BAJAN YANKEES should be jetting here in droves for Crop Over.
That’s because American Airlines (AA) has reduced ticket prices and increased flights from New York, while low-cost carrier Jetblue has increased its flights.
Yesterday, Anne Sealy, president of the Travel Agents Association of Barbados, said that apart from AA’s usual direct daily flight from New York, it would have connections to the Big Apple through its Miami routes. At the same time, Jetblue will be flying twice daily, seven days a week, from New York – instead of once daily.
These flights start from mid-July until the end of August.
In terms of the drop in ticket price, AA’s special fare is about $1 000 as compared to the $1 300 or more that is usually charged. These fares came out this week.
“Most of the dates in August are heavily booked; so there should be relatively good traffic for the summer . . . . Basically that will accommodate the Bajan Yankees,” said Sealy.
That’s the good news.
The not so good news is that local groups and passengers earlier booked to travel to Miami on American will now have to pay more for their tickets with immediate effect.
This is happening because AA, which has a monopoly on the Miami route, has introduced a fuel surcharge on all flights to and from that destination, originating in Barbados, to the amount of $90 plus VAT.
All round-trip bookings would therefore reflect an additional $211.50. That is, $180 plus 17.5 per cent VAT.
This means, for example, that people who would have signed up for five-day shopping packages to Miami in July that cost from $2 200, and were requested to make a deposit of $300 to confirm their interest, must now pay the additional $211.50 to make the trip.
One travel agency informed its clients via email that package prices would be amended and invoices adjusted to reflect this change.
“Persons would have been quoted a fare in advance, and they planned, based on that.
So to come and tell them they have to look for an additional $211, they would not be pleased,” Sealy added.
“What people need to know is that if they make a booking but have not paid for the ticket, you are susceptible to fare changes. The only guarantee of the price quoted is when you pay for your ticket.”
