 Orbitz, E-tickets, Non-refundables
>Using orbitz.com, it's interesting that the total airfare from Tampa to
>Barcelona (where our cruise begins) and back from Istanbul (where the
>cruise ends), if you check "Only show refundable fares," the low fare
>more than doubles. This would be for a trip way off in September.
That's quite typical. The only refundable fares are full coach or
close to it.
>Orbitz indicates that these are e-tickets and the couple we are
>traveling with are a little wary of these.
Better get used to it -- etickets are the wave of the future. If
you want paper tickets you can have them for another $100, but I
wouldn't recommend it. I've travelled with e-tickets all over Europe
and to South America with no trouble.
>We are also a little wary about non-refundable tickets. Also, is an
>airline like British Airways more reliable than one like Iberia?
Iberia and BA are both perfectly fine airlines. I'd be more concerned
about the schedules, particularly how long they have to change planes
at intermediate airports.
I presume your friends have booked and paid for the cruise, so the
only reason they wouldn't go is if someone got sick. Orbitz will sell
you trip cancellation insurance for $90, which is way cheaper than the
extra $1000 that refundable tix would cost.
R's,
John
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