jazznruby

Sooo tired of your constant, sarcastic cynicism. Blocked.

United Premium Plus is only available for SFO-EWR and for LAX-EWR domestically, and some long haul international flights. It's a big step above most other airlines' PE in terms of legroom, seat pitch, service. It's a small section (24 seats) directly behind Business. Only on the 777-300. I'll book it whenever possible.

I know we've hijacked the topic, sorry, but one question if I could...since I think I've read that you use United a lot...or maybe exclusively...have you or anyone else here had recent issues ( like for months, not just the last week) with united.com? When doing a search, I can get to the first page, but that's it. Long pause, then error that says 'unable to complete request, please call'. Continuously. Matter of fact, the only way I've been able to get past the error message is through Google flights. The other issue is that when I know I've chosen aircraft with PE (777-300, which is great btw), United site doesn't show that as an option. Any clue? Have used different browsers, different times of the day etc. No luck.

I can't dispute what you and others have always said about O biz class since we don't fly biz; but FWIW, have always used O PE for over-the-water to/from Europe with great success, even after paying deviation. Always cheaper. For 11/24 to Athens, PE was $199/pp when I booked a year ago. I recently saw it at $499/pp, so may not be as cost effective for future.

Yes, they now offer the option of arriving/departing up to 3 days prior to/after the cruise without deviation fee...but they arrange the itinerary. So it's not 'anything you specifically request'. In order to get that, you still pay the deviation fee plus any fare differential.

Poor horse.

Yes, thank you!

Unless you know, as some of us do, that the non-refundable credit WILL be used...for gratuities, bar bill, La Reserve, whatever...and that we like the convenience, minus the sticker shock at the end of the cruise. Not interested in O's shorex or drink packages.

One can hope.

Thanks, Joe, for correctly pointing out that it's EMBER, not Embers...😊.

This was my post, not Jancruz's. She was commenting.

Rather than all this speculation, wouldn't it make more sense to just wait until the first (or second, or third) reviews are in, which will be soon, to form opinions about Vista? Sometimes change is actually a good thing. Having two Vista cruises booked for next year, I'm anxiously waiting... with an open mind.

Oooh, gotta differ with that one. I know you're making a rash generalization, and sure, there are plenty of examples of your 'after 75' statement, but...at 77 and 75 respectively, my husband and I are in better shape than many younger travelers/cruisers....happy to say. And while there's always the possibility that things change and s..t happens, we haven't yet started the countdown.

+1!

Do you or does anybody on this board know this, for a fact, to be true? And they're not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Hi Joe, Just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your 'LIVE from', and appreciate your upbeat, very positive attitude and observations. A refreshing change from some recent, disgruntled posts. Looking forward to meeting you and maybe spending some time with you and Jeff on Vista, November next year. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Jan

Figuring 'air credit' has been explained a lot of different ways by a lot of different posters, but it's really easy, and my answer always matches what I've been told by my TA for any given cruise. When doing a dummy booking, take the number on the first page 'O Life fare w/airfare', choose 'no air' on the second page, and then just subtract the number on the next page, 'Promotional fare' from the first number= 'air credit'.

!!!Thanks!!!

!!!Thanks!!!

!!!Thanks!!!

If you want to arrive 6 days before cruise departure, you would pay the deviation fee of $199/pp which would allow you to choose itinerary, times, airline, etc. You would submit your choice(s). If you accept what they offer (which could also involve an air differential) you would then pay the non-refundable fee. This is considered a 'custom air request'. They now offer the option of arriving up to 3 days early and staying up to 3 days later at no additional charge, but you must accept what they offer in terms of itinerary, flights, etc. Your other option, of course, is to do your air independently of O's.

Custom air deviation, yes, 270 days. New 3 day policy, outside 90 day window.

Again, here is the info sent by my TA. She later clarified that it's not 'custom' air, but that's the way she has to submit it. 'Custom' air to us is the same as always, with added deviation fee etc. There is another option at no cost that Oceania just added to their air program. You can request custom air and arrive up to 3 days early and depart up to 3 days after disembarkation. With this option, you cannot request specific airlines, flights, the time you would like to arrive and depart or early ticketing. You will not be able to request an air arrival at a different port from the embarkation or disembarkation port. You would have to accept the air Oceania gives to you. This has to be requested outside of 90 days prior to the sailing.

So I just talked with my TA regarding O's new policy. It's exactly as I initially thought. The ONLY thing that's changed is now having the ability to fly in/out up to 3 days before/after the cruise at no additional cost. O sends you the itinerary, flights, times, etc., just as it's always been, except that it was for day of departure and day of disembarkation only. Choosing your own itinerary, flights, times, etc. still means air deviation at $199/pp. She didn't know if/when it was going to be on the O site, only that she knew about the change, and wanted to share it with me.

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'.