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That stinks! This is why you should always book directly with the airline.. live and learn.
Skybooker is headquartered in Georgia, USA. I really don’t know if they or the others have EU connections.
And yes, the difference in price far out weighs the fee they charge. We saved at least $500 per ticket. I did hunt high and low for weeks before I purchased the tix. The airlines were always a lot higher.
I’m wondering how prices will be when I start hunting again. Maybe the airlines will be cheaper after all this but I’m not holding my breath.
I’m supposed to fly out of JFK on June 17-July 3. I just don’t know what to do. Staying in AirB&B in Murren and then hotel in Zermatt. Does this even sound doable now?
Hi Happybeetle8,
I am sorry you are in this situation. A few travellers on this forum who are in the same boat suggest the best thing to is perhaps wait for the airline to cancel and then ask for a refund. I would agree with them. That way you can get your money back or have the option to reschedule your flights at no cost. As for your accommodation bookings, perhaps you can contact the hotels directly and negotiate.
The coronavirus restrictions in Switzerland are gradually being lifted in stages but no concrete decisions yet on mass international and cross border travel. You can find the latest updates on the coronavirus situation in Switzerland here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland
Stay safe and regards,
Anna
Update:
We have received a FULL refund for our original flight tickets and no additional fees. The credit card statement says it’s from Delta but the booking was through Skybooker so it was up to them to do it.
I would use an online travel agent again even though some of them can be a little sketchy. I don’t think we’ll ever get that deal again. $587 RT from OKC to AMS. And that was main cabin, not basic economy. That same ticket is $1100 if booked through Delta for travel in September.
Anyhoo, we’re looking at maybe September to try our Europe road trip again. Funny how you lose some of the excitement when months of planning is shot down. Hopefully we’ll get it back.
As for the Switzerland part of our trip, we’re now considering visiting the small non-touristy towns and villages instead of the high cost mountain excursions (I’ve been following those posts about small villages.) That would be keeping with our usual ‘off the beaten path’ road trip style. Although we may still have to do lunch at Piz Gloria to get the over priced 007 burger. Sometimes ya just gotta make allowances.;-)
That link was added by someone other than me. I don’t buy into that.
<< Anyhoo, we’re looking at maybe September to try our Europe road trip again. Funny how you lose some of the excitement when months of planning is shot down. Hopefully we’ll get it back. >> I am sure you will get it back. It’s too bad all this pandemic business has deflated your enthusiasm. Once you know it is a real “go”, I am sure you will be excited all over again. It seems that this will be a road trip ? If so, you will undoubtedly be able to find less touristy places, as many of the touristy are accessed by rail, and conversely, many of the less touristy places are not. Yes, I know that the Post Bus adds to this but from what I have seen, tourists prefer the train, and the lake boats, of course.
Just for fun, I tried to find out the cost of one of those 007 burgers. No luck there, but I did read that there is an excellent all-you-can-eat buffet that is supposedly not too expensive. Of course, pretty well everything is more expensive here than in most foreign countries. In closing, I did find a video of one of your 007 burgers, and it looks pretty good: youtu.be/ugzr3Fqb1_k
Perhaps Irma Bunt will be your waitress. 😉
I enjoyed the video link of the ‘construction’ of the 007 burger. I had to chuckle when I saw that she put it together with her bare (ungloved) hands. It didn’t strike me as anything special (other than the 007 branded bun). At least the iceberg lettuce appeared crisp…
Well, the video was posted almost 4 years ago, and I know that even then hand-washing was practiced. I was wondering what type of cheese they used.
If I remember correctly, the 007 burger with fries and drink was about CHF 25. It’s nothing special except the branded bun but it’s the James Bond Phenomena that attracts people. And you know everybody takes a picture of their burger. As for the cheese, Swiss without the holes?
For what it is worth, I usually find that the frites in Switzerland are especially good, to my taste, anyway.
They come with that burger.
I don’t suppose that the high altitude will affect the cooking. The oil should be at te same temperature as at lower altitudes.
Slowpoke
<< For what it is worth, I usually find that the frites in Switzerland are especially good, to my taste, anyway. >> Ah yes, much better that the ones made from frozen, already cut, potatoes. But what about Rösti ? Have you not been sampling this dish all over Switzerland and can you tell us where you had your most delicious Rösti ? What were the ingredients ? Or should I say what came along with the Rösti (salad, cheese, meat ???). I googled the words Rösti + Schweiz + Rezept but most of what I found was from Germany. But I did find this (including a video) from Betty Bossi: http://www.bettybossi.ch/de/Magazin/Display/1065641/Die-Roesti-ein-Schweizer-Klassiker
<<” can you tell us where you had your most delicious Rösti ?”>>
In the Emmental, of course. In several places, but the ones that I tend to recall particularly were at the Landgasthof Sonne, in Affoltern i. E. Accompanied, of course, by Kalbsleberli. Herr Briggen was particularly expert at the combination, and his style of cooking the Leberli (thin, seared) made the combination stand out.
