Booking Group Airfare

[Mskala]

We have a group cruise booked for the Valor, 8/29/2010, leaving Miami. Most of the family and friends traveling with us live in Maryland.

 

Has anyone ever booked group flights? If so, did you use a TA, online provider, or direct through the airline?

 

Any suggesstions would be greatly appreciated.

[travelntreats]

We have a group cruise booked for the Valor, 8/29/2010, leaving Miami. Most of the family and friends traveling with us live in Maryland.

 

Has anyone ever booked group flights? If so, did you use a TA, online provider, or direct through the airline?

 

Any suggesstions would be greatly appreciated.

Call airlines direct for this.....it is very simple and they are easy to work with. TA, "possibly" will not want to even mess with this simply due to minimal if any financial gain for all the work to keep up with. Check with Southwest (even though they fly into FLL rather than MIA) when comparing airlines for pricing.

[scooterdoxie]

I have handled group tickets myself directly with the airline. I have 15 going on Valor 11/22/09 and I booked 2 one way tickets to get the best deal.

[imluvncruzn]

We have a group of 16 going on the Freedom in January and I booked our airfare down to FLL directly with Jetblue group department. It was great. You had to have $50 down per person (payable with credit card) and then the remainder is due 30 days before departure. You also do not have to supply names until final payment.

 

I've checked with a lot of different airlines. You have to be careful because many will charge a ticketing fee per passenger when booking a group. I know Delta, Northwest, and a few others do this. Jetblue and Southwest do not charge any fees.

[salty dingo]

Usually, the group bookings require payment for all the people on one check. So you have to have one person designated to collect money from all the people, and obviously they cannot pay with a credit card.

 

You can get a discount, but there are some very real difficulties.