Trip Status

[Grifdog22]

A few years ago we saw a number of trip cancellations when the economy crashed. ABD in 2010 implemented a guaranteed departure program of no cancellations within 85 days of the trip, and for 2011 scaled that back to 70 days. Remarkably, I haven’t seen or heard of ANY cancellations, except those due to natural disasters or political unrest. Anyone know the status of the trips scheduled for calendar 2011? I think they handle this well, but some posting in the last month mention "low registration" which raises the question. Any thoughts or information to share?

 

[sayhello]

I found that when they cancelled my Canadian Rockies trip, they did it really early on (February for a September trip). But that was the year of all the cancellations/consolidations. But it seems to me from what I've heard that they generally don't pull the plug on trips at the last minute for lack of people, only for other things such as weather or political unrest.

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[Bobo912]

I forgot to ask how many people are booked on the SWS trip I booked this week, but I'll ask next time I speak to ABD. I don't remember any SWS dates being cancelled in 2009. so I'm not worried anyway, but it's nice to have that information. When our 2009 Australia trip was cancelled we were notified in mid-January. In 2010 they offered fewer dates for a lot of the trips and I'm sure that helped them avoid cancellations. I suspect that there will be several people who are sitting on the fence and will make the leap before the Visa gift card promotion ends. That's why I went chose not to delay any longer.

 

[Grifdog22]

What's the smallest group anyone has seen go on one of the trips? Our Peru trip went with 18 - 15 adults and three kids - in 2009. We still had two guides, plus a guide in training, and other local experts.

 

[sayhello]

What's the smallest group anyone has seen go on one of the trips? Our Peru trip went with 18 - 15 adults and three kids - in 2009. We still had two guides, plus a guide in training, and other local experts.

My Southwest Splendors trip went with 14. My Alaska trip had 15.

I think it really depends on the trip. But for a lot of the trips that got cancelled in 2009, we were told there were only 3 or 4 people signed up. ABD had *really* expanded the number of trips and departures offered that year, just before the economy tanked.

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[beansf]

We had 11 plus one guide on our trip to Australia in October 2008.

 

[Bobo912]

We had 11 plus one guide on our trip to Australia in October 2008.

Did you still have 2 guides with only 11 people?

My two ABDs - one had 38 and the other 30. The one that was cancelled in 2009 had 5 people booked when they cancelled it in January.

 

[beansf]

Did you still have 2 guides with only 11 people?

Just one guide for us.

 

[lb4747694]

I think my trip is currently at 9. Good to see that we're not too far off of 11.

 

[Bobo912]

I called ABD and my trip has 9 so far too. I'm a bit surprised that it isn't more since it's SWS and it's a holiday week. No doubt there will be more as the time draws nearer. As long as it's not cancelled, I don't mind a smaller group.

 

[Grifdog22]

Our South Africa trip is at 25%, so I calculate that to be 10. It's still a 2010 trip, so I believe it's in their old guaranteed departure program of no cancellation less than 85 days - so Monday would be the last day by which they would cancel.

Do you think it's a go with 10? My wife is pretty nervous about it.

BTW, this is our third ABD trip, and this year they sent an amazing "recommended reading" list. The books were great. My twins absorbed the recommended reading for their age, and I found it pretty compelling too. That was a nice added touch.

 

[sayhello]

Our South Africa trip is at 25%, so I calculate that to be 10. It's still a 2010 trip, so I believe it's in their old guaranteed departure program of no cancellation less than 85 days - so Monday would be the last day by which they would cancel.

Do you think it's a go with 10? My wife is pretty nervous about it.

BTW, this is our third ABD trip, and this year they sent an amazing "recommended reading" list. The books were great. My twins absorbed the recommended reading for their age, and I found it pretty compelling too. That was a nice added touch.

