Group booking question, price increase

[cookiemunchkin]

If it's Sunwing, bride and groom count towards the group rate.  Hope that helps.

 

Originally Posted by AshleyL 

All of these rules are so frustrating. We have to have 10 booked by October 28th for our group rate, and I'm worried because a lot of people have decided to look for better rates online. I need to talk to my TA and find out if it's bride and groom plus 10, or if we count towards the 10? I know kids don't can't towards that number...

[Lite]

Yep, it's 10 ppl booked, bride and groom count.

I hear ya!  A lot of our friends are looking for deals online, and i don't know if that's there way of holding out to the last minute, but it's frustrating forsure.  Best of luck!

 

We made the switch to Air Canada.  Let's hope it's smooth sailing from here on!!

 

Originally Posted by cookiemunchkin 

If it's Sunwing, bride and groom count towards the group rate.  Hope that helps.

 

 

[cookiemunchkin]

I know what you mean.  Most of our guests ended up booking during the last couple days our group rate was valid (thankfully!) but there are still a few people that say they will wait and book later.  If money was the problem, it would make sense... but they openly say money is no problem, so... argh lol.

 

One thing I've been told by a friend though is that if people cant afford to pay for the ticket right now, they will always make up some other excuse rather than saying they cant afford it... just to spare our feelings so we dont feel bad or guilty about the cost.  If thats true, then I guess we should cut them some slack.

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by AshleyL 

 

All of these rules are so frustrating. We have to have 10 booked by October 28th for our group rate, and I'm worried because a lot of people have decided to look for better rates online. I need to talk to my TA and find out if it's bride and groom plus 10, or if we count towards the 10? I know kids don't can't towards that number...

Bride and groom count. As well as kids, but not infants...best way to think of it- anyone taking a seat on the plane counts! Good luck.

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by Lite 

 

Yep, it's 10 ppl booked, bride and groom count.

I hear ya!  A lot of our friends are looking for deals online, and i don't know if that's there way of holding out to the last minute, but it's frustrating forsure.  Best of luck!

 

We made the switch to Air Canada.  Let's hope it's smooth sailing from here on!!

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear you have had so much trouble! I hope it all goes well now, and at least with Air Canada, make sure to tell your TA it's for your wedding and hopefully you'll get bumped up to business class for free (if there's seats available)

A lot of our friends are holding out til the last minute, but we have passed our group rate deadline, so their on their own now.

 

 

 

Originally Posted by cookiemunchkin 

 

I know what you mean.  Most of our guests ended up booking during the last couple days our group rate was valid (thankfully!) but there are still a few people that say they will wait and book later.  If money was the problem, it would make sense... but they openly say money is no problem, so... argh lol.

 

One thing I've been told by a friend though is that if people cant afford to pay for the ticket right now, they will always make up some other excuse rather than saying they cant afford it... just to spare our feelings so we dont feel bad or guilty about the cost.  If thats true, then I guess we should cut them some slack.

Many people can't afford it as one payment now. But might be able to save up and then pay. So you never know, you might end up getting a few last minute additions. We were stressing about our group rate deadline, we had reserved space for 25 out of Toronto and 10 from Ottawa. We didn't think we were going to hit our numbers, and then in the last days we got 23 out of Toronto and 15 from Ottawa....plus guests from all over...we are up to 57 and counting. So don't count any of your guests out yet, they may surprise you like they have been surprising us!

 

 

[rpingree001]

I am using a different group but my deal is Bride & Groom count towards the group rate AND we are switching rooms for the honeymoon to something nicer and that reservation counts too - so in that case, Bride & Groom count twice towards the group number. 

 

Originally Posted by cookiemunchkin 

If it's Sunwing, bride and groom count towards the group rate.  Hope that helps.

 

 

[Oryx]

We mailed out our invitations on July 19th with all of our booking information.  People have until October 1st to get their $200 deposit in -- so far there are only 8 people booked, including bride, groom, and my parents! 

 

My two bridesmaids have booked, but my biggest pet peeve is that the two groomsmen have not.  Both of them make a lot of money but say they want to look for something cheaper online... right now the rates online are $115 more than our group rate.  What gives??  How long will they wait?  So frustrating...

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by Oryx 

 

We mailed out our invitations on July 19th with all of our booking information.  People have until October 1st to get their $200 deposit in -- so far there are only 8 people booked, including bride, groom, and my parents! 

 

My two bridesmaids have booked, but my biggest pet peeve is that the two groomsmen have not.  Both of them make a lot of money but say they want to look for something cheaper online... right now the rates online are $115 more than our group rate.  What gives??  How long will they wait?  So frustrating...

I think it must be a tradition for GM to stress the bride out. My FI has 5 GM, and 2 of them booked on the last day! I made a point to start reminding them about a week before the deal closed and telling them FI was counting on them, it was not going to be much cheaper, and you only have to put down $200 now, etc. I know the feeling....but hopefully it all works out for you.

 

 

[TA Becky]

Group bookings work with most suppliers (other than West Jet, who requires 10 ROOMS) that you need 10 passengers to make a group. The Bride and Groom are included in this number, so you really only need 8 passengers to confirm.

 

I know when I did cookiemunchkin's booking with Sunwing, they had an Early Booking Bonus that was built right into the pricing. This bonus expired on August 31st, and it's likely that your Travel Agent wanted to get the payments in a few days before which is why you had an earlier date. I'm very confused as to how you do have a confirmed group with only 8 passengers though. Am I reading that wrong? Or do you mean you have 8 passengers and then yourself and your fiance? If so, then you do have a confirmed group and your final payments could never go up in price. That would just never happen.

 

I also know that Sunwing will offer a 1 time price reduction should their pricing go down. Sometimes you might see lower pricing online for another supplier. I know it's hard to think about when you're having so many other problems at the moment, but sometimes when you do see pricing online it might be lower than your group price. The reason for this is that the supplier (in this case Air Canada) is trying to sell off some extra seats that they have. It would only work for a few guests, so rest assured that if you were to try and book your entire group with Air Canada that the rate SHOULD be higher.

 

Has your agent requested a group rate from Air Canada for you recently? If you've all paid in full I don't think you can cancel without penalty but if your agent is offering that to you (with loss of deposit only), then you might want to consider..but look at the new group rate first.

 

I hope this helps. I know it can be really confusing and fustrating!!

[Oryx]

 

 

Originally Posted by murmel 

 

 

 

I think it must be a tradition for GM to stress the bride out. My FI has 5 GM, and 2 of them booked on the last day! I made a point to start reminding them about a week before the deal closed and telling them FI was counting on them, it was not going to be much cheaper, and you only have to put down $200 now, etc. I know the feeling....but hopefully it all works out for you.

 

 

 

Thanks Murmel -- I know everyone is going through some similar stress.  So glad this forum exists or I would go crazy!

 

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by TA Becky 

 

I also know that Sunwing will offer a 1 time price reduction should their pricing go down. Sometimes you might see lower pricing online for another supplier.

Hmmm...since you're a TA, maybe you can anwser this question. We are booked through Signature vacations, but the flights are with Sunwing. If the price goes down, would we possibly be able to get a one time price reduction?