[Bulk] [Idyllchat] Airport transfers

[Joan Herriges]

Idyll veterans know that Untours tries to provide the most cost-effective air travel arrangements, arranging group rates with specific carriers.  I imagine this must be a daunting task in this day and age.  

I agree that many of us, would prefer to make our own arrangements to avoid certain carriers (as others have pointed out), airports, or non-direct routes.  Many Untourists use travel awards to make their arrangements.  Untours provides this option.  

This happened to us last year going to the Castle/Austria.  I called Untours eight months ahead to confirm their routing, which would be SF/Heathrow/Munich via BA.  No way was I going via Heathrow.  We flew Lufthansa SF/Munich direct.  A great flight, which incidentally many of our friends are now doing to jump off to other European destinations.  The Munich airport is a joy.  

This was an easy decision to make as we were more than willing to accept a higher cost for the flight, which is not totally offset in the Untours package.  Rightly so, as they must make a profit.  We did not have to consider meeting an Untour representative to take us to our village, as the Castle package uses rental cars, and we drive directly to the Castle from the airport.  

This year, we will not fly direct, but use Swiss Airlines, from LAX, flying SF/LAX on our own.  The return flight is something I don't want to think about--flying from LAX/SF at commute time is a zoo..  

Bottom line--you can make your own arrangents.  But plan way ahead to study the options,  travel budget, cost differential, meeting arrangements with landlords, and get the best flight/seating arrangements.  Joan.


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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynanne Guynn 
  To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com 
  Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 7:27 PM
  Subject: [Bulk] [Idyllchat] Airport transfers


  If at all possible, go from the states directly to and from your European destination.  I did this last year, from the states directly to and from Venice.  Had to go to a hub from Norfolk, VA, and from there nonstop to Marco Polo airport.  Oh so nice - no worries at all. 

  For an additional charge, can Untours do this?  My daughter and I had to transfer at CDG and, if it weren't for her helping me run with our carryons, we wouldn't have made our connections.  

  Coming from Venice one year we had to spend the night in Frankfurt because of an Air France strike, and we were traveling on Luftanza!

  Going to Venice one year, I had to spend the night near the Heathrow airport because of the airline's missed connections.

  I did luck out once, when I barely made my Munich connection.  There were apparently no seats left, and they had to put me in first class.  Champagne before we even left the ground!   That I could easily get used to :-)

  That said - the US isn't much better.  Coming back from Europe, I've spent the night in the Boston airport.  Coming from Portland , OR one year - I live in VA -  my flight was canceled, and I had to take a flight to Texas before getting to Chicago.  Needless to say, I missed the last flight out of Chicago.  There was a big convention there that night and all the hotels were booked solid.  I and about a 100 other travelers spent the night on cots in Baggage Claim Area Terminal B.  By the time I dosed off, amid all the crying kids, they woke us up at 4 a.m. to get ready for the morning arrivals! 

  Ah - such is the life of a traveler.  Always expect the worst, and if it doesn't happen, be thankful for your good luck ;-) 

  Lynanne


Visit my online journal, or web log (blog) (with posts from me while in Venice) at: www.lynanneg.blogspot.com

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