Viking Air

[JosieCat-MN]

This is not only my first European river cruise, but my first trip to Europe.  So hopefully, I'm posting this question in the right location.  I will be flying into Basel Switzerland with Viking booking my air, which I assume is called Viking Air.  I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect.  Just went on Expedia and was amazed at some of the layover times from MSP to BSL on Delta flights, i.e., 9 hours in Paris, 9 hours in Amsterdam.  

 

Can someone give me more of an idea of what to expect when using Viking Air.  I will be flying MSP to Basel in October of 2024.

 

• Do they typically do afternoon flights so you aren't getting in during the middle of the night?
• What are some typically layover times I can expect.
• When can I actually expect to see flight information and be able to pick a seat. As I said, I'm 13 months out - so plenty of time.

 

Thanks,

[pontac]

Can't help on the flights questions, but when you land in Basel airport make certain you take the correct exit from arrivals hall.

 

The airport is physically in France and the arrivals hall has exits to France and to Switzerland. you need to take the Swiss exit, here you'll pass Swiss customs (a mere formality) and you'll meet the Viking reps outside the arrivals exit, they'll be wearing red tops, and will direct you to the correct coach. (there may be more than one coach as sometimes there are more than one Viking boat starting cruises from Basel.)

[JosieCat-MN]

3 minutes ago, pontac said:

Can't help on the flights questions, but when you land in Basel airport make certain you take the correct exit from arrivals hall.

 

The airport is physically in France and the arrivals hall has exits to France and to Switzerland. you need to take the Swiss exit, here you'll pass Swiss customs (a mere formality) and you'll meet the Viking reps outside the arrivals exit, they'll be wearing red tops, and will direct you to the correct coach. (there may be more than one coach as sometimes there are more than one Viking boat starting cruises from Basel.)

 

Thank you!  Awesome information.  I probably should have clarified that I'm spending 4 nights in Switzerland.  So I'll be taking Airport bus 50 to the train station and immediately getting on a train heading to Lucerne.  Unless...my flight arrives in the middle of the night., in which case I'll be booking a hotel for one night in Basel.

 

 

[Roz]

I've never had a flight to Europe or anywhere else land in the middle of the night.  On an overnight flight the plane lands early to mid morning up until noon. 

 

What is MSP?

[JosieCat-MN]

3 minutes ago, Roz said:

I've never had a flight to Europe or anywhere else land in the middle of the night.  On an overnight flight the plane lands early to mid morning up until noon. 

 

What is MSP?

 

Sorry, MSP is the code for the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.  Good to know about the flight!  Thanks. 

 

[gnome12]

8 minutes ago, Roz said:

I've never had a flight to Europe or anywhere else land in the middle of the night.  On an overnight flight the plane lands early to mid morning up until noon. 

 

What is MSP?

MSP is Minneapolis-St Paul I believe. A question for @JosieCat-MN . It sounds like you are doing an extension on your own, not with Viking. If so, there is no reason to fly to Basel (which requires a connection in Europe). You are better off flying to Zurich, and taking a train direct from the airport to Lausanne. Then you don’t need to worry about connection times. You will arrive in Europe and take a single train. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by gnome12

[JosieCat-MN]

23 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

MSP is Minneapolis-St Paul I believe. A question for @JosieCat-MN . It sounds like you are doing an extension on your own, not with Viking. If so, there is no reason to fly to Basel (which requires a connection in Europe). You are better off flying to Zurich, and taking a train direct from the airport to Lausanne. Then you don’t need to worry about connection times. You will arrive in Europe and take a single train. 

 

Yes, I'm doing an extension, but I'm still getting my air though Viking, and I was told I had to fly into the same airport that I would be flying into if I wasn't doing an extension.  My cruise departs from Basel.  

 

Although I wasn't worried about when I would be landing because of connection times.   From what I'm to understand, it's pretty easy to go from Basel to Lucerne as well.  But if flying into Zurich means the flights are better, I'll certainly look into it.

 

Thanks,

[dd57]

You do not have to fly into the starting point of the cruise, but to change to a different airport, you have to pay a "deviation fee".  Call back and ask about that.  We did this when we took the Viking Bordeaux cruise and wanted to spend time in Paris before and after.

[CastleCritic]

Zurich is going to be a lot better connected, its possible to fly there from the US.  in Basel its not, youre going through London/Paris/Munich/Frankfurt.

 

Been through Basel twice its a good enough airport but if you arent going there to immediately get a hotel or a ship I wouldn't. 

