Pre Cruise hotel RIP OFF!

[Dolebludger]

Flossie,

 

We booked a Regent cruise last year and paid the reasonable charge for business class air through Regent. But we discovered late in the game that the upgrade was ONLY for international air. This provision was buried in small print unreadable by persons of our age. We live in the mid-US, it was a long flight to the international flight, and US airlines economy class is miserable. That's when we found that we can't pay a "reasonable charge" (or any charge) to upgrade our Regent-provided air to business or first class for air within the US. It just can't be done! We could, however, pay a small fee to the airline to upgrade to a "premium economy" seating(now, what is that?) What it was, was a miserable, cramped three hour flight (plus runway delays and such).

 

We live in a small resort city in Colorado, and realize that we must fly to an airline hub like Denver, Dallas, or Phoenix on a commuter jet, before connecting with a flight where business or first class is available. That is no big deal, as those commuter jets are not as cramped as economy class on the larger jets, and the flight time is sort. But once we get to a hub, on our way to a cruise, I want business or first class, or I wii not go.

 

Now, given Regent's free air program, how do we get business or first class air from the hub to the international flight or the port.? It hasn't been explained to us, but we will soon find out. We are interested in an 03/17 10 day Caribbean cruise on the Mariner, which is Miami, FL and back. We will book it only if we can reasonably get business or first class air from the hub (Denver or Dallas) to and from Miami. If we can't do this with reasonable net extra cost, we won't book.

 

This is not on topic, but I'm just going to say it. Domestic US economy class air is just not doable for people with any sort of mobility disabilities (even if minor). Us old people have these problems, and we are the ones most likely to cruise Regent. Wake up, Regent.

[melmike]

U.S. economy domestic is horrific! We are not infirm, and are in our late-50s, and we will avoid it all all costs (and cost it does, for business/first class domestic!). But we will not fly across the USA (from Australia) if we don't have business seats domestically.

FYI - Premium economy on long-haul flights and good airlines, such as Qantas or Singapore Airlines, is a pretty big step up from Economy, but not with lie-flat beds as in Business.

Also however, you can fly economy within Australia and it's pretty comfortable and certainly not the zoo that you encounter over there. We fly economy here unless Sydney-Perth which is about 6 hours.

[Dolebludger]

Melmike,

 

I don't want to take this thread too far off topic, but many Regent guests are from the US, and you correctly describe our airlines economy air. If Regent advertises " free air" ( with a reasonably priced upgrade) it should not be only for international air. The US, like OZ, is a big country. Some domestic flights here are rather long. The Regent "free flights" on domestic legs here need to be capable of reasonable upgrading through Regent, via airline miles, or by fee to the airlines.

 

Let's face it, nobody booking a line like Regent wants a cheap hotel room that cannot be upgraded ( even though it is included), or any US domestic economy class flights (that cannot be upgraded). Regent is just a better cruise line than that.

Edited May 2, 2016 by Dolebludger

[flossie009]

Dolebludger,

Sounds like you should read the thread 'Domestic first class question' and take up the issue with your TA and/or Regent

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2320806

[Travelcat2]

Dolebludger, as mentioned in the airline related thread, if you use the same airline on both the domestic and international legs of the flight, you will be put in First Class (if they have a First Class). There is no extra cost involved. It is probably subject to availability and, as you know, domestic First Class planes have a very limited number of seats. Have you checked out flights from your home airport to your destination? If you find some good flights, check with your TA (or Regent) and see if you can deviate.

 

I found the linked thread a bit confusing - only because the discussion was about intra-European AND within the U.S. - fairly different situations. We always get Business Class Air over land in Europe when we change planes there.

 

You also mentioned that you cannot upgrade economy to Business Class with Regent. We have done that across the U.S. but found that it was less expensive to take the air credit and book the flights ourselves. Again, it comes down to having a good TA that can steer you in the right direction.

 

Getting back to the topic of this thread, the lowest categories of suites on Regent ships do not get the included pre-cruise hotel. When we want to arrive a day or two early, we book the hotel ourselves and use the same hotel that Regent will use for our pre-cruise night that is already included. We paid Regent's price for a hotel in Copenhagen 10 years ago and will never do that again (newbie mistake:-)

[pingpong1]

"U.S. economy domestic is horrific! We are not infirm, and are in our late-50s, and we will avoid it all all costs (and cost it does, for business/first class domestic!). But we will not fly across the USA (from Australia) if we don't have business seats domestically. FYI - Premium economy on long-haul flights and good airlines, such as Qantas or Singapore Airlines, is a pretty big step up from Economy, but not with lie-flat beds as in Business. Also however, you can fly economy within Australia and it's pretty comfortable and certainly not the zoo that you encounter over there. We fly economy here unless Sydney-Perth which is about 6 hours." - Melmike

 

 

Hi Melmike - At the risk of sounding just a bit "nationalistically defensive".......The total population of Australia is only 8% of the size of the U.S. population and the percentage of the "flying public" in Australia is also a fraction of the size of the "flying public" in the U.S. Across the U.S. there are over 33,000 daily domestic flights. Within Australia in any given day, there are approximately 1,600 domestic flights - just 5% of the U.S. daily total.

