Programs: NW Gold. I gave Citi a $200b bailout and all I got was this free flight.
Posts: 1,990
Travel waiver for Israel?
We are booked on award tickets (NW/KL metal to, DL metal from) to/from TLV in April 09 using WP miles; the tickets were booked last fall. With current events, we are rethinking our plans.
As Golds, we have to pay the $50 per ticket to redeposit. After 1/15/09, will we have to pay $100 per ticket; or do we still get the $50 because we booked before the change was announced?
Second question - might NW offer a travel waiver to TLV given the circumstances, as they did to BKK during the recent unrest? It is slightly different because NW metal itself does not fly to TLV; yet NW and KL are pretty tight. Or would I have to wait for KL to offer a waiver, and NW (or is it DL) to honor it?
If I can keep the $50 redeposit fee even after 1/15/09, then obviously I'll just wait to see what evolves. However, if my fee goes up to $100, then I might be inclined to make a decision before that date.
Aprils a long way out. As you know, any waiver offered probably will not cover your time frame.
TMK, The grandfathering of fees hasn't been addressed in the other thread so why not call or TTU and ask. Better to document it in your record now than after 1/15.
Second question - might NW offer a travel waiver to TLV given the circumstances, as they did to BKK during the recent unrest? It is slightly different because NW metal itself does not fly to TLV;
This situation is a bit different as well, since BKK Airport was actually shut down by the protesters (I know, I was there unable to leave).
The current situation is not directly affecting TLV.
Either way, as Blank Sheet states, there's plenty of time between now and April...
__________________ Rule #1 of Mistake Fares: Don't call the airline till the fare is long gone.
I have traveled to Israel about 20 times in the last 12 years. (in TLV now) The unrest here is very localized to Gaza I have not heard anything or seen anything that resembles unrest. If your plans don't include a trip to Gaza then I would keep the trip and not cancel.
Watching CNN gives a different picture that is sensationalized to gain viewers/ratings.
Watching CNN gives a different picture that is sensationalized to gain viewers/ratings.
The U.S. media, and especially the Bush administration, is entirely Pro-Israeli. That is part of the problem. The government in Israel launched their offensive knowing that Bush would be silent. The Palestinian people have suffered terrible losses. Bombing a U.N. School? Shame! Shame indeed! It's about time for a much more balanced view from our administration. Hamas shoots one of their stupid, ineffective rockets and injures one child. Yes, it's wrong! Terribly wrong! But the Israelis bomb innocent women and children and kill many and the world is silent.
The Palestinians deserve a fair hearing in our media. They are not receiving it!
Programs: NW Gold. I gave Citi a $200b bailout and all I got was this free flight.
Posts: 1,990
politics aside, we were planning on going to the West Bank, at least areas such as Jericho, Bethlehem, and Hebron. We also planned to overnight into Jordan (Petra) and Egypt (Mt. Sinai). We saw information about protests throughout the West Bank, even rock-throwing incidents in East Jerusalem. So with all of that uncertainty, and with a child, it just seemed like it could be a bad idea... even if it is 95% confined to Gaza.
What about redepositing miles after Jan 15? Do we get the old or new rates, given that our reservations were made before the announcement?
Second question - might NW offer a travel waiver to TLV given the circumstances, as they did to BKK during the recent unrest?
All due respect, but why would they waive fees to an area where EVERYONE over the age of 20 KNOWS Israel has always been/is always potentially shaky ground. Mom wants to go this summer to visit a friend of hers. She invited me...I know what i'm getting myself into in advance.
If they offer a waiver great, but I don't really think they will, or should.
The U.S. media, and especially the Bush administration, is entirely Pro-Israeli. That is part of the problem. The government in Israel launched their offensive knowing that Bush would be silent. The Palestinian people have suffered terrible losses. Bombing a U.N. School? Shame! Shame indeed! It's about time for a much more balanced view from our administration. Hamas shoots one of their stupid, ineffective rockets and injures one child. Yes, it's wrong! Terribly wrong! But the Israelis bomb innocent women and children and kill many and the world is silent.
The Palestinians deserve a fair hearing in our media. They are not receiving it!
Open your eyes. Hamas puts civilians in areas they know will be attacked then parades the dead and wounded in front of the media afterwards. Let's see how proportianate a response you are in favor of if a group in Connecticut who has stated it's goal was your annihilation starts raining bombs on you.
Oh, and to the OP, I don't think a waiver is in your near future unless this skirmish escalates quite a bit. Good luck and best wishes.
I have traveled to Israel about 20 times in the last 12 years. (in TLV now) The unrest here is very localized to Gaza I have not heard anything or seen anything that resembles unrest. If your plans don't include a trip to Gaza then I would keep the trip and not cancel.
Watching CNN gives a different picture that is sensationalized to gain viewers/ratings.
Take the trip, have fun and enjoy...
I was there last week when this all started. We also felt no effect. We felt very safe for the entire trip. You might have to make a few minor changes to your itinerary, but unless things escalate further, it would be OK to go.
It never seems like a good time to go to Israel. I guess at some point you have to just close your eyes and go on faith, or you can talk yourself into never going.
