297 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

Mike I'm in Dominica so can not call. But I already know that this credit can not be used by agents or air consolidators....we've tried before. Why don't you book the air yourself to LAX? You only need to have a 2 hr buffer in LAX for flight delays. Of course more than 2 hrs is better.

[ScubaTurtle]

Mike I'm in Dominica so can not call. But I already know that this credit can not be used by agents or air consolidators....we've tried before. Why don't you book the air yourself to LAX? You only need to have a 2 hr buffer in LAX for flight delays. Of course more than 2 hrs is better.

Kamala,

Thanks. That's fine about the credit (I figured it was probably not possible and if you have tried before, no reason to try again).

Before I commit to booking the LAX flight I would like to have a confirmed and booked final leg of the rest of the journey. I don't want to book a flight to LAX only to have the other flights change for some reason. Again if there's anyway for me to pass my info to the person that can book the ticket I'm willing to do the legwork (I would only call for this trip and would book with SingleDivers as the contact).

I just looked at United.com and the options seem endless to book a flight and I'm not sure what the final itinerary would be for me to be a day early in HNL. I know your traveling frequently so if there's absolutely anyway for me to get the info to the consolidator (or have them contact me) I know it would help my anxiety. If the consolidator finds a flight from Chicago to LAX that is compatible with the itinerary I can book that segment separately if that works. I know there's a small charge for using the service.


-Mike


P.S. I can put together a PDF form for the flight information for people if I know what fields are needed. The PDF would have electronically fill-able fields with explanations. I'm more than willing to put this together if it can help get information together faster.

[WreckWench]

UPDATE:

The delay is with the consolidator. As I mentioned before this is a favor they do for us, so sometimes it takes more time to go this route. In this day and age of self service you can understand. Everyone is free to book their own flights and most do it themselves anyway so you 'pay' a bit more for service.

Now for specific updates. Our consolidator has been trying to find us the best deals and here is the situation.

Routings:

1. If we do 2 nites in HNL as we have originally toyed with it will add $250 to the ticket price + the $30 booking fee. (The latter has been applied already for those wishing air assistance so far.)

2. The good news is the air is about the same since we last checked it but we do wish to move forward soon.

3. Adding 1 nite in HNL or going direct does not chg the price from LAX.

4. Adding the add'l connecting city in SOME cases only add about $250-$300 more so that is pretty good.


Recap of Requested Tickets so Far:

1. Mike: STARTING FROM CHICAGO 2 nites in HNL to break trip up and sightseeing + truk and Palau trip options with 1 night in Guam on the way to Palau OR he may do the non-stop below which is already priced.
2 Tim Thomas STARTING FROM PHOENIX 2 nites in HNL to break trip up and sightseeing + truk and Palau trip options with 1 night in Guam on the way to Palau
3. Jerry Smeltzer STARTING FROM BWI, PHI, or EWR (as non-stop as possible to HNL) 2 nites in HNL to break trip up and sightseeing + truk and Palau trip options with 1 night in Guam on the way to Palau
4. Ed Styffe STARTING FROM SAV 2 nites in HNL to break trip up and sightseeing + truk and Palau trip options with 1 night in Guam on the way to Palau
OR he may start in HNL. Can you price it both ways?

Form for Info:

The form is done and will be available for use by tomorrow. (It was part of a bigger project to automate all our forms so has not been released until now.)

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Let me know what you want to do. Do you still want to do 2 nites in HNL or just one or fly straight thru? I do not want to have the consolidator price everything out multiple ways if we can avoid it. If $250 on top of the previously priced tickets plus the $300 local fare is too much then stay with 1 nite or no nites in HNL and call it a wrap.
2. I will get the new form posted today and you can start filling it out. />

[Diver Ed]

I will opt out of the second night in Hawaii, to save the $250. As long as I have the one night to rest the back, I will work with that. Ed

[Buzo Guero]

To be clear, I am Truk only.

[WreckWench]

To be clear, I am Truk only.

Thank you Tim!

[Jerrymxz]

I thought I'd bring this thread back to the top. I was thinking about using this thread to discuss shipwrecks, diveplans and gear choices. That will free up the other thread for travel issues. What does everyone else think of the idea.?

