Booking air through DCL

[Cruisinonlydisney]

Has anyone booked a one way flight through DCL air? Here is where I need help. I have one date that will work for us to cruise. Flying from Kansas City to either FLL or MIA to get on the cruise the morning it sails. My travel agent thinks we are crazy, but this is the only way we can do it because of a commitment we have to attend to the day before.

In have heard, and I’m trying to verify, that let’s say your initial flight is cancelled. We would like to plan on leaving at 5 am on American which is a direct to MIA, just as an example. Is it true that DCL air agents will do everything in their power to rebook your flight to get you there on time? There would be a few options that would work, even though it might be cutting it close. We would also be purchasing DCL cancel for any reason insurance.

I have always booked my own air. Do I pay a few more bucks for the security that they have access to other airlines to rebook, like United and Delta? I did hear they won’t use Southwest, but all the information I find on that is outdated.

 

[Mommb]

I haven't ever purchased airfare through Disney, so I can't help with that.

I do want to point out that insurance purchased through Disney Cruise isn't really "cancel for any reason." If you cancel for a reason that is not covered, you will get a credit of 75% of the prepaid nonrefundable cancellation fees. This credit may be applied to another Disney cruise within 1 year of the issue date.

Covered reasons that result in a full refund include (as listed in https://www.archinsurancesolutions.com/coverage/disney/cruise/):
Inclement Weather that causes complete cessation of services for at least 12 consecutive hours of the Common Carrier on which You or Your Traveling Companion are scheduled to travel

If you have a carrier-caused travel delay of 6 hours or more, the insurance purchased through Disney would reimburse you for up to $150 per day (up to $500 total) for expenses required to meet the ship. If that delay would cause to miss more than 50% of the trip, though, the trip can be considered cancelled and you would get a full refund.

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

I haven't ever purchased airfare through Disney, so I can't help with that.

I do want to point out that insurance purchased through Disney Cruise isn't really "cancel for any reason." If you cancel for a reason that is not covered, you will get a credit of 75% of the prepaid nonrefundable cancellation fees. This credit may be applied to another Disney cruise within 1 year of the issue date.

Covered reasons that result in a full refund include (as listed in https://www.archinsurancesolutions.com/coverage/disney/cruise/):
Inclement Weather that causes complete cessation of services for at least 12 consecutive hours of the Common Carrier on which You or Your Traveling Companion are scheduled to travel

If you have a carrier-caused travel delay of 6 hours or more, the insurance purchased through Disney would reimburse you for up to $150 per day (up to $500 total) for expenses required to meet the ship. If that delay would cause to miss more than 50% of the trip, though, the trip can be considered cancelled and you would get a full refund.

Yes, was not expecting a refund. Just the ability to apply toward a future cruise.

 

[dreamer17555]

Are you okay with eating the airfare cost if the flight is delayed and losing 25% off the cruise cost in credit? Flights aren't cheap and I agree with your agent, that flying in the day of (even if booked through DCL) is risky.

Also flying into MIA would make it so much more risky. Traffic can be bad. Heck I almost missed a DCL sailing from Miami (back when they sailed from there) come from Ft. Lauderdale due to a crane collapsing on the highway. Took HOURS for the police to turn cars around one at a time and we were three cars from the impact and some of the last turned around

The whole thing sound like a stressful way to start a vacation. Isn't there any other date that might work?

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

Are you okay with eating the airfare cost if the flight is delayed and losing 25% off the cruise cost in credit? Flights aren't cheap and I agree with your agent, that flying in the day of (even if booked through DCL) is risky.

Also flying into MIA would make it so much more risky. Traffic can be bad. Heck I almost missed a DCL sailing from Miami (back when they sailed from there) come from Ft. Lauderdale due to a crane collapsing on the highway. Took HOURS for the police to turn cars around one at a time and we were three cars from the impact and some of the last turned around

The whole thing sound like a stressful way to start a vacation. Isn't there any other date that might work?

I agree. The riskiest thing I have ever done. And there are zero other date options for a Disney cruise that will work for us. My son is not allowed to miss school, he will get zeros in the grade book for missed days due to a vacation. A private school that doesn’t mess around. Thanks for telling me about MIA. I will look at FLL as my only option if we choose to take the flying leap.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

So I have booked air with DCL, but only for international flights. It worked out great during covid, when the whole cruise was cancelled. My air, cruise fare etc was entirely refunded. No fighting with the airlines. We lost zero cash on that cruise. I have never booked with them domestically. They aren't magicians, if you are cutting it close, they can only do their best to re-book you and hope that you can make it. If there are not seats etc. I would call and chat with them and see exactly what they can and can not do before making a decision.

