When to Book Air Plus

[LindaS272]

1 hour ago, FlyerTalker said:

Further, even if the routing is included in the contract, it may not be for all dates.  And even on covered dates, these contracts are for specific quantities of seats.

Much like mileage awards. In fact, we have enough miles for Saga Class on Icelandair’s partner Alaska Airlines, but Icelandair hasn’t opened up any seats for mileage awards on our July dates.

[FlyerTalker]

You

36 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

Much like mileage awards. In fact, we have enough miles for Saga Class on Icelandair’s partner Alaska Airlines, but Icelandair hasn’t opened up any seats for mileage awards on our July dates.

 

You might want to be looking at flights from other Icelandair (FI) gateways, such as Vancouver, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago.  Sometimes the AS website won't combine the FI segments with a positioning flight on AS.  Also, you may just need to buy a revenue ticket to position yourself for the FI flight.

 

Also, be aware that FI adds a carrier-surcharge to Mileage Plan award tickets, which can be several hundred dollars.  Less than what BA charges, but there nonetheless.

 

If you are pretty sure you want to fly FI, another thought is to grab coach seats now and change if Saga availability opens up.  You will only be out the ticketing fee from AS, plus any differential in FI surcharge.

Edited October 25, 2022 by FlyerTalker

[LindaS272]

9 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

You

 

You might want to be looking at flights from other Icelandair (FI) gateways, such as Vancouver, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago.  Sometimes the AS website won't combine the FI segments with a positioning flight on AS.  Also, you may just need to buy a revenue ticket to position yourself for the FI flight.

 

Also, be aware that FI adds a carrier-surcharge to Mileage Plan award tickets, which can be several hundred dollars.  Less than what BA charges, but there nonetheless.

 

If you are pretty sure you want to fly FI, another thought is to grab coach seats now and change if Saga availability opens up.  You will only be out the ticketing fee from AS, plus any differential in FI surcharge.

Yes, we’ve dealt with mileage awards many times with Icelandair. Covid re-ordered everybody’s systems. We only fly Icelandair because they’re a direct flight out of Seattle (no stopovers) over the pole to Iceland. We’re interested in the quickest way so wouldn’t want to go out of other gateways. Living on an island, it already takes us about two hours to get to Sea-Tac and the long haul flights are too punishing for our aging systems! 😄

[JerryInIL]

MVJ only asks for seat preferences.  Would it do any good to call VA+ and give them our preferences (stops, duration, airline) for flights that haven’t been booked yet?  We are 9 months out.

[formernuke]

Yes if you have Air Plus... That's what it is for. 9 months may be a little early, as they don't typically book until like 120-150 days. If you don't have air plus, they get to pick.

[Peregrina651]

37 minutes ago, JerryInIL said:

MVJ only asks for seat preferences.  Would it do any good to call VA+ and give them our preferences (stops, duration, airline) for flights that haven’t been booked yet?  We are 9 months out.

 

As formernuke says, you can do it with AirPlus  but you don't have to wait for the 120-150 day point. You can choose your flights with AirPlus as soon as the airlines open the dates for booking (which means you have to wait until your return date is open, not just the departure date). Some airlines open up 300 days days in advance and most have opened by 275 days. The earlier you choose, the better selection of flights.  So, nine months is not too early to paying the fee and choosing your flights.

 

Considering how small the fee is compared to how much one pays for the rest of the cruise, why quibble over the fee when you can spend the next 9 month not worrying if you will like what you have been assigned, knowing that you will have plenty of time between connections,  that you have chosen the airline (from among those offered), that you have made the small decisions and chosen the compromises?  The only thing that will be out of your control are the changes and cancellations that airlines are making in unprecedented number these days -- and even AirPlus can't protect us from that.