ordogg

My social rugby team based in Chicago is thinking about attending a tournament in London in October. We expect to have 15-20 players travelling plus WAGS (wives and girlfriends). Does anyone have any experience with booking group travel on UA (I'd rather fly UA then AA or BA)?

Did not see any posts, not sure where to start ...

jhayes_1780

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...s/default.aspx

channa

Just keep in mind that group fares may or may not be cheaper than going market fares.

lexdevil

Group fares are often not cheaper, and when they are cheaper we're usually talking 5%. One reason groups can be more expensive is that will not allow you to book folks on separate flights to take advantage of the few cheap seats on each. You will all be on one flight and most likely purchasing tickets in a few different fare buckets.

The greatest advantage of booking a group is the ability to change names on tickets if the group changes, and the ability to lock in a fare well in advance with a number of tickets and then adjust down to the correct number closer to the date of travel. The biggest disadvantage is the inability to receive credit for unused value if someone drops out. Another disadvantage is that online check in is not possible with a reservation for more than 8 passengers, and group members do not get the elite baggage allotment of fellow travelers (though there is a work around for this -- have them divide the group into groups of 8 or fewer and make sure one elite is in each group).

Often1

First and last piece of advice. Use an experienced TA. If you want to make enemies out of friends, try being the trip organizer, collecting money from friends, dealing with cancellations, seat assignments, illness, injury and the like.

Whether a group fare is worth it will depend on flexibility. But, one thing is certain, the fee you will pay a good quality TA experienced in group travel and who has good business reason to make you happy, is the best money you will spend on this trip.

SEA1K4EVR

It might be more fun for all if the WAGS went to Vegas at that time After all the word "dogg" does appear in your handle"..haha

jhayes_1780

Very sage advice ^

I would go with this.

ordogg

Thanks for the advice - TA it is (as long as I get to fly UA)

Indelaware

As everything, often doesn't mean always. I've had some great group fares (well below public market) both on UA and other airlines. Other times not. Of course, with fewer airlines today than yesterday... all fares are becoming uncompetitive.

And for best fare, ORD-LON, I would definitely look at group fares from other than UA/AA/BA. Look at airlines connecting on the continent as Air Canada, Icelandair, and Aer Lingus.

BTW, sport teams often do not get the best group deals as they often require lots of baggage space and, depending upon maturity and sport, have a reputation (rightly or wrongly) to sometime be difficult passengers (rowdy) to deal with at the gate and inflight.

IADFlyer123

I think that stands for OGG

lexdevil

Not so many years ago I could get the airlines to compete for group sales. I would call the group desk with the best price I had found online (often not the best flight times or routing) and tell them I would prefer to fly United if they could compete. They would send my preferred itinerary for pricing and often meet the fare. It was a very sad day (for me) when United stopped doing this.

Indelaware

Exactly.

physioprof

Rugby players would never be rowdy!

why fly

for sure use a TA!

dcpdxtrans

I concur on group fares not being cheaper. The flip side is, with lots of general assumptions, 30k miles (& $15k spend on your UA card if you need to hit 25k to maintain status).