 

[DCLMP]

I agree. The riskiest thing I have ever done. And there are zero other date options for a Disney cruise that will work for us. My son is not allowed to miss school, he will get zeros in the grade book for missed days due to a vacation. A private school that doesn’t mess around. Thanks for telling me about MIA. I will look at FLL as my only option if we choose to take the flying leap.

Why not just go during Summer break?

 

[lanejudy]

Is it true that DCL air agents will do everything in their power to rebook your flight to get you there on time?

I don't know that I would count on this. They likely don't have any other access to flights than your own TA does, and your TA is working for you. There was a poster a couple of years ago; I don't recall the whole situation but a domestic flight was cancelled or delayed and they didn't get to FL in time, expected DCL to reschedule the flight to (maybe) BOS but they ended up missing an entire transatlantic cruise instead.

 

[sponica]

Are there any late night flights that get you closer to FLL that you could take? I'd be much more comfortable flying in the morning of coming from Atlanta

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

Are there any late night flights that get you closer to FLL that you could take? I'd be much more comfortable flying in the morning of coming from Atlanta

Yes, would love to do this option if we could work it out. We are not near a major hub airport, so we are a bit limited. But getting us anywhere South would help, like DFW, MCO, ATL. I’m even willing to rent a car at MCO and drive the rest of the way if we have to. No option is off the table.

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

I don't know that I would count on this. They likely don't have any other access to flights than your own TA does, and your TA is working for you. There was a poster a couple of years ago; I don't recall the whole situation but a domestic flight was cancelled or delayed and they didn't get to FL in time, expected DCL to reschedule the flight to (maybe) BOS but they ended up missing an entire transatlantic cruise instead.

I have even considered buying a secondary flight on Southwest that I can cancel within 10 minutes of boarding and still use the credit within a year.

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

Why not just go during Summer break?

I have a soon to be high school senior. When you have your kid starting on his baseball team and winning a state championship as they did last year, missing is not an option. They play or practice seven days a week. You miss out, you lose your spot. That’s the reality of sports in schools today. Sometimes I just want him to be little again!

 

[lanejudy]

I have even considered buying a secondary flight on Southwest that I can cancel within 10 minutes of boarding and still use the credit within a year.

Is there a reason you can't do this if you have your own TA book the air? It sounds as though you are assuming an extra level of "protection" against missing the cruise simply by buying the airfare through DCL. I don't believe it would work out any differently for you; DCL won't get you to FLL/MIA any easier or quicker if there is a delay at your home airport.

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

Is there a reason you can't do this if you have your own TA book the air? It sounds as though you are assuming an extra level of "protection" against missing the cruise simply by buying the airfare through DCL. I don't believe it would work out any differently for you; DCL won't get you to FLL/MIA any easier or quicker if there is a delay at your home airport.

That’s what I was asking in my original post. It seems they do have an extra layer of protection, and I was inquiring to see if this was true. Having that conversation with my TA today. Honestly though, a TA is the middle man. If my flight is cancelled, I’m going directly to the airline ticket counter for the fastest resolution. And I have heard that DCL has agreements with other airlines to get you there. That’s what I am trying to confirm.

 

[lanejudy]

And I have heard that DCL has agreements with other airlines to get you there.

And that's what I'm saying... DCL is not able to get you onto another domestic flight any easier/quicker than your own TA could do it.

The example I shared was someone who missed an entire transatlantic cruise (12-nights?) because DCL didn't reschedule their flight in a manner that would get them to the ship even with another US port stop before it headed across the Atlantic.

 

[Cruisinonlydisney]

And that's what I'm saying... DCL is not able to get you onto another domestic flight any easier/quicker than your own TA could do it.

The example I shared was someone who missed an entire transatlantic cruise (12-nights?) because DCL didn't reschedule their flight in a manner that would get them to the ship even with another US port stop before it headed across the Atlantic.

Thank you. So in reality, what I think I am hearing is that DCL is also just a travel agent that you pay commission to, that will not do anything differently than your own TA can do for you. I think I will just stick with my own agent or do what I have always done and book flights on my own. Apparently my perception was not correct.