No more…the inn is now apartments… with the view attached below.
I have not yet tried the Rösti at Kleine Scheidegg, but intend to.
More important is that, in my opinion, the Rösti at the Zeughauskeller in Zürich are inferior; or, more specifically, have been during approximately the last 10 years. Before that they were pretty good. Possibly due to the need for speed, they seem to have changed their cooking technique.
They lack flavor. They remind me of some frites available in the USA a few years ago, at one of the burger chains. They advertised “crisps.” Seeking crispness, the potatoes were coated with potato starch (or, possibly, corn starch) before cooking. That produced a very crisp product quickly , without the need for slower, more patient cooking. Flavor was disappointing.
Just my amateur opinion. I’ve not been able yet to make them well here in the USA.
Slowpoke
Attachments:
Hi, << In the Emmental, of course. >> I kind of expected that answer, didn’t I ? But with Kalbsleberli ? There is no way you could cook Leberli that I would eat. Some of the Rösti I like the best have come with ham and cheese.
I do like the photo of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau you took from your room in Affoltern; from Neuchâtel they are more in the distance, and often obscured by the brouillard. But are you sure you took that photo at dawn ? The colour of the sky and the shadows don’t seem right for dawn. If I can find it, I will post a photo of the Säntis taken one late afternoon a bit south of Kreuzlingen after a day trip to Insel Mainau (Deutschland).
Hi Peterli –
<<“But with Kalbsleberli ? There is no way you could cook Leberli that I
would eat. Some of the Rösti I like the best have come with ham and
cheese.”>>
I’m afraid the Röstigraben may have made a modest appearance in
this exchange. Simply put, the combination is a “classic” in the
Emmental, and, for that matter, at Restaurant Uto Staffel on the
Uetliberg, near Zürich. However, as we are constantly reminded, we are all entitled to our opinion. 😉
<<“But are you sure you took that photo at dawn ? The colour of the sky and the shadows don’t seem right for dawn.”>>
Good eye. You are absolutely right. I shall change the title, or else flip the image left to right . I wonder if i would get caught if i did that?
The view is south facing, so the sun is to the West. Must be sunset. Definitely in low light. The indistinct area in the left of the image is a sign of that, as well as a low quality scan. (Old scanner, low dynamic range). Since it was scanned from film many years ago, I cannot use the EXIF data to determine the time of day at which it was taken. Also,in those days, before calibrated work flows, there is a good chance that the color is not accurate. Bringing an image up from a dark photograph was an inexact art in those days. The tools are much better today.
The picture is quite old, and you can see the film grain or scanner noise if you enlarge it. I shall hasten to change the name of the file, when I next have that set of images connected to my computer. (They are on an external SSD).
Slowpoke
<< I shall change the title, or else flip the image left to right . I wonder if i would get caught if i did that? >> You bet you will get caught. The steering wheels on those cars would be on the wrong side, not to mention that the Swiss flag would be backward (I wonder how many people will jump on me for that). 😉
Had to look up Rosti. Certainly looks good. Being a modest foodie, especially on road trips, I’ll definitely be trying it when we eventually get there.
Once plans are made again, I’ll be picking everyone’s brains for places to eat local dishes.
Hi Harveyshot,
check this one for more Swiss gastro tips: http://www.myswissalps.com/aboutswitzerland/culturehistory/food 😉
Ildiko
Hi.
<< Had to look up Rosti. Certainly looks good. Being a modest foodie, especially on road trips, I’ll definitely be trying it when we eventually get there. >>
To whet your appetite, here (first attachment) is the image for April on my 2020 Swiss Food Calendar. A Berner Rösti, with what looks like some cheese on the top. Definitely no liver ! Just for fun, also attached is a photo of the back of the calendar, with mini images of what is featured for each month. I never look at an upcoming month until it is time to actually flip to it, but I guess sending a photo of these minis is not breaking my rule.
If you like beautiful calendars, be sure to check this: http://www.calendars.ch/
<<“A Berner Rösti, with what looks like some cheese on the top. Definitely no liver ! “>>
Das Leberli is served beside the potatoes.
Not on!
Slowpoke
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