-=*September 10 2011, Westbound Transatlantic from Barcelona to Port Canaveral*=-

[CustardTart]

Mmm I have enough points but want to return on that last day so doubt I'll get that lucky. It's very tempting just to book the return flight...

 

[granmaz]

You could always book a return and then do the EBTA to use both ways!

I'm not sure we can get tickets with so long a gap. Plus we would need a 6 month visa. Nice idea though.

 

[granmaz]

Mmm I have enough points but want to return on that last day so doubt I'll get that lucky. It's very tempting just to book the return flight...

I think it is nigh on impossible to get an UC reward flight from Orlando with the cabin being so small, but keep checking.

 

[karentan]

Karen, any news about your holiday request yet?

still waiting to hear, but i saw my area manager twice last week and she said that she just needs to receive the letter then its just a matter of looking at it and approving it. so looking good i think, plus i got cast member of the quarter 2 days ago, which she needs to approve, so thinking i must be in the good books at the mo. fingers crossed.

We definitely need FE's! Anyone thought about lanyards, or possibly the wrist bands like Krisann did? What does everyone think of the Candy/Choc swap....for us, we had waaaayyyy toooooo much chocolate and ended up giving it all to our servers. Anyhoo, looking forward to starting the process soon......

the candy swap sounds good, we'd probably need to eat a lot of it on the ship, as we're flying into NC after disney, so have limited luggage allowance. thats my excuse and i'm sticking to it!

OK, I'm having a dilemma about flights. Seems I can book a VA return (Orlando - London) for almost HALF the cash than a one way MCO-LGW flight!!! SO should I just do that and not take up the return flight? OR will I get into trouble with Sir Richard Branson?? :

thats what it looks like we might be doing this time, the one way flights are way to expensive, so looking at return and just dumping the second portion. as long as you dont do it all the time, i think we'll get away with it.

 

[birkner]

I know Noel, not much to put in the welcome yet, I just miss your big blue post with everything in there. Once somebody officially takes on the roll of 'Captain' we can start organising a bit more. We definitely need FE's! Anyone thought about lanyards, or possibly the wrist bands like Krisann did? What does everyone think of the Candy/Choc swap....for us, we had waaaayyyy toooooo much chocolate and ended up giving it all to our servers. Anyhoo, looking forward to starting the process soon......

Thanks, Hayley. If DH can definitely go on this cruise, then I will start volunteering for things.

 

[Pinky166]

The one way fares are such a huge pain. We should have enough points to use them again if there are any, and no doubt from Miami again. Otherwise we will go with Aer Lingus I would think.

Do you think you will be blacklisted if you don't turn up for a return flight? I know you shouldn't do it the other way as they would just cancel the return part if you don't show for the outbound! John was wondering about booking the return from Orlando for this year before I remembered the reward flight.

I've been checking the miles only flights from Miami too & so far nothing for September at all.

Maybe they are just holding them all back as they haven't released any for about 2 months.

Mmm I have enough points but want to return on that last day so doubt I'll get that lucky. It's very tempting just to book the return flight...

Did you book it? You really got lucky this year to get that return flight with miles.

still waiting to hear, but i saw my area manager twice last week and she said that she just needs to receive the letter then its just a matter of looking at it and approving it. so looking good i think, plus i got cast member of the quarter 2 days ago, which she needs to approve, so thinking i must be in the good books at the mo. fingers crossed.


the candy swap sounds good, we'd probably need to eat a lot of it on the ship, as we're flying into NC after disney, so have limited luggage allowance. thats my excuse and i'm sticking to it!

Well done on the cast member award Karen.

The only issue with a candy swap for me is the luggage allowance on the outbound flight to Barcelona, boy the luggage limits are so stingy!!!! 20kgs per person! Unless we do it in small groups, say 10 cabins or something like that?

 

[CustardTart]

I think it is nigh on impossible to get an UC reward flight from Orlando with the cabin being so small, but keep checking.

That's true. This year I got a PremEc one and was upgraded at check-in. I'm pretty sure that will NEVER happen again..

still waiting to hear, but i saw my area manager twice last week and she said that she just needs to receive the letter then its just a matter of looking at it and approving it. so looking good i think, plus i got cast member of the quarter 2 days ago, which she needs to approve, so thinking i must be in the good books at the mo. fingers crossed.

thats what it looks like we might be doing this time, the one way flights are way to expensive, so looking at return and just dumping the second portion. as long as you dont do it all the time, i think we'll get away with it.

My DH says he's done it when travelling on business so I'm not going to worry...

I've been checking the miles only flights from Miami too & so far nothing for September at all.

Maybe they are just holding them all back as they haven't released any for about 2 months.

It's a tough call, Claire. Booking flights ALWAYS makes me antsy!!! Mind you, it was 7 weeks out when I got mine...