I'm going to throw out there the question of primary and backup dive lights. I have an uber sweet Greenforce canister light as a primary dive light.but whatever light you choose I would highly recommend rechargeable batteries. There are no stores on the boat and hauling all the needed batteries to Truk is not a good idea. There are plenty of standard us 120vac outlets on board I think they are 50hz but unless your running an ac motor you won't notice the missing 10hz.

In 2011 I did 22 dives and all but 2 had some penetration and many had significant time where I needed a good light. A couple were night dives. My strategy for batteries is to only use one kind. In my instance I use AA batteries in everything; camera strobe, video light, 6AA in backup light. 2AA in emergency strobe. And lastly 4 in my surface camera. That way I always have the batteries I need for whatever I'm going to do.

Anyone else have a good strategy they want to share?

[Jerrymxz]

I'm Truk and Palau I still want to arrive in hnl a day early. The USS Arizona is truly a bucket list item for me. The $250 additional airfare and whatever extra night in hnl....as they say...PRICELESS. I need to pay my respects.

[WreckWench]

Gotcha Jerry. I will get your ticket booked. Tim I will get yours booked as well...do you want 1 or 2 nites in HNL? Ed I'll see what the price is for 1 nite in HNL from SAV and just from HNL.

Mike what do you want to do?

[WreckWench]

Jerry I prefer to keep everything in the one thread. We can break topics out later when we open the special discussion forums.

[Jerrymxz]

Roger that.

[ScubaTurtle]

Gotcha Jerry. I will get your ticket booked. Tim I will get yours booked as well...do you want 1 or 2 nites in HNL? Ed I'll see what the price is for 1 nite in HNL from SAV and just from HNL.

Mike what do you want to do?

Kamala,
Sorry I've been out out pocket all day. Just finished riding a 200k ride (Yes on a bicycle).

I think based on the extra airfare cost being an added $250 I'm also going to pass on the extra night in HNL. It's already an expensive trip and I know there are going to be other things that come up that I'll need to fund for this vacation. Sorry Jerry! I was looking forward to hanging out before the vacation.

In summary for HNL Option:
I'll just take the booking from Chicago through with the normal group itinerary. The extra $250-300 for the connecting flight is definitely a good deal. Please add that to my itinerary. I was getting pricing of ~$400.

Mike: STARTING FROM CHICAGO 2 nites in HNL to break trip up and sightseeing + truk and Palau trip options with 1 night in Guam on the way to Palau OR he may do the non-stop below which is already priced.

Confused on the skipping days issue:
I'm OK skipping any days in a hotel as long as it does not impact diving (i.e. Number of possible dives available to me on the boat). I'm a little confused as to the layover option between Truk and Palau but as long as I don't miss any diving I'm ok heading straight to Palau with no nights in Guam. I guess I would need to know what the advantage of staying in Guam is? If time is an issue I'll just do whatever a majority of the group is doing between Truk and Palau.

Thanks Kamala!!
I'm headed home from WI now so I'll be able to respond again tonight if needed quickly.

Form for Info:
The form is done and will be available for use by tomorrow. (It was part of a bigger project to automate all our forms so has not been released until now.)

No problem on the form Kamala. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something that I could assist with.

Edited by ScubaTurtle, 01 June 2013 - 02:41 PM.

[WreckWench]

Mike...I will work on the flights as requested. The day layover in Guam is basically a REALLY LONG DAY ROOM. If you look at the hours on the flight you'll understand. We can probably put a few more people to a room in Guam if people are interested but you all won't be able to sleep that way. We can still figure this out later...for now I want to get the flights locked in. Kamala

[Buzo Guero]

Gotcha Jerry. I will get your ticket booked. Tim I will get yours booked as well...do you want 1 or 2 nites in HNL? Ed I'll see what the price is for 1 nite in HNL from SAV and just from HNL.

Mike what do you want to do?

As many times as I've been to Oahu, it's time for me to go to Pearl & pay my respects to the Arizona, as well. Can't think of a better time than on the way to Truk. 2 nights, please!

[WreckWench]

Roger that Tim. I'll get you the final quote. Kamala