 

Today, flying for those of us in the U.S. is like bus/train/auto transportation would be for citizens of most other countries. Everyone does it (flies), and the price of flying (in the U.S.), at least in economy class, is quite affordable and within the reach of the majority of the U.S. population. But our huge flying population, compared to Australia's, along with the relatively low cost and affordability, have lead to the "horrific" (crowds) that you cite.

 

I did a quick airfare comparison of two similar coast to coast itineraries of similar distance and found that a "typical" Business class R/T fare on Quantas between Sydney and Perth (there is no domestic "First Class" service listed within OZ) was $2,812 USD. A "typical" First Class R/T fare on American Airlines between NY City (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) is $2,148 USD - 24% cheaper than the Quantas fare.

 

Whether it be Business/First or Economy, most of my Australian relatives (of which I have several cousins/aunts/uncles) still consider flying for the "average Aussie", to be a "luxury" that most cannot afford. I don't have any American friends who consider flying inside the U.S to be a "luxury" (just an "agony") :eek:

 

Unfortunately, it is our huge population (relative to yours), along with the relative affordability/low cost of it (to the "masses"), and our stringent security concerns, which have now turned flying in the U.S. into the "horrific", yet common, experience that you have correctly described.

[newlondon]

Fascinating Ping Pong:)

[sanne]

"U.S. economy domestic is horrific! We are not infirm, and are in our late-50s, and we will avoid it all all costs (and cost it does, for business/first class domestic!). But we will not fly across the USA (from Australia) if we don't have business seats domestically. FYI - Premium economy on long-haul flights and good airlines, such as Qantas or Singapore Airlines, is a pretty big step up from Economy, but not with lie-flat beds as in Business. Also however, you can fly economy within Australia and it's pretty comfortable and certainly not the zoo that you encounter over there. We fly economy here unless Sydney-Perth which is about 6 hours." - Melmike

 

 

Hi Melmike - At the risk of sounding just a bit "nationalistically defensive".......The total population of Australia is only 8% of the size of the U.S. population and the percentage of the "flying public" in Australia is also a fraction of the size of the "flying public" in the U.S. Across the U.S. there are over 33,000 daily domestic flights. Within Australia in any given day, there are approximately 1,600 domestic flights - just 5% of the U.S. daily total.

 

Today, flying for those of us in the U.S. is like bus/train/auto transportation would be for citizens of most other countries. Everyone does it (flies), and the price of flying (in the U.S.), at least in economy class, is quite affordable and within the reach of the majority of the U.S. population. But our huge flying population, compared to Australia's, along with the relatively low cost and affordability, have lead to the "horrific" (crowds) that you cite.

 

I did a quick airfare comparison of two similar coast to coast itineraries of similar distance and found that a "typical" Business class R/T fare on Quantas between Sydney and Perth (there is no domestic "First Class" service listed within OZ) was $2,812 USD. A "typical" First Class R/T fare on American Airlines between NY City (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) is $2,148 USD - 24% cheaper than the Quantas fare.

 

Whether it be Business/First or Economy, most of my Australian relatives (of which I have several cousins/aunts/uncles) still consider flying for the "average Aussie", to be a "luxury" that most cannot afford. I don't have any American friends who consider flying inside the U.S to be a "luxury" (just an "agony") :eek:

 

Unfortunately, it is our huge population (relative to yours), along with the relative affordability/low cost of it (to the "masses"), and our stringent security concerns, which have now turned flying in the U.S. into the "horrific", yet common, experience that you have correctly described.

 

Not quite sure your comment about Australia stacks up regardless of what your relatives say.

 

4th busiest flight route in the world 2015 with 8 mil. passenger movements was Sydney to Melbourne, most of whom would be non international passengers.

 

Flying is considered another form of transport to get from A to B and is affordable by most Australians if they can plan ahead and use the sale offers of which there are many. It's often cheaper to fly here than drive your car or take a bus or train. Economy on all airlines is doable and service is good.