rallydave

couple of thoughts. Your bags should be checked thru to LAX so once you clear Customs you should be able to recheck your bags right after customs with them tagged to LAX so no status needed for the domestic flight. As far as upgrade for the LAX flight, that will be on a wait list basis based on your check in time in JFK.

Until we see the Ts and Cs of this new program no way to know what or how this will work. There is another luxury cruise line with included air including business overseas. Plus you can get a credit for the "free" included air if you want to book air on your own. Then there is a plan wher you can pay $175 PP and specify which flights you want and which day you want to fly. There is the possibly of upcharges if the cost of your chosen flighs are more than the allowance in the fare. So there are possibly solutions to many of the issues identified just have to wait for the program to be rolled out and then the questions can begin. Hopefully I will have further info tomoroorw depending on how much Seabourn releases.

While you are I am 100% positive air won't be "thrown" in free, there is the possibility that the cost to include air will be less than we can buy ourselves thus a savings to already booked cruises. Unlike other Luxury lines that falsely advertise "FREE" air, obviously the cost is included in the cruise prices just like anything else advertised as "FREE" the correct term is inccluded. We have a Pursuit cruse fully paid for in June/July 2023 and the executives of my TA are meeting with Seabourn executives tomorrow on this very subject so hope to have more info later this week.

Unfortunately it is too late to do anything but, take what Regent books for you. Depending on when in August you are departing, your flights should be available shortly as generally available approx. 75 days out. Based on the above letter about custom air, you are probably too late to deviate although never hurts to try as if you can't get what you want, it costs you nothing but, appears the time fraame is such that there will be a lot of waiting. With all the flight issues and price increases unlikely you will be able to change whatever Regent provides which likely will be the least expensive routing for them. Gook luck and have a great time.

Never ever pay the TA by check. ALL payments need to go directly to the cruise line via a credit card. No exceptions. Have been cruising for over 40 years and dealt in the beginning with a local one person TA and most recently with what you call the big TA's and have NEVER been asked to pay the TA directly via check always give my credit card number to the TA who phones in the credit card payment to the cruise line. Always get two invoices; one from the cruise line confirming direct payment to them and secondly from the TA which includes the cruise fare plus all additional benefits from the TA.

Thanks for that information. Don't have time to get into the thousands of pages of IRS drivel so wouldn't think it matters for deductibility it it goes by check to the customer or goes to Regent for the customers account. We have what I believe is a unique situation with our TA and a different cruise line We get our rebate in the form of a reduction of the amount of the rebate from the final payment. Been told the TA's back office makes it work and since we took the advantage of full payment over a year prior to our cruise date for a 10% reduction in the full cruise fare, port fees and taxes this resulted in a full reduction in 5 figures for the full payment

Since the OBC is cash paid to the cruise line/Regent do not believe based on the current IRS codes how the OBC could be deducible. Writing a check directly th the customer is likely an allowable business expense. .

After a completely screwed up excursion in Beijing. We sat on a bus for about 8 hours never got to the Great Wall and with many crew at our hotel never heard a sorry or any explanation. After writing directly to regent with nary a response I put a charge in disputes with Amex. This forced regent to respond and I got a copy of the response. No refund because the tour and overnight were “free”. Of course not true as the costs were built into the cruise fare Had Amex resubmit the dispute and regent failed to respond so the dispute was resolved in our favor. more than on way to skin a cat.

Well, the money is a rebate which the TA can provide by providing Regent OBC which is what was described by all parties. Regent does not get involved with rebates in these cases, it is simply refundable OBC provided by the TA which is common with many TA's. Just because a single contact you talked to does not mean it is true or not true. This TA has relationships with the top management including FDR so perhaps not everyone is aware of this change and since it is simply OBC which occurs daily. In fact this may simply the TA for rebates under $1500 they have changed to providing the worker bees at Regent OBC for the passengers account. Believe I would take the work of what 5 customers of this TA vs an unnamed contact of your.

Agree it may be a single agent who as I said I am familiar with and if not the highest booking Regent very close to the top and I did state we need more data points to be sure so we are in agreement there. As to third hand, disagree strongly as mrsstanley and goarmy have the same TA and both reported the same thing from that TA so that is first hand, not third hand. Don't need Regent to confirm first hand information, the single TA who is invoking this change is first hand knowledge. No reason for you or other TA's be informed so that proves nothing especially if this is an agreement between the unnamed TA and Regent.

Two reasons. In Post 55 MrsStanley stated They have partnered with Regent" and for this to occur Regent would need to be involved as this is a change to their policies along with a change to the TA's policies. Never said Regent is responsible I said this is being done in conjunction with Regent. Appears all of the people mentioning this change have the same TA and being familiar with this TA am not surprised they are looking to improve profits. "Could be simply the TA making an agreement with Regent or possibly a fundamental change but won't know until we have more data points.

Sounds like a lot of smoke and mirrors First of all this is not simply the TA doing this. It is in conjunctions with Regent . And as far as the last explanation regarding rebate checks being lost in the mail; a true red herring as the change includes either getting cash on the ship or Regent mailing a check. So the lost in the mail is not what is the cause of the change if part of the solution is to mail the checks.. Can't be sure what the actual reasons are however in most cases when a TA or Cruise line change a procedure it is generally a cost savings for the companies and probably not a benefit to the customer.

Actually you pay for ALL excursions including the ones that are said to b are "free". The correct term for the "free" excursions is "included: No doubt that you pay for the "free" excursions in every port as part of your cruise fare just like the "free" air, "free" hotel, etc. so even the "free" excursions should have some type of refund however based on history, that simply will not occur.

Absolutely NOT. With a deviation you are allowed to choose your flights and have them confirmed 270 days prior to departure. The 75 days out is when they let you know about your flights if you don't deviate. The longer you wait the more difficult it becomes to get your chosen fights. And, Portolan is incorrect about Regent booking fights 270 days out for non-deviating peope The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to get your chosen fights and avoid an upcharge. Phone your TA TODAY and hope Costco will do their job. Most of us have a specific contact for our TA and work with them. Not sure if that works with a big box store like Costco. Good luck

Yes and BA flies Houston to LHR and much closer to Bryan. I too hate LHR.

Rally hope you didn't pay Costco anything for your Business Class Air. It is included in your cruise fare on Regent. That said, you may fly coach if you have a domestic connecting flight. As to why no booking yet. Regent will not give you your flight info until approx 75 days prior to embarkation. As others said strongly suggest the deviation and don't forget the deviation fee covers the round trip air so you can stay a few days extra at your disembarkation port without paying more and getting your chosen flights on the future days. And nobody answered your actual question about decent flights. Of course decent is in the eyes of the beholder but, if you don't deviate Regent will book you in the least costly flights which at times could involve multiple flights, backtracking, etc. Don't believe there are any flights out of Houston non-stop to Lisbon, possible but, unlikely out of Austin and not sure of DFW so likely in any case you will have domestic flights possibly in coach or European flights which while they may say business are the same three across coach seats with the middle seat blocked.

A lot depends on when you cancel. There is always the admirative fee that is not refunded but, can be used on a future cruise. Then the schedule of penalties comes into play which are percentages up to 100% depending on when you cancel. That said, am only speaking of US bookings. For instance for UK there is a I believe 20% that is always lost no matter when canceling. Suggest you read the Regent cancellation policy for specifics. Don't believe so since they are not separately listed on your invoice. No different than other items like air, excursions, etc. which are also not refunded when you are in the penalty period. Most other cruise lines do refund the taxes and fees as these items are separately listed on your invoice.