FAI and Abbey Travel launch Supporters' Travel Packages

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16/10/2009, 10:47 AM
willk1977

FAI and Abbey Travel launch Supporters' Travel Packages
Lads, just got this e-mailed to me this morning.
Seems the FAI have moved on from Ray Treacy
Rang them and was told that they are taking registrations for the play-off game already.

FAI and Abbey Travel launch Supporters' Travel Packages

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Press Release Date: 15th October 2009

FAI and Abbey Travel launch Supporters' Travel Packages

Abbey Travel and the FAI have today (October 15th) joined forces to launch an exclusive supporters' travel club. This is a first for both the FAI and Abbey Travel and an exciting development for fans. It is also the first of a number of initiatives for fans that will be announced over the coming months.

Under the agreement, Abbey Travel become the Official Agent for all supporters' travel packages for European Championship and World Cup away games. The partnership will begin with the play off games in November, 14th and 18th.

The FAI Official Travel Package will offer Irish fans the best value packages for flights, hotels and match tickets for all away games. As official agent, Abbey Travel are the only travel agent who can officially guarantee Irish fans Irish section match tickets at face value, while other travel agents can't.
Benefits of joining the 'FAI Official Travel Club' in partnership with Abbey Travel:
- Best value packages to all away Ireland matches
- Face value match tickets to members for all Ireland away games.
- Peace of mind with guaranteed seating in the Irish fans section at away games.
- All away trips will be escorted with a 24 hour dedicated support team offering advice and travel services whilst abroad.
- Detailed destination information for all away games including recommendations on restaurants, pubs, night-life and local hot spots.
- Abbey Travel is a fully bonded and licensed travel agent and tour operator with a bond to the value of �2.5 million, which means fan's bookings and travel will always be protected.
Neil Horgan, Managing Director, Abbey Travel "Abbey Travel is delighted to be able to offer Irish fans away tickets at face value".

FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney said, "Abbey Travel has a great record as a sports tour operator and this new partnership will provide a one stop shop for fans to travel straight to away games with accommodation and Irish section match tickets included."
About Abbey Travel:
Abbey Travel is one of Ireland's longest established travel agents, founded in 1978 by Con Horgan. Today Con's son Neil manages Abbey Travel. Abbey Travel is a fully bonded travel agent and tour operator.

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16/10/2009, 1:00 PM
reder

Nothing new here, they have been getting tickets for away games for years but the FAI never openly admitted it for some reason. They have now become the primary operator for away games due to Ray Treacy's retirement. I know people who have travelled with to the likes of Basle away I and got official away end tickets.
16/10/2009, 1:37 PM
Greenforever

Im sceptical about them offering best value packages!!!

It will be interesting to see if they drop prices to compete with the DIY packages!!

Didnt get an email from the FAI for this despite going to all away games (and getting tickets direct from the FAI) for more years than i care to remember:D:D:D
16/10/2009, 1:46 PM
willk1977

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenforever

Im sceptical about them offering best value packages!!!

It will be interesting to see if they drop prices to compete with the DIY packages!!

Didnt get an email from the FAI for this despite going to all away games (and getting tickets direct from the FAI) for more years than i care to remember:D:D:D

I doubt they will be as cheap as a DIY package. They are a business after all and wouldn't expect them to be. It'll be interesting to see though
16/10/2009, 3:20 PM
mypost

Any travel agent who expects fans to pay €750 per trip in this climate will soon end up like Ray Treacy Travel. People don't need a "dedicated support team", offering "advice", and "destination information". All they have to do is look up tripadvisor, or for the interesting trips, dfa.ie

The DIY packages are twice the value at half the price. It's obvious what most people will go for.
16/10/2009, 6:57 PM
MariborKev

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk1977

[*]Peace of mind with guaranteed seating in the Irish fans section at away games.

With half the crowd standing, no one is guaranteed seating......
16/10/2009, 7:08 PM
Arnold Layne

Anyone that travels with Abbey Travel is taking a risk. Remember the Liverpool fans that were let know the day before the CL final? That was Abbey Travel promising tickets that they didn't have.

He does it all the time and I've seen him running around outside Old Trafford trying to buy up tickets off touts after his other contacts had let him down.

I know Neil well, he's a Leeds fan. All of the above is true so please don't delete it.
16/10/2009, 11:47 PM
SuperDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold Layne

Anyone that travels with Abbey Travel is taking a risk. Remember the Liverpool fans that were let know the day before the CL final? That was Abbey Travel promising tickets that they didn't have.

He does it all the time and I've seen him running around outside Old Trafford trying to buy up tickets off touts after his other contacts had let him down.

I know Neil well, he's a Leeds fan. All of the above is true so please don't delete it.

If it is true, it's not relevant to the present debate is it? After all, if he is the official FAI operator, surely they're not going to let him **** it up? I suppose he might sell more packages than he has tickets for but the first time he gets caught out the FAI will come down on him like a ton of bricks. I wouldn't worry about it happening to tell you the truth.
17/10/2009, 12:44 AM
Greenforever

Are Abbey Travel a subsidary of FBD, who also own the Tower Hotel Group???
18/10/2009, 9:34 AM
Claret Murph

Ooohhhhh that sounds like fun , I mean getting tickets for the away end . Now if I only got another 5 numbers on the Lotto on Saturday I still would not touch it .

It's been said so many times do the leg work yourself and save €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
19/10/2009, 2:07 PM
willk1977

Quote:

Originally Posted by mypost

Any travel agent who expects fans to pay �750 per trip in this climate will soon end up like Ray Treacy Travel. People don't need a "dedicated support team", offering "advice", and "destination information". All they have to do is look up tripadvisor, or for the interesting trips, dfa.ie

The DIY packages are twice the value at half the price. It's obvious what most people will go for.

Just rang there. Nowhere near the 750eur ! 249 + Tax + face value ticket !
19/10/2009, 3:19 PM
blobbyblob

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk1977

Just rang there. Nowhere near the 750eur ! 249 + Tax + face value ticket !

That price is for the day trip

400 for the overnighter + whatever the match ticket costs.
19/10/2009, 3:51 PM
jbyrne

Quote:

Originally Posted by blobbyblob

That price is for the day trip

400 for the overnighter + whatever the match ticket costs.

those prices are not too bad really. even 5 mins after the draw was made flights out of dublin were �300 plus accommodation on top of that
19/10/2009, 4:36 PM
gspain

Agreed reasonable enough - I'd have booked the day trip if I'd known about it.