Guest feedback drives enhancements to industry-leading air program at Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International
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Guest feedback drives enhancements to industry-leading air program at Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International
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Category: Worldwide
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-06-25
• ChoiceAir expands
• Advanced air reservations offer additional flexibility and delayed payment
• New option tailored for guests seeking personalized assistance with air arrangements
• Traditional air program to be phased out
ChoiceAir, the revolutionary air travel program that Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International introduced to the cruise industry last summer, is flying to new heights with the introduction of two programs aimed at offering even more personalization, convenience, flexibility and competitive fares. “ChoiceAir FlexFares” and “ChoiceAir Plus” will launch on July 1. The introduction of these new offerings will result in the cruise lines’ longtime traditional air program becoming obsolete.
“We created ChoiceAir because our guests told us that they wanted to see the cruise industry offer a new kind of air program that offered the kind of competitive rates and flexibility that they could find online – with the travel support that we have always provided,” said Doug Santoni, Senior Vice President, Revenue Management. “The program has been well-received, which is why we first expanded the ChoiceAir suite of products to include fly-cruise discounts through ChoiceAir Specials, and are now adding FlexFares and ChoiceAir Plus. These two newest offerings will give our guests access to more options and an even higher level of service, while giving travel partners more powerful tools to help them meet their clients’ needs and sell more cruises.”
Whether cruisers are looking for the absolute lowest fares, the maximum in flexibility, or something in between, ChoiceAir offers ideal flight and fare options to pair with their cruise vacation. Now, the three cruise lines have expanded ChoiceAir to include ChoiceAir FlexFares for cruisers and travel partners that are willing to pay a little more for the flexibility to reserve their preferred flight now, and hold it for up to 75 days prior to sailing, without a penalty or having to purchase the tickets.
Also new on July 1 will be ChoiceAir Plus, a program tailored to guests seeking personalized travel assistance with their air arrangements, with service provided by the cruise lines’ own professional air agents. ChoiceAir Plus was created to improve upon – and replace – the existing Custom Air program. Like the previous program, ChoiceAir Plus provides high-touch service, but also includes ChoiceAir’s extensive flight options and significantly lower fares. The ChoiceAir Plus fees are the same as or lower than the old Custom Air fees.
When the three cruise lines introduced ChoiceAir last August, their travel agent partners and guests immediately gained access to highly competitive airfares, more flight options and full control and visibility of their air arrangements. Central to the ChoiceAir experience is exceptional, dedicated service that includes day-of-travel support to help guests get to their cruise vacation even if they encounter flight delays or cancellations requiring a last-minute change or diversion to the next port of call. The three cruise lines charge a non-refundable fee of $15 per guest for domestic itineraries and $25 per guest for international itineraries. These standard ChoiceAir Fees apply to the new ChoiceAir FlexFares program as well, and like most airfares, FlexFares are subject to change until paid in full.
With the success of ChoiceAir, the three cruise lines will phase out the less consumer-friendly “mystery” air programs typically found in the cruise industry. Beginning July 1, ChoiceAir will become Azamara Club Cruises’, Celebrity Cruises’ and Royal Caribbean International’s exclusive air travel offering for individual bookings on cruises sailing roundtrip from any port in the continental United States. Additionally, ChoiceAir Plus will replace the lines’ traditional Custom Air program. Beginning November 1, ChoiceAir will become the exclusive air travel offering for individual bookings on all cruises worldwide, when booked in the United States or Canada.
Guests can purchase ChoiceAir through a travel agent, directly from Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International contact centers, and online at www.choiceair.com or at each of the cruise lines’ secure ChoiceAir websites:
• Azamara Club Cruises: www.azamaraclubcruises.com/choiceair
• Celebrity Cruises: www.celebritycruises.com/choiceair
• Royal Caribbean International: www.royalcaribbean.com/choiceair
Travel agent partners can book ChoiceAir Specials for their clients through CruisingPower.com, the three cruise lines’ dedicated site for travel professionals.
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