PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Booking Your Flight
It’s time to book your flight! Every SPI traveler is required to book and manage their own flights within our specific booking guidelines. Peak fares range between $600-1,200 for Latin America and $1,300-2,000 for Europe & Asia. You have the choice to book directly with the airline, through STA Travel, or with another agency. STA may have access to discounted student fares, but please keep in mind airfares change minute by minute and are not guaranteed until you are officially ticketed. You are free to use miles or points to book your ticket directly with the airline.
Please do NOT book your flight until you have thoroughly read all flight information below! Any questions or assistance with flights should be directed to STA Travel directly 1-800-216-4190 or by email spi@statravel.com. ***SPI is not affiliated nor responsible for services provided by STA Travel***
Airport Reception
All students traveling on our regular SPI summer programs will be met at the international arrival airport by on-site directors provided your flights are within our booking guidelines. SPI normally has staff at major hub airports (ie. Newark) to assist with connecting flights for our regular summer programs.
Teacher Travelers
All custom programs will have a teacher from the sponsoring school travel on the designated outbound flights unless otherwise noted. For our regular programs, a chaperone will travel on the designated international flight unless circumstances beyond our control prohibit them from traveling. We cannot guarantee that a particular teacher will travel on the exact same connecting flights (ie. Dallas to Newark) as some teachers will arrive abroad prior to the group.
WHICH FLIGHT WILL MY TEACHER TRAVEL ON?: For regular summer programs, if you wish to travel on the same connecting flights as your teacher, we do not confirm exact teacher itineraries until March 15.
Designated Program Flights
SPI designates international flights for each program. SPI staff members travel on the outbound flight, unless circumstances beyond our control prohibit them from traveling. Designated flights are normally only listed from the international flight gateway city but you will book your flight from your nearest originating airport (ie. Austin) and connect with other students and teachers for the international flight.
CUSTOM PROGRAMS – GROUP SPACE: Some closed school groups (not all) with an estimated enrollment over sixteen may have a block of group space reserved with the airline which requires a minimum of 10 passengers. Although STA will collect payment upfront and “confirm” your seat on the group space, your ticket is not fully purchased/confirmed until a minimum of 10 students have been booked. If space is not met 90 days prior to departure, the group space is cancelled and students will be responsible for paying current published rates on the same flights or an alternative option will be offered. You will be notified 90 days out if the group space did not make minimum numbers. SPI does not issue program refunds based on increased airfare.
REGULAR PROGRAMS – PUBLISHED FARE: Group space is not reserved for our regular summer programs. Students will purchase published fare tickets, which fluctuate minute by minute, and are controlled 100% by the airline. Pricing is all dependent on what the airline decides it will charge at any given time. Students are expected to be capable of traveling on their own to/from the international arrival city (i.e. Madrid) where each program officially begins.
Click Here for STA Travel Designated Flights & Booking Guidelines
Independent Travel Arrangements
Students who do not book within our booking guidelines will be considered “Independent Travelers” and charged a $350 convenience fee. An additional escorting fee of $150 each way will be charged if a student arrives outside the designated flight’s arrival/departure time (by 2 hours or more) OR if they arrive to a different terminal than the program’s designated flight. Independent travelers will be provided detailed arrival instructions and on-site contact information one week prior to departure.
Why the fee? The fee is designed to discourage students from not traveling on the designated flights. It also covers SPI’s time in additional planning needed to coordinate special transfers to connect with the group.
Fees & Release Form
Students who will be arriving or departing outside the normal program’s itinerary are required to complete the release form below to indicate when and where you will officially meet or depart the program. This applies to students who will be arriving by other means than air travel or meeting parents at the end of the program.
| Independent Traveler – Not Traveling within Booking Guidelines
*This fee is waived for special groups traveling from outside North or South America. |
$350 |
| Escorting Fees – Additional Fees for Independent Travelers*Escorting Fees apply if student needs a special chaperone for airport pick up or drop off normally required for students whose flights arrive outside our normal flight arrival or departure times. | $150 each way |
Families Wishing to Meet Their Child Abroad
Due to disruption from the immersion experience, SPI does not encourage parents to visit their child during the program. If you would like to meet your child AFTER the program has ended, please plan to meet them at the airport 2 hours prior to the departure of the designated return flight. Please complete the release form above and return it to SPI if you plan to pick-up your child abroad.