Post by daearegwr on Sept 7, 2023 17:13:58 GMT
Had an email from Wonky Sheep today introducing their new Wales Away Travel Club. What's people's thoughts? I think it's asking a lot of fans to pay extra for this. Appreciate you can organise your own travel but given they are the Official FAW partner it doesn't sit well with me. Feels like squeezing more money from fans.
What is the travel club?
This is your new way to get access to trips first when they go on sale, get them at the cheapest price and take advantage of some other travel benefits.
How will the new membership work?
Memberships will run for 12 months covering a season (eg September to August) with the same end date for everyone regardless of when you join. It would cover a Nations League or qualifying campaign and hopefully a tournament if there is one that year, as well as friendlies.
So for 2023/24, it would cover games played in March, June, September, October and November 2024 as the trips would be on sale in advance of this with draws taking place towards the end of this year.
Then it will follow the same pattern going forward covering draws at the end of a year for the following year’s matches.
There will be two tiers:
Gold members
You will get the first *24 hours to book a trip and will be guaranteed your space providing you book within this period. After the 24 hours, the space will not be guaranteed, however, you will get a fixed cheapest rate on all trips regardless of when you make your booking (providing there is still space left).
Gold members will also get 10% off holidays and city breaks booked through us (excluding ready-made packages from our partners). Gold members will receive a travel gift from us.
**Free name changes and seat requests up to 7 days before travel.
The number of gold members will be limited to allow other members the chance to book. Everyone in a booking would need to be a gold member to gain the priority and benefits.
Gold membership: £50 per year
Standard members
You will have a *24-hour window after the gold members to book your space but this will be subject to availability at the time of booking, not a guaranteed space. You will pay the next lowest price and like gold members, it will be a fixed rate whenever you make your booking.
Standard members will also get 5% off holidays and city breaks booked through us (excluding ready-made packages from our partners). Standard members will receive a travel gift from us.
**Free name changes and seat requests up to 14 days before travel.
Everyone in your booking would need to be a standard or gold member at the time of booking to gain the priority and benefits.
So for example, if 3 of you wanted to book a trip during the priority window but 1 of you didn’t have a membership, then only 2 of you would be able to book.
Standard membership: £30 per year
*Priority windows may reduce if there is a short turnaround for a game (such as play-off final or a tournament knock-out round) but priorities will remain.
**Name changes and seating requests based on our chartered aircraft flights
Non-members
All remaining spaces will open to those on the mailing list and general sale who are not members where trips will be available with the next price bracket and prices will rise similar to Saver and Full Price rates.
**Name changes £25 per change up to 21 days before travel, no changes after this date. Aisle/extra legroom requests £25 per seat if seat is allocated.
**Name changes and seating requests based on our chartered aircraft flights
Example pricing
Gold members: £350 regardless of when you book
Standard members: £360 regardless of when you book
Non-members: £385 Saver rate, £395 full price
Wasn’t the mailing list for priority bookings?
It was, but because there are so many people on it now, there’s no priority anymore and it’s just a scramble for spaces when trips go on sale. This year alone we’ve seen the speed at which they’ve sold out and there will be times when we won’t be able to put on extra spaces, so something new is needed.
The new scheme will also stop people booking out of turn as we know on odd occasions, links previously sent to the mailing list were passed to people who weren’t on it. Now, unless you’re a member, you won’t be able to book until it’s your turn as the system will recognise it through your account.
That said, the mailing list will remain your place to find out when trips do go on sale along with all of our other updates.
What’s the difference between the membership and the website account?
Every supporter who books an away trip with us must create an account on the website in order to book regardless of whether you have a membership or not.
This includes filling out your passport and other details, and allows you to link accounts. The accounts system is aimed at making the booking process smoother and quicker.
Then separately, the travel club will be our new priority list and benefits scheme which is optional to join.
How do I join?
Simple. You just need to go to your account and you’ll find the option to join towards the bottom.
What is the travel club?
This is your new way to get access to trips first when they go on sale, get them at the cheapest price and take advantage of some other travel benefits.
How will the new membership work?
Memberships will run for 12 months covering a season (eg September to August) with the same end date for everyone regardless of when you join. It would cover a Nations League or qualifying campaign and hopefully a tournament if there is one that year, as well as friendlies.
So for 2023/24, it would cover games played in March, June, September, October and November 2024 as the trips would be on sale in advance of this with draws taking place towards the end of this year.
Then it will follow the same pattern going forward covering draws at the end of a year for the following year’s matches.
There will be two tiers:
Gold members
You will get the first *24 hours to book a trip and will be guaranteed your space providing you book within this period. After the 24 hours, the space will not be guaranteed, however, you will get a fixed cheapest rate on all trips regardless of when you make your booking (providing there is still space left).
Gold members will also get 10% off holidays and city breaks booked through us (excluding ready-made packages from our partners). Gold members will receive a travel gift from us.
**Free name changes and seat requests up to 7 days before travel.
The number of gold members will be limited to allow other members the chance to book. Everyone in a booking would need to be a gold member to gain the priority and benefits.
Gold membership: £50 per year
Standard members
You will have a *24-hour window after the gold members to book your space but this will be subject to availability at the time of booking, not a guaranteed space. You will pay the next lowest price and like gold members, it will be a fixed rate whenever you make your booking.
Standard members will also get 5% off holidays and city breaks booked through us (excluding ready-made packages from our partners). Standard members will receive a travel gift from us.
**Free name changes and seat requests up to 14 days before travel.
Everyone in your booking would need to be a standard or gold member at the time of booking to gain the priority and benefits.
So for example, if 3 of you wanted to book a trip during the priority window but 1 of you didn’t have a membership, then only 2 of you would be able to book.
Standard membership: £30 per year
*Priority windows may reduce if there is a short turnaround for a game (such as play-off final or a tournament knock-out round) but priorities will remain.
**Name changes and seating requests based on our chartered aircraft flights
Non-members
All remaining spaces will open to those on the mailing list and general sale who are not members where trips will be available with the next price bracket and prices will rise similar to Saver and Full Price rates.
**Name changes £25 per change up to 21 days before travel, no changes after this date. Aisle/extra legroom requests £25 per seat if seat is allocated.
**Name changes and seating requests based on our chartered aircraft flights
Example pricing
Gold members: £350 regardless of when you book
Standard members: £360 regardless of when you book
Non-members: £385 Saver rate, £395 full price
Wasn’t the mailing list for priority bookings?
It was, but because there are so many people on it now, there’s no priority anymore and it’s just a scramble for spaces when trips go on sale. This year alone we’ve seen the speed at which they’ve sold out and there will be times when we won’t be able to put on extra spaces, so something new is needed.
The new scheme will also stop people booking out of turn as we know on odd occasions, links previously sent to the mailing list were passed to people who weren’t on it. Now, unless you’re a member, you won’t be able to book until it’s your turn as the system will recognise it through your account.
That said, the mailing list will remain your place to find out when trips do go on sale along with all of our other updates.
What’s the difference between the membership and the website account?
Every supporter who books an away trip with us must create an account on the website in order to book regardless of whether you have a membership or not.
This includes filling out your passport and other details, and allows you to link accounts. The accounts system is aimed at making the booking process smoother and quicker.
Then separately, the travel club will be our new priority list and benefits scheme which is optional to join.
How do I join?
Simple. You just need to go to your account and you’ll find the option to join towards the bottom.