 

In my experience connecting through European airports usually means (roughly)

 

leave from the US 6pm, get to Europe 6am-7am, make a connection and get to your destination between 10am and 1pm.

Edited July 11, 2023 by CastleCritic

[JosieCat-MN]

16 minutes ago, dd57 said:

You do not have to fly into the starting point of the cruise, but to change to a different airport, you have to pay a "deviation fee".  Call back and ask about that.  We did this when we took the Viking Bordeaux cruise and wanted to spend time in Paris before and after.

 

THANK YOU.  I just called AGAIN, and got a completely different answer from a different person.  I am now flying into Zurich.  I was already paying the deviation fee because I'm flying in early.

[ural guy]

This is nice, a question that got positively resolved in 5 hours.

 

Yeah team, good work!

[JosieCat-MN]

2 minutes ago, ural guy said:

This is nice, a question that got positively resolved in 5 hours.

 

Yeah team, good work!

Absolutely!  Thanks Everyone!!!

[gnome12]

1 hour ago, JosieCat-MN said:

Absolutely!  Thanks Everyone!!!

Glad we could be of help. You will find this a much simpler option. If you let the Lausanne hotel know you will be arriving early, it might be possible to get a room when you arrive. If not, they will store your bags for you while you wander around lovely Lausanne. 

[sharkster77]

Also, OP, if you are concerned about overly-long or overly-short layovers, if you pay for Air Plus  you get to pick your own flights.  We have done this twice and they've accepted out choices 3 out of 4 times (2 flights TO Europe, and 1 flight back home).  For next year's tulip cruise, we tried to take a late afternoon flight home (to squeeze another couple of hours in Netherlands) but they are making us take a late morning flight instead, which is OK.

[JosieCat-MN]

14 hours ago, sharkster77 said:

Also, OP, if you are concerned about overly-long or overly-short layovers, if you pay for Air Plus  you get to pick your own flights.  We have done this twice and they've accepted out choices 3 out of 4 times (2 flights TO Europe, and 1 flight back home).  For next year's tulip cruise, we tried to take a late afternoon flight home (to squeeze another couple of hours in Netherlands) but they are making us take a late morning flight instead, which is OK.

 

I'll look into it.  Thanks!

[cruises42]

On 7/11/2023 at 7:49 PM, sharkster77 said:

Also, OP, if you are concerned about overly-long or overly-short layovers, if you pay for Air Plus  you get to pick your own flights.  We have done this twice and they've accepted out choices 3 out of 4 times (2 flights TO Europe, and 1 flight back home).  For next year's tulip cruise, we tried to take a late afternoon flight home (to squeeze another couple of hours in Netherlands) but they are making us take a late morning flight instead, which is OK.

Did you book nonstop flights? That is what we are planning to do nut I heard that Viking may charge a l$2000/person additional fare for nonstop (at least from one place/airline)

[sharkster77]

21 minutes ago, cruises42 said:

Did you book nonstop flights? That is what we are planning to do nut I heard that Viking may charge a l$2000/person additional fare for nonstop (at least from one place/airline)

We used Air Plus for both of our cruises.  In 2019 when we sailed AMS-BSL, we flew Boston--Zurich--Amsterdam, then flew home on a nonstop from Zurich to Boston (we did a DIY extension to Lucerne).

 

For our tulip cruise next April, we booked non stops both ways, BOS--AMS and AMS-BOS.  For the return flight, they wanted to charge us a surcharge to fly home on a late afternoon flight, but we are avoiding the surcharge by choosing an early afternoon flight instead.

 

We use a travel agent.  We gave her a list of flights we'd be OK with (in order of preference), and sat by when she spoke to Viking on the phone.  That way we could know immediately what Viking would allow and what they would want a surcharge for.  BTW, for the tulip cruise we had the $799 flights promotion.

[JosieCat-MN]

This is probably a stupid question, but as I've said, I've never flown to Europe.  You don't have to use Viking's flights, right?  So what are the advantages of doing that?  Cheaper?  I'm way too early to check flights for my trip for comparison, but with the air discount, and addition of the deviation fee - they are charging me $800 for air.  When I pick random dates, the flight prices are like $1,500-$1,600 for a decent flight and add on $200 if you want to pick your seat.

 

Do most people just book their own airfare?

[CastleCritic]

cheaper, but other than that its basically the same as using a travel agency, if something happens you have someone to call to deal with the airlines. Last time I went to Basel actually I sat next to a viking passenger who had her flight canceled hours before departure and they were able to find a way to get her there. (fun coincidence she was on the same airline leaving from the same place I did, I caught the previous flight and made it).