Did you book it? You really got lucky this year to get that return flight with miles.

No, not yet. I've just been investigating a multi-city return flight with BA - I can do London City to BCN and the MCO to LGW for not much more than the VA return so may just go with that...

The only issue with a candy swap for me is the luggage allowance on the outbound flight to Barcelona, boy the luggage limits are so stingy!!!! 20kgs per person! Unless we do it in small groups, say 10 cabins or something like that?

Who are you flying with, Claire - maybe you can you pre-buy extra luggage allowance? That's what I had to do this year and it wasn't too much for an additional 20kg...

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

The only issue with a candy swap for me is the luggage allowance on the outbound flight to Barcelona, boy the luggage limits are so stingy!!!! 20kgs per person! Unless we do it in small groups, say 10 cabins or something like that?

Hi Pinky, I'm Hayley, we did the WBTA this year and had the same issues with luggage. I'm happy to NOT do the candy/choc swap, I managed to put on 8kg's on the cruise, yes, 8 OMG!!!! But I will go with the flow. We split into groups of about 10-12.
We also split the FE's into group of 15, originally it was going to be groups of 25, not sure what happened and why they were made smaller. But I think 15-25 is a manageable number?
Anyhoo, don't want to step on any toes, I'm a late joiner and am more than happy to fit in with anything that has been organised. I have to admit I didn't go back to the beginning of the thread and read, I just jumped in.

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

Just checking I've got the right person - You are Karen, right? Dark hair? I think you were at my jewellery making group with Corinna? We're sailing again together.......if I have the right person? I hope so......

 

[Pinky166]

That's true. This year I got a PremEc one and was upgraded at check-in. I'm pretty sure that will NEVER happen again..

WOW! You got extra lucky!

It's a tough call, Claire. Booking flights ALWAYS makes me antsy!!! Mind you, it was 7 weeks out when I got mine...

Yes me too, I like to book them as far out as possible but I am going to try & wait it out a little to see if I can get some miles only flights.

Who are you flying with, Claire - maybe you can you pre-buy extra luggage allowance? That's what I had to do this year and it wasn't too much for an additional 20kg...

Yeah we have that option but it is SO overpriced! I've just booked Easyjet (I hate flying with them ) from Gatwick to BCN so we can leave the car there, as returning with VA will take us into Gatwick.

Hi Pinky, I'm Hayley, we did the WBTA this year and had the same issues with luggage. I'm happy to NOT do the candy/choc swap, I managed to put on 8kg's on the cruise, yes, 8 OMG!!!! But I will go with the flow. We split into groups of about 10-12.
We also split the FE's into group of 15, originally it was going to be groups of 25, not sure what happened and why they were made smaller. But I think 15-25 is a manageable number?
Anyhoo, don't want to step on any toes, I'm a late joiner and am more than happy to fit in with anything that has been organised. I have to admit I didn't go back to the beginning of the thread and read, I just jumped in.

Hi Hayley (i'm Claire).

I think 8kg's is easily done over 2 weeks, it just shows what a fab time you had.

Smaller groups maybe the way to go then, I think the majority of people will have luggage restrictions. Nothing to stop people joining more than one group if they want to do more. Anyway i'm just throwing in some suggestions.



Anyone have any idea's for names yet? I am useless at coming up with them!

 

[MandyGirl]

The only issue with a candy swap for me is the luggage allowance on the outbound flight to Barcelona, boy the luggage limits are so stingy!!!! 20kgs per person! Unless we do it in small groups, say 10 cabins or something like that?

That's my thoughts as well. We are going to try to pack light and do laundry onboard. And even crazier, have a lapchild to Barcelona to save the airline miles (it will be 4 more months before I have the miles to get her a full seat - thinking she will just be lapchild since I did it to Hawaii a few years ago).

 

[granmaz]

No, not yet. I've just been investigating a multi-city return flight with BA - I can do London City to BCN and the MCO to LGW for not much more than the VA return so may just go with that...


Who are you flying with, Claire - maybe you can you pre-buy extra luggage allowance? That's what I had to do this year and it wasn't too much for an additional 20kg...

I tried the multi city with BA this year. It all looked so promising until I clicked to book, and then they say it isn't available. Not the same region apparently. If you have more luck please let me know!!! Just can't understand why they couldn't do it.

Now, take care with the buying extra luggage. A friend, who shall be nameless, paid for an extra bag, but didn't realise, nor did she check, that it was only an extra bag, the allowance stayed the same. She had to pay an extra £200+ at check in!!! I can't remember if it was Sleazyjet or Ruinair though. We did buy an extra bag which did include the extra 23 Kg with BA from Heathrow to Barcelona though and will do that again.

