Travel

As the official travel program of the Texas Exes, the Flying Longhorns provides Texas Exes members and their friends and families the opportunity to travel without the hassle of trip planning and logistics. Texas Exes offers more than 60 trips each year, from chartered day trips for away football games to three-week private jet journeys around the world.

Since 1961, more than 25,000 alumni and friends have taken advantage of traveling with the Flying Longhorns, providing them a way to see the world. Flying Longhorns trips set the stage for participants to continue their education, reconnect with UT, deepen their relationship with the Texas Exes, and make new like-minded friends.

Who can participate?
Flying Longhorns trips are open to all Texas Exes members and their friends and families. Our travel program is a benefit of membership, so at least one person among each family traveling with us should have a current Texas Exes membership. We also are happy to make membership in the Texas Exes available to non-graduate “friends of UT”.

How often are trips scheduled?
There are more than 60 trips offered each year, with at least one each month. See the trip schedule for all planned trips. Check back there often, as things change often in the world of travel these days!

Where can I go?
Just about anywhere! Take a look at the trip schedule to see all planned trips. You’ll find that we offer a variety of destinations, trip lengths, prices, and modes of travel. We also offer some trips that appeal to a specific interest, such as golf, cooking, or Longhorn football. Keep in mind that some trips have more space than others, and reservations are made with a paid deposit on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why would I want to travel with the Flying Longhorns?
Flying Longhorns trips blend exciting explorations and enlightening education into amazing travel experiences. We are able to create such authentic and meaningful experiences by incorporating knowledgable tour guides, engaged historians, and enthusiastic naturalists into personalized events and excursions.

Our groups sometimes have special access, such as entering the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia before it is open to the public or having dinner in the home of a Peruvian family descended from Incans.

But the very best thing about traveling with us, frequently listed as the trip highlight in our post-trip evaluations from participants, is getting to know the other fun, interesting, energetic, warm-hearted Texas Exes in your group. Lifelong friendships are often established during Flying Longhorns trips.

Besides all of this, every Flying Longhorns participation helps to support all of the Texas Exes programs designed to allow the Texas Exes to be an independent voice that champions the University of Texas, organizing alumni and friends into a formidable network to change the world.

Education on the go
Our trips are arranged by reputable international tour companies dedicated to educational affinity travel. A professional from the tour provider, as well as a representative from the Texas Exes when possible, accompanies the group throughout every tour. These are not college classes, though, just enriching and fun trips.

Relax, learn, and have fun
Your only responsibilities during the trip are to relax, learn something new, enjoy the fine company, and have fun.  Every detail, from transportation and lodging to the finest dining and sightseeing activities, is pre-planned so that your trip is 100 percent worry-free. Our motto: “Pay up, show up, and we will do the rest.”

How do I make a trip reservation?
Your trip reservation will be made when we receive your deposit. There are multiple ways to make your reservation, but the best way is to call us with your credit card. Many frequent Flying Longhorns participants pre-register once they see a future trip they know they’ll want to take, even if the trip is more than a year in the future. In this way, some trips are sold out very early. On the other hand, there is also sometimes space on a trip until the last minute. Please call us whenever you have an interest in taking one of our trips at 800/594-3900.

Solo Travelers
All programs offer a limited number of single-occupancy slots. Trip participants who request a room to be occupied by one person usually are charged a “single supplement.” If you find a roommate, you can convert to a double room if one is still available; if not, you must remain a single-occupancy participant. Likewise, if you join the trip with a friend who later cancels, you’ll become a single occupant and will be required to pay the “single supplement.” If you are interested in rooming with another solo traveler, we certainly will attempt to match you, but such a match is rare.

Physically-Challenged Travelers
To fully enjoy the Flying Longhorns experience, participants need to be in good physical and mental health. We ask that participants be able to walk a mile in 30 minutes because most trips require considerable walking, and often on uneven surfaces. There are also sometimes numerous steps and stairs, some without handrails. Please discuss your physical constraints at the time of registration so that we can advise you of the physical requirements of the trip and describe the accessibility in the area that you plan to visit. Many countries do not offer the same level of access as the USA does. Some of the ships engaged for our cruises do not have an elevator. We can accommodate most special needs during domestic trips, of course, but participants who require extraordinary assistance must be accompanied by a traveling companion who is capable of and totally responsible for providing the required assistance. Traveling companions cannot and will not be provided by the tour operator or Texas Exes since they work during a trip for the good of the group. Please be realistic about your abilities so that you can truly enjoy the experience!

Cancellation Policy
Tour participants are subject to the cancellation and refund policies governing the particular trip for which they are signed up. In some cases cancellation penalties can be up to 100% of the trip cost. Cancellations should be made as soon as possible and, in the majority of cases, can be made by emailing or calling the Texas Exes Flying Longhorns office.

Recommendations

1. Please carefully read the cancellation policy for your specific trip, which can be found on the trip brochure. Most are posted with the trip description on the trip listing page.
2. To maximize refunds, we urge trip participants to purchase travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, and to consider “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage.

Travel/Cancellation Insurance

We offer travel insurance through Travel Insurance Services (TIS) purchase travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and/or interruption, baggage loss or damage, emergency medical coverage and evacuation, and all accidents that might take place while (or before) traveling. We will send insurance information with each of our confirmation packets. Please pay close attention to stipulations about insuring a pre-existing condition and/or “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Disclaimer
If we select a tour, it means that the supplier has met our stringent criteria for financial responsibility, established reputation, professional staff, quality operations, and all-around dependability.

Group travel includes many advantages, but also requires some compromise to individual freedom and is subject to the sort of minor changes, delays or mishaps that can occur during any sort of travel. While program and tour operator management strive to fulfill the individual needs of travelers, the primary concern must be the welfare of the group as a whole.

Dates, itineraries, program details, and costs are given in good faith, based on current information provided to the Texas Exes, and are subject to change and revision. All listed trip prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Airport taxes/VAT/fuel surcharges/airport departure or port taxes, etc. may or may not be included in the price. Please carefully check each trip brochure for all details. Every effort will be made to carry out each program as planned.