Flight Deviation Information, Request Form and FAQs
Flight Deviation Information
At Musicians Abroad, a deviation is any change in itinerary or inclusions from the standard group trip. Often, flight deviations are notated on a traveler’s Trip Account registration with a symbol added prior to their last name.
Example: Jordan Taylor ^Smith
If you find a symbol has been added to the beginning of a traveler’s last name, please do not remove it. If you are unsure why the special symbol is included, feel free to reach out to us for clarification.
Types of Permitted Deviations
One-Way Flight (>)
Travelers staying in Europe or returning to a destination that differs from the group’s arrival airport at the conclusion of the group itinerary may be interested in requesting a One-Way Flight deviation.
Travelers are a part of the group manifest and fly with the group from the US departure airport to Europe. However, no return flight is booked for these travelers.
Eligibility: All travelers. Student One-Way Flight travelers must submit approval paperwork with Musicians Abroad prior to arriving in Europe and must be checked out from their assigned Staff/Chaperone by a parent or designated guardian.
Pricing adjustment: A price reduction will be applied to the total trip cost for one-way travelers. The exact amount of this reduction may not be available until final invoicing. Please note that the price reduction should not be expected to be half of the airfare cost, as airlines generally do not equally discount one-way international fares.
Land Package Only (*)
Travelers interested in departing from/arriving at airports or traveling on dates that differ from the group itinerary or travelers who wish for maximum control over their flight (airline, class, seat, purchases/upgrades using loyalty points/miles) may want to request a Land Package Only deviation.
Musicians Abroad will not book any airfare for Land Package Only (LPO) travelers.
An LPO traveler’s trip itinerary begins with the first listed activity upon arrival in Europe and ends at the final hotel check-out on the return travel day.
LPO travelers are responsible for their own transportation to/from all airports as well as to the first listed activity in Europe. If an LPO traveler’s flight itinerary coincides with an MA Flight Group’s, they are welcome to utilize the group’s ground transportation to/from the airport. However, in the event of any delays, changes, interruptions, etc. MA must prioritize the group’s needs and may not be able to make special accommodations for LPO travelers.
Eligibility: All travelers on Family and Friends trips and adult and child travelers only on combined trips. (Student and staff travelers do not qualify.)
Pricing Adjustment: LPO travelers should expect their trip cost to be the cost disclosed at kick-off meetings, prior to airfare being added.
Since standard installment payments are often greater than the cost of the Land Package, LPO travelers should take care to not overpay their account prior to final invoicing.
Musicians Abroad cannot be held financially responsible for any Land Package activities or inclusions missed due to delays or interruptions on individually booked travel. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all travelers.
Seat Upgrades (^)
Travelers interested in upgrading to a seating class above Basic Economy or who have specific seating needs may wish to request a Seat Upgrade deviation.
Travelers are booked with and fly with the group but may or may not be a part of the group manifest.
Once flight groups are assigned, Musicians Abroad will check with the assigned airline for available upgrades. Once we receive options back from the airline, details will be sent to the traveler to either confirm or decline. No seats are held at the time of the initial request, so availability and pricing may change until a booking is confirmed.
All traveler details must be available at the time of booking, including passport details.
Eligibility: All travelers, regardless of traveler type or trip.
Pricing Adjustment: Upgraded seats are ticketed at the time of booking, meaning:
- An upgrade cost estimate will be provided from the airline but is not guaranteed until the time of booking.
- The full cost of the upgraded airfare is due upon booking and is immediately non-refundable.
- Tickets are generally considered non-changeable and are subject to airline policies.
Upgrades using miles or frequent flyer program awards are not able to be utilized on group tickets. All upgrades will incur an extra charge.
Flight Deviation Request Form
Request any of the above deviations by filling out the form below.
Please note: Any flight deviation requests must be made prior to January 31, 2025. No changes or flight deviations may occur after January 31, 2025.
Group Air Travel FAQs
Q: How are seats assigned? Can I pick my seat or request an aisle/window?
A: Airlines do not reserve specific seats for groups when a contract is booked.
When it comes time to ticket a group (send in the actual names of travelers), the airline will fill whatever empty seats are available at that time, within the booked class. Usually, they’ll fill from the front to back or back to front, in order of the manifest that is sent to them.
Q: Can I request to sit next to someone?
A: Our team makes an effort to sort flight manifests in a way that places family members or associated travelers together. However, this does not guarantee that you will be placed in a seat next to each other or seated next to travelers in our group.
Q: When will I receive my confirmation/ticket numbers?
A: All travelers will receive their confirmation and ticket numbers upon check-in at the airport.
Q: When will I know my seat assignments?
A: Musicians Abroad does not receive seat assignments ahead of departure. All travelers will receive their seat assignment details upon check-in at the airport.
Q: Can I add my Frequent Flier/Loyalty number or Known Traveler Number (KTN), such as TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry, to my ticket?
A: All travelers are welcome to add their personal Frequent Flier/Loyalty account numbers and KTNs to their ticket during airport check-in or with a gate agent.
Even for travelers with loyalty status, tickets booked under a group contract are typically not eligible for upgrades on site. Some other loyalty benefits may still apply (e.g., free checked luggage).
To help avoid any issues with linking tickets, travelers should be sure that their name, gender, birthdate and passport details exactly match their Musicians Abroad trip registration and Frequent Flier/Loyalty accounts or KTNs.