My thoughts (although this is only my opinion) is that since it's a 2010 itinerary, that's been out there on their schedule for a year and a half now, and hasn't been canceled by now, AND it's an off-season trip (not during the Summer, or near a Holiday, and I think even *after* Spring Break) that you are probably good to go. They have to know you've had your airfare for a while, and there's probably not a lot of other trips in the same general timeframe for them to switch you to. At this point, 5 days from the cutoff, I have to think you're pretty safe. There have been some other trips that have gone with 10 or 11. Again, this is just my opinion. I hope I'm right!

Please let us know on Tuesday!

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[mouthdoc]

Is there any way to check online the number signed up for our trip? We're going to Italy in June.

 

[sayhello]

Is there any way to check online the number signed up for our trip? We're going to Italy in June.

Not that I'm aware of. You can try calling ABD. Sometimes they'll tell you the number of people, or the percentage full (so you can figure out a number). It depends on who you get.

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[Bobo912]

Our South Africa trip is at 25%, so I calculate that to be 10. It's still a 2010 trip, so I believe it's in their old guaranteed departure program of no cancellation less than 85 days - so Monday would be the last day by which they would cancel.

Do you think it's a go with 10? My wife is pretty nervous about it.

BTW, this is our third ABD trip, and this year they sent an amazing "recommended reading" list. The books were great. My twins absorbed the recommended reading for their age, and I found it pretty compelling too. That was a nice added touch.

Don't know if you saw the post on ABD's facebook page from yesterday, but they are drawing attention to the last few 2010 trips. Hopefully this means they are just trying to get a few more travelers onboard. With your 85 day window approaching so soon, you wouldn't think they would bother to post this if they were planning to cancel. But that's just my take on it.

Trips to Australia and South Africa are still available at 2010 rates, contact your travel agent or call us for 2010 rates. And, if you hurry, they’re also eligible for our $500 Visa® Gift Card* offer.

 

[lb4747694]

BTW, this is our third ABD trip, and this year they sent an amazing "recommended reading" list. The books were great. My twins absorbed the recommended reading for their age, and I found it pretty compelling too. That was a nice added touch.

I didn't realize this was "new" as we've got our first ABD coming up. I agree the book list was good. I had already picked up a couple of the kids books from my daughter, prior to getting the list. Glad ABD thought they were good books, also.

 

[beansf]

I just called ABD about my July Knights & Lights. They say it is 40% booked.

I know I am asking for pure speculation, but would you guys feel comfortable that the trip wasn't going to cancel? I want to book a couple of days at Disneyland Paris, but I would rather arrange my own transportation and save $700 by booking it myself. However, it won't be covered under ABD insurance if they cancel my trip. The 30% off rate at the hotel is only good until 2/15, so if I want to get this deal, I have to decide soon.

What would you guys do?

 

[Bobo912]

I just called ABD about my July Knights & Lights. They say it is 40% booked.

I know I am asking for pure speculation, but would you guys feel comfortable that the trip wasn't going to cancel? I want to book a couple of days at Disneyland Paris, but I would rather arrange my own transportation and save $700 by booking it myself. However, it won't be covered under ABD insurance if they cancel my trip. The 30% off rate at the hotel is only good until 2/15, so if I want to get this deal, I have to decide soon.

What would you guys do?

beansf, I would feel pretty comfortable with 40%, but I think I would wait until Feb 1 and call ABD back and see if the percentage has increased. When I spoke to them last week, they said they are usually very busy on the last day of a promotion because so many people wait until the last minute. The Visa Gift Card offer expires on Jan 31, so if you wait a few days the number may go up and you'll have more peace of mind and you'll still have plenty of time to user your hotel discount.

 

[beansf]

Hey thanks, Bobo...that is a great tip. I wish I had gotten the $500 Visa card. Too bad I booked too early for that one!

 

[sayhello]

Hey thanks, Bobo...that is a great tip. I wish I had gotten the $500 Visa card. Too bad I booked too early for that one!

Ah! That's a familiar song!

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