One-Way Ticket for USC?

[Tanjay 0]

I booked for myself a round-trip ticket to Manila. Then I went to Expedia and booked her on my return trip back home. There is a 100 dollar cancellation fee is she does not board. I allowed 3 weeks time for Visa in hand. Hope things will go well......Good Luck to you both!!!

[Stibnite 0]

Thanks for the advice all!

I finally found the best airlines hands down for people in my situation.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES!

Click HERE to begin!

First, thier website is the BEST of any I've seen with flexibility.

Second, they have an amazing 90 day - 6 month no pay option, as well as their own World Master Card program where you get 20,000 bonus miles just for obtaining.

Third, they allow you to purchase tickets for anyone, anywhere, with your OnePass membership, and the only thing you need is that person's Passport Number and expiration date.

Fourthly, you can pull up two separate windows (using Ctrl + N while in a web browser), and search a round trip for yourself, and then find a one-way matching return trip for your fiance(e). Just make sure when you make the actual purchase of the round trip ticket, then you close the other window, or else your PC will get confused. Then, make sure to log out, find the one-way ticket as an anon user, and then log in during the purchasing process--otherwise it will not show the one-way when you search for it because you're already booked for that flight.

Fifthly, they have the best prices I found ANYWHERE with the extreme short notice I have. I got my round trip for $1600 starting just two weeks away, and I got her one way for $700 in mid-January, AND we have matching flights and are seated next to each other with window views the whole way home!

Sixthly, their follow-up system is very quick and responsive, and the eTickets that are printed out for you are very neat and detailed. You can continue to change and arrange your seat manually until your flight. Flight contracted through Delta, though, you need to call customer service.

Seventhly, the customer service was AMAZING!!! You get three options, 1, 2, 3. I pressed 2, and almost instantly a woman answered and was obviously not foreign at all. She spoke plain, proper English, and was very easy to understand for me. She fixed a conflict in one of my flights, and as a result gave us a free upgrade at no charge to us, and arranged us the seating we wanted, and it was all done in about 5 minutes from the time I dialed.

Eightly, Continental flights connect through Hawaii instead of flying over the "North Pole" like NWA, etc. The flight is much quicker as a result, and the time between plane changes and stopovers is only 45min - 2 hours each. I may not need my jacket this time!

Ninthly, you earn double miles as a OnePass member flying international, and the bonuses and perks you receive with Continental are better than any I've seen offered from other airlines.

Tenthly, every flight has a nice schedule of meals! If you're like me, you like to eat when flying. The seating in the planes look much less cramped than those I flew on with NWA.

All in all, I give them a perfect 10 for now!

I await to see what their service on the airplanes are like, and how they handle you in the airports, as well as if there are delays or issues, etc. That all remains yet to be seen.

I'm eager to give this company a shot.

I also would like to praise God for giving us the strength to endure all of this, and for finally making a way when there seemed to be no way--especially with only a couple of weeks left for any chance at all.

We serve an almightly God! Praise His Name!

Edited December 15, 2007 by Stibnite

[edp333 9]

Sounds like a good deal for you Stibnite. My only suggestion is that 45 minutes between flights is not enough time. Most travel sites suggest a minmum of two hours between flights to allow for passing through security checks and flight delays.

Have a great flight.

[Stibnite 0]

Sounds like a good deal for you Stibnite. My only suggestion is that 45 minutes between flights is not enough time. Most travel sites suggest a minmum of two hours between flights to allow for passing through security checks and flight delays.

Have a great flight.

The 45 minute times were only domestic stopovers, not plane changes. The international changes/stopovers are 1hr 45 min avg. Far as I can tell, it's decent time.

The only problem I would forsee is if we get stopped and/or interrogated/searched or something between flights and forced into missing the departure... but my last trip I went through nothing of the like. Other than delays from plane maintenance, everything on my former flight was very swift and on time. Although, that was with a different airline. So we'll see. I hope the times are enough.

[Roserick 0]

Sorry.. I think paying 1600 for a round trip to Philippines is roughly expensive..

[Stibnite 0]

Sorry.. I think paying 1600 for a round trip to Philippines is roughly expensive..

Think now for a second . . . I bought it on the 15th of December for the 30th of December. Holiday season--New Years Eve--two weeks away!

