For those of you who used Air Jamaica

[jk1101]

My TA is telling me that my guests will get a better deal if they book on their own rather than with her - while I appreciate her honesty, it's kind annoying that they have to do this, but anyway, here is my question.

 

Air Jamaica has some group deals, either

 

A )A Blocked Seat agreement.

 

Seats would be blocked on the flight and the fare is guaranteed (group has to travel together).

 

OR

 

A Discount agreement (usually the preferred booking for wedding groups). According to Air Jamaica

 

A percentage discount is granted off the lowest normal fare but seats will not be blocked and the fare will be based on availability.

A deal code would be assigned to the group.

Each passenger can call our reservation department to do their own payment.

Passengers would provide the deal code and the group’s name to our reservation’s department at the time of booking to receive the discount.

 

Has anyone done one of these with Air Jamaica and has it worked out?

 

They said if I get 22 people to book including FI and myself we get upgraded.

 

 

 

 

I was planning to send my invites next month and wanted to put the travel info in them, but I'm not sure how to word things with the hotel booking through my TA and airfair by passengers on their own.

 

Has anyone else had to do anything like this?

[NegrilLB]

I haven't booked any group air travel before, but plan B sounds similar to what one of my friends arranged with Air JA for her wedding, and it seems to have worked well for her.

Plan A guarantees that everyone will get on the same flight and pay the same rate, but the rate is not necessarily a good deal. For example, one travel agent quoted me $501 for a group rate (about 30 people) from Ft. Lauderdale to Montego Bay. Right now that same flight is selling online in the mid-300's, so that quote is really high...I'm pretty sure the reason is that as more seats are sold on a flight, the price for seats goes up. So if you're buying seats as a group you all may end up paying more.

[JenniferSS]

I am sure that your travel agent is willing to book the flights but just wanted to give you a heads up that it'll be a little more to do so through them.

 

I am pretty sure that the reason is she/he would need to charge a booking fee is because TA's are not paid commission by the airlines, so we have to be paid for our time. Believe me fo the small amount that most agencies charge for booking airline tickets we usually still lose money overall as the airlines with their ten thousand schedule changes, cancelled flights and other shenanigans can have us spending hours & hours behind the scenes! Just as you need to be paid for working your TA does so also! Therefor to book the flights with the TA -the booking fee.

[jk1101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TA Jennifer I am sure that your travel agent is willing to book the flights but just wanted to give you a heads up that it'll be a little more to do so through them. I am pretty sure that the reason is she/he would need to charge a booking fee is because TA's are not paid commission by the airlines, so we have to be paid for our time. Believe me fo the small amount that most agencies charge for booking airline tickets we usually still lose money overall as the airlines with their ten thousand schedule changes, cancelled flights and other shenanigans can have us spending hours & hours behind the scenes! Just as you need to be paid for working your TA does so also! Therefor to book the flights with the TA -the booking fee.

She is totally willing to do it....she just told me it would be around $50 more per ticket for her to do it and that it would be in everyone's best interest to book their own travel. Is that about right? I've seen the prices go up $30 each way in the last month...believe me I'd rather let her do it and save myself the hassle, but if my guests are going to save so much money....

[JenniferSS]

With Air Jamaica- yup that sounds about right. Unfortunately many of the airlines are trying to squeeze additional income any way that they can!

 

Generally a TA will advocate-STRONgly for you. Thus they are a pain in the airlines rump, take addition time to deal with and the airline can not make up the rules as much with a TA (we've been there-seen that) like they can with consumers who may not fly very often and not be aware of their (limited-but still there) rights!

 

So what's an airline to do - well if they mark up the group fares and can make it so a consumer will not book through a TA well then they can do whatever they want!

 

And they wonder why none of them are doing well finanacially ? The airlines operate under the most insane and odd premises!

[jk1101]

Jennifer - I so appreciate your info - Thank you so much!

[JenniferSS]

My pleasure!

[JenniferSS]

The funny thing is I am working on an air issue and have been on the phone (mostly on hold) getting it straightened out since I answered this thread!

[jk1101]

lol...I hate being on hold!

[islandbride317]

Thanks go out to you both, Michele and TA Jennifer: Michele, to you for the great question, and to you Jennifer, for your honest, professional opinion!

 

Good information to know, as Air Jamaica (for non-stop service) is starting to look like the preferred way for my guests and I to maximize our vacation time and eliminate as much stress as possible! For a few extra dollars (even up to $100/ticket), I completely think those benefits will be worth it in the end!