Business Class Air Fare to Europe Included

Hello to all. We are well-traveled cruisers, bus somehow have not had the Regent Seven Seas experience. We are now looking at a Transatlantic from Lisbon in Nov., 2017 that offers business class air from the States included in the cruise fare. We are wondering what has been the experience of others who have booked Regent with biz class air included. Did you have any control over the date of departure? Any control over the itinerary and carrier? Or did you just have to accept what Regent put together for you? Were you happy with the results? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tom (and happy cruising!)

Hope you are using a TA that works with Regent which can be helpful.

We have used Regent Air a number of times with very good luck.

They work with most of the larger airlines but do have a few they don't.

I look at airline schedules for the dates I would like.

Pick two or three that would work for us. Then have our TA send it to

Regent Air for us requesting one of the three in order of preference.

Only once were we not able to get first choice.

Once we have received a copy of the reservations I immediately look

at the confirmation code and or reservation number to check the seats

assigned to us. If I don't like them I move them.

Doing it this way does helps you control it.

We do our wn air and take the credit, but if you are set on using regent air, you need to have a good TA and let regent know you preferred airlines and schedules. Don't just leave it to them to pick something.

Adding to Jim and Rachel above. We have done both our own air and used Regent's, and we have been happy with Regent Air, but, we don't wait until 60 days before to find out our air schedule, which is when Regent confirms the air, instead we pay the deviation fee to get our air confirmed at 270 days out, and then as JimB says we check the seats and change them if we don't like them. To us its well worth the deviation fee to get flights we want, especially since we no longer live in a major airport city and have to add on our city to a major one, or drive to DC. Sometimes we have only used Regent air one way, which can be done, and either purchased tickets or used miles the other.

For instance on our March cruise, we bought tickets to MIA, but will use Regent air from Venice back to our home.

Adding to the above, if you are not in a concierge suite or above, Regent expects you to arrive the day of embarkation. They will pick you up and take you to the ship. If you are in a concierge suite or above, you will have an included one night stay at a hotel. In this case, you arrive the day before embarkation and transportation to the hotel and to the ship is included.

If you use Regent air and want to arrive earlier, you would need to deviate (as described in posts above).

We have had good luck with Regent flights but do have a TA that specializes in Regent and we give them our preferred airlines and flights. From where we live, we often ask for British Airways of Air Canada. We usually get BA and sometimes get Air Canada (it is our personal preference to take non-U.S. airlines).

Thanks to all for your replies. You have provided great info to help us with our complicated choice of how we will return from our extended holiday in Lisbon. Thanks again and happy sailing.