 

I have both booked my own airfare with the cruise lines and done it directly depending on circumstances.  I'm also pretty picky about airplanes and connections....

Edited July 13, 2023 by CastleCritic

[sharkster77]

By working with Viking we were able to get nonstops for just the $799 pp, without the surcharge.  You do have to do  your homework, with choice #1, #2, etc.

 

We have never been able to get flights as cheaply as the tour companies can, for some reason.  Also, by buying air from Viking, transfers are included as well.  And as @CastleCritic mentioned, if there are problems you have someone between you and the airline.

Edited July 13, 2023 by sharkster77

[JosieCat-MN]

Thanks @CastleCritic and @sharkster77 for your very helpful feedback.

 

I'll have to give it some thought.  As I said, it's far too early for flights to show up for October of 2024.  

 

$100-$150 for the Air Plus service seems pretty reasonable if it allows you to be able to have more say in your flights.  All I really care about is being able to get a window seat, and NOT having a 10 hour layover somewhere. 

 

I'm not going to deny that it concerns me that them knowing they don't have to get me there at a particular time to board the boat, means they're going to stick me on the 30-hour journey flight. 😂

 

Transfers aren't that big of a deal as I'm going early.  On the flight home I would be able to take advantage of that.

 

Thanks again!

Edited July 13, 2023 by JosieCat-MN

[CastleCritic]

32 minutes ago, JosieCat-MN said:

Thanks @CastleCritic and @sharkster77 for your very helpful feedback.

 

I'll have to give it some thought.  As I said, it's far too early for flights to show up for October of 2024.  

 

$100-$150 for the Air Plus service seems pretty reasonable if it allows you to be able to have more say in your flights.  All I really care about is being able to get a window seat, and NOT having a 10 hour layover somewhere. 

 

I'm not going to deny that it concerns me that them knowing they don't have to get me there at a particular time to board the boat, means they're going to stick me on the 30-hour journey flight. 😂

 

Transfers aren't that big of a deal as I'm going early.  On the flight home I would be able to take advantage of that.

 

Thanks again!

Yes Ive found that the first round of recommendations I get from AMAWaterways either ends up being like 45 minute connections in someplace like JFK that tends to suffer from delays at the worst possible time (on the trip I mentioned above my connection was Newark and we ended up with a hour ground stop due to "wind" which is why the lady's later flight got canceled because they didnt get the plane out, I ended up running between gates to make it).  I just have them book me on one flight prior and it usually works out...so far.

 

I haven't been offered any of those dumb connections by the river cruise line but I was for an upcoming ocean cruise where the top choices coming home were "fly to London...and connect the next day" and "fly to NYC...and connect the next day)

Edited July 13, 2023 by CastleCritic

[sharkster77]

2 hours ago, JosieCat-MN said:

Thanks @CastleCritic and @sharkster77 for your very helpful feedback.

 

I'll have to give it some thought.  As I said, it's far too early for flights to show up for October of 2024.  

 

$100-$150 for the Air Plus service seems pretty reasonable if it allows you to be able to have more say in your flights.  All I really care about is being able to get a window seat, and NOT having a 10 hour layover somewhere. 

 

I'm not going to deny that it concerns me that them knowing they don't have to get me there at a particular time to board the boat, means they're going to stick me on the 30-hour journey flight. 😂

 

Transfers aren't that big of a deal as I'm going early.  On the flight home I would be able to take advantage of that.

 

Thanks again!

I will add this--since we fly out of Boston, there are many nonstops to Europe.  Since the OP appears to be from the midwest (MN?), perhaps flights with connections are more likely, say thru Boston, New York, etc.?

[gnome12]

14 minutes ago, sharkster77 said:

I will add this--since we fly out of Boston, there are many nonstops to Europe.  Since the OP appears to be from the midwest (MN?), perhaps flights with connections are more likely, say thru Boston, New York, etc.?

Taking a quick look at Google flights there don’t seem to be non-stops from Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP) to Zurich. There are non-stops to other European airports. The question becomes whether it is better to have the connection in the US or in Europe. (Or in Canada; there is a connection to Zurich through Toronto.) I still think it is better to fly to Zurich; from there it is just a train ride to Lausanne rather than bus and train from Basel. 

[JosieCat-MN]

@sharkster77@gnome12

 

Yes, I've checked several dates and I don't see any non-stops from Minneapolis/St. Paul.  One stop is fine.  I don't personally have a preference on whether the stop is in the US or not.   I'm really just looking at the total number of hours, hoping for something like the first one the list and not the second one.

 

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by JosieCat-MN