FLIGHT PAYMENTSTuesday 11 March is set in stone as the date that payments due to Williment Event Management must be paid.
It is crucial that all groups pay for their seats by this date as any tickets not paid for by this date will be cancelled by the airlines. This date is non-negotiable and late payments are not possible.
Williments are currently processing the received requests for changes and extensions and hope to be sending out invoices for the balance due within the next two weeks. This is a very extensive and complicated process and we do ask your patience as they do so.
In the interim you can reliably base your planning on the cost stated on your confirmation letter sent last year. The final price will be based on this but may include any changes in taxes.
SPREADSHEETS
All invoices will be created and flight tickets issued from the current spreadsheet information that was due December 14.
Please check your spreadsheet - the spellings of names especially. Changes to these details after March 11 will incur charges from the airlines. Also pilgrims whose tickets do not exactly match their passport may be refused travel.
If your most recently submitted spreadsheet is accurate you will not need to submit this again. However, please email wyd@williment.co.nz to confirm that no changes are to be made. Williments cannot simply assume this.
If there are any changes to be made to names or details on your group’s spreadsheet, an updated version must be sent to wyd@williment.co.nz as soon as possible. Thesemust be received by March 11.
CHANGES TO YOUR GROUP MEMBERS / GROUP SIZE
You may have extra “Names to be Advised” seats. You may have pilgrims wishing to cancel their booking or others wanting to join your group. If so, in the first instance please contact me here in the World Youth Day Office.
We are fielding enquiries here at the World Youth Day Office and would love to be able to help as many pilgrims as we can to enjoy this pilgrimage. We can only do this if we know what is available or needed from each group. I need to know the number of seats available or required and the flight allocations of the group. I will endeavour to match suitable pilgrims and groups as promptly as I am able – definitely before this deadline!
NATIONAL GARMENT SIZING REQUEST
These spreadsheets were also used to collect the sizes required for our hooded sweatshirts provided as part of the National Contribution cost included in the quotes from Williments. There are still several groups who have not yet provided sizing details.
If you have not provided your group’s sizing details please contact me as soon as possible. These details are required urgently and are needed by Monday 11 February.
VISAS
All pilgrims travelling toAustralia for World Youth Day will need to have a passport valid for at least six months after the date of your arrival in Australia.
All pilgrims travelling on a passport not from Australia or New Zealand will need to apply for a visa to travel to Sydney for World Youth Day. There are two types of visa available depending on the country of your passport. Please see the simplified guide to the application process to determine which process to follow and the application form 48R for those pilgrims that require it - these are both available on the GL Resources page.
The full visa process also requires a letter of endorsement from our Bishop. Dave Mullin has recently sent a guide to the process to obtain this letter to all group leaders. Please contact me if you may have missed this and require this information.
Because of our March 11 deadline for payments and details we are encouraging all pilgrims who require a visa to apply as soon as possible to meet this deadline.
GROUP LEADERS MEETINGS
We realise there may be questions raised by these issues. I am available here in the office to assist with your enquiries.
We have also planned the series of Regional Group Leaders meetings within the next few weeks to address any concerns you may have in advance of our March 11 deadline.
Each meeting will start at 7.30pm. Details for each meeting are provided on our Calendar page.
If you as Group Leader are unavailable to attend a meeting, please arrange for a representative to be present. These meetings will be very valuable and a way to address any concerns you have. We’ll also have a chance to share what is working well for each of our groups as we work towards this pilgrimage!
Blessings always and all ways in this pilgrim journey!Joanne