 

[CustardTart]

I tried the multi city with BA this year. It all looked so promising until I clicked to book, and then they say it isn't available. Not the same region apparently. If you have more luck please let me know!!! Just can't understand why they couldn't do it.

IKWYM, Marilyn - was that on the BA website? Ebookers is more user-friendly in that regard..

Now, take care with the buying extra luggage. A friend, who shall be nameless, paid for an extra bag, but didn't realise, nor did she check, that it was only an extra bag, the allowance stayed the same. She had to pay an extra £200+ at check in!!! I can't remember if it was Sleazyjet or Ruinair though. We did buy an extra bag which did include the extra 23 Kg with BA from Heathrow to Barcelona though and will do that again.

OMG!!! That's such a con!!!

Thanks to Marilyn I've just booked a reward flight from MIA to LHR for Monday 26th September!!! The heads up was much appreciated, Maz!!!

 

[CustardTart]

Just checking I've got the right person - You are Karen, right? Dark hair? I think you were at my jewellery making group with Corinna? We're sailing again together.......if I have the right person? I hope so......

That's me!!!

 

[granmaz]

IKWYM, Marilyn - was that on the BA website? Ebookers is more user-friendly in that regard..


OMG!!! That's such a con!!!

Thanks to Marilyn I've just booked a reward flight from MIA to LHR for Monday 26th September!!! The heads up was much appreciated, Maz!!!

Glad to be of help!!

I will take a look at Ebookers closer to the time, thanks!! Though the reward flight is a better option for us.

 

[granmaz]

Why is it that I hardly ever use the search function, but as soon as it isn't available I want to use it all the time?

 

[Pinky166]

Now, take care with the buying extra luggage. A friend, who shall be nameless, paid for an extra bag, but didn't realise, nor did she check, that it was only an extra bag, the allowance stayed the same. She had to pay an extra £200+ at check in!!! I can't remember if it was Sleazyjet or Ruinair though. We did buy an extra bag which did include the extra 23 Kg with BA from Heathrow to Barcelona though and will do that again.

My guess is it was Sleazyjet as it took me a while to figure out how the luggage works with them. Such rip off merchants!!!!

I am considering shipping a box to the port, will probably work out cheaper!

Thanks to Marilyn I've just booked a reward flight from MIA to LHR for Monday 26th September!!! The heads up was much appreciated, Maz!!!

Well done you! I was considering Miami but now i've got a flight & car park booked at Gatwick so returning to Heathrow will be a right pain!

 

[ebony]

Me too Jan, I love organising it too. Have you decided how long you will be staying? I'm not sure how long we will stay this time, but will make a decision soon so we can book the flight. We are probably going to rent a villa again, though.

I am hoping for 2 weeks again Marilyn. We loved having 4 weeks away. _________________________________________________________________

IKWYM, Marilyn - was that on the BA website? Ebookers is more user-friendly in that regard..
OMG!!! That's such a con!!!
Thanks to Marilyn I've just booked a reward flight from MIA to LHR for Monday 26th September!!! The heads up was much appreciated, Maz!!!

Hi Karen, we did meet at the DIS meet, when you were with Mandy. But I dont think I saw you again after that.
Well done on geting your flights sorted. I am still waiting for miles flights to come up.

My guess is it was Sleazyjet as it took me a while to figure out how the luggage works with them. Such rip off merchants!!!!
I am considering shipping a box to the port, will probably work out cheaper!

Well done you! I was considering Miami but now i've got a flight & car park booked at Gatwick so returning to Heathrow will be a right pain!

we do have some DVC points to use first. We love SSR too.

We flew to Barcelona from Heathrow and back into Gatwick last time. It was a real pain not having our car, we had to catch a coach back to Oxford, never again.
This time if its different airports, which it probably will be, I think we will look into hiring a car. I like the BA flights to Barcelona as I can pay for extra cases, also the same with Virgin.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi Karen, we did meet at the DIS meet, when you were with Mandy. But I dont think I saw you again after that.
Well done on geting your flights sorted. I am still waiting for miles flights to come up.

Hi Jan, I remember meeting you in the Promenade Lounge. After that, I'm afraid I kept a really low profile & spent a LOT of time just relaxing on my veranda - it was bliss, if somewhat anti-social ... Thanks - not 100% sure how I'll get to Miami but I'm sure that'll get sorted..

We flew to Barcelona from Heathrow and back into Gatwick last time. It was a real pain not having our car, we had to catch a coach back to Oxford, never again.
This time if its different airports, which it probably will be, I think we will look into hiring a car. I like the BA flights to Barcelona as I can pay for extra cases, also the same with Virgin.

I like the BA BCN flights too - I shall fly from London City again as it's so hassle-free...

 

[Con5421]

If i get free from work i'm doing the Transatlantic again. We loved it.

Connie