlines have pushed those prices up too so we will pray O can hold the line on those costs. 
 

Mauibabes

[jonthomas]

When does one notify O about going in earlier? I guess it has to be done through ones agent. Much prefer to call the air dept and talk to them myself then through a third party. And when does one do that? Any experience with that? Any chance you can still tell them your preference without paying the 199?

 

nothing but questions....tried calling O, but it is the weekend. 

[LHT28]

9 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

When does one notify O about going in earlier? I guess it has to be done through ones agent. Much prefer to call the air dept and talk to them myself then through a third party. And when does one do that? Any experience with that? Any chance you can still tell them your preference without paying the 199?

 

nothing but questions....tried calling O, but it is the weekend. 

Are you talking about paying the deviation fee to choose your flights??

Either way  you need to go through you TA

See post #11

 

Yes they are closed on weekends

[jonthomas]

no, I am talking about being able to use the new policy of going in two days earlier and NOT paying for deviation....

 

yeah this going through the agent is a real pain....time wise and accuracy of message....

 

either way , when do you need to tell O that you are going in earlier?

[LHT28]

10 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

no, I am talking about being able to use the new policy of going in two days earlier and NOT paying for deviation....

 

yeah this going through the agent is a real pain....time wise and accuracy of message....

 

either way , when do you need to tell O that you are going in earlier?

maybe the  same time frame

 but you will not know what the flights are until maybe 60 days out

too much stress for you 😉 book your own flights 

[jonthomas]

yes I hear you...but cant beat the price with O....800 plus 149 for prem econ....

[LHT28]

9 minutes ago, jonthomas said:

yes I hear you...but cant beat the price with O....800 plus 149 for prem econ....

yes  good price   but  do you mean $249 ??

 I have not seen PE  for  that price in a long time