I think it's very cheap for 15-day notice seeing that ALL other airlines were charging $2200-4500+ for the exact same flight on such short notice.

If I had been capable of getting it in advance, it would have been under $1000 like it was when I checked before we knew our K1 interview date.

I was the fortunate guy who grabbed the last available flight for the route/price I got. After I made my purchase, I searched the exact same flight, and there were none available for that day except in first class and one with a rediculous 29 hour layover--even it was still $2044 itself. Considering my other options, I think it was a fantastic deal.

My first trip to the Philippines was $1100, and that included the insurance, tax and all--but I also flew during a non-holiday season and bought my tickets two months in advance.

So is it higher than normal? Yes. Is it reasonable? Given the situation, Yes. Is it worth spending an extra $400 to be with my asawa on her interview date and having matching return trip tickets home with her? Do I even have to answer that?

[Stibnite 0]

Sorry.. I think paying 1600 for a round trip to Philippines is roughly expensive..

Think now for a second . . . I bought it on the 15th of December for the 30th of December. Holiday season--New Years Eve--two weeks away!

I think it's very cheap for 15-day notice seeing that ALL other airlines were charging $2200-4500+ for the exact same flight on such short notice.

If I had been capable of getting it in advance, it would have been under $1000 like it was when I checked before we knew our K1 interview date.

I was the fortunate guy who grabbed the last available flight for the route/price I got. After I made my purchase, I searched the exact same flight, and there were none available for that day except in first class and one with a rediculous 29 hour layover--even it was still $2044 itself. Considering my other options, I think it was a fantastic deal.

My first trip to the Philippines was $1100, and that included the insurance, tax and all--but I also flew during a non-holiday season and bought my tickets two months in advance.

So is it higher than normal? Yes. Is it reasonable? Given the situation, Yes. Is it worth spending an extra $400 to be with my asawa on her interview date and having matching return trip tickets home with her? Do I even have to answer that?

Let me also mention I am flying from the east coast and must depart out of Atlanta as well--which forces me to fly to an international airport from Atlanta (adds to the cost of the flight).

[Roserick 0]

Sorry.. I think paying 1600 for a round trip to Philippines is roughly expensive..

Think now for a second . . . I bought it on the 15th of December for the 30th of December. Holiday season--New Years Eve--two weeks away!

I think it's very cheap for 15-day notice seeing that ALL other airlines were charging $2200-4500+ for the exact same flight on such short notice.

If I had been capable of getting it in advance, it would have been under $1000 like it was when I checked before we knew our K1 interview date.

I was the fortunate guy who grabbed the last available flight for the route/price I got. After I made my purchase, I searched the exact same flight, and there were none available for that day except in first class and one with a rediculous 29 hour layover--even it was still $2044 itself. Considering my other options, I think it was a fantastic deal.

My first trip to the Philippines was $1100, and that included the insurance, tax and all--but I also flew during a non-holiday season and bought my tickets two months in advance.

So is it higher than normal? Yes. Is it reasonable? Given the situation, Yes. Is it worth spending an extra $400 to be with my asawa on her interview date and having matching return trip tickets home with her? Do I even have to answer that?

Let me also mention I am flying from the east coast and must depart out of Atlanta as well--which forces me to fly to an international airport from Atlanta (adds to the cost of the flight).

I flew from JFK 2yrs ago Dec 23, 2005 and I paid $850 tax included.. Well of course through an agent.. Paid the ticket December 5, 2005.

Well this year last January I paid really less.. $720 tax included.. Went home for my daughter's birthday.. I went there January 5, 2007 and paid for the ticket December 15, 2007.

[niceguy26 0]

Sorry.. I think paying 1600 for a round trip to Philippines is roughly expensive..

Think now for a second . . . I bought it on the 15th of December for the 30th of December. Holiday season--New Years Eve--two weeks away!

I think it's very cheap for 15-day notice seeing that ALL other airlines were charging $2200-4500+ for the exact same flight on such short notice.

If I had been capable of getting it in advance, it would have been under $1000 like it was when I checked before we knew our K1 interview date.

I was the fortunate guy who grabbed the last available flight for the route/price I got. After I made my purchase, I searched the exact same flight, and there were none available for that day except in first class and one with a rediculous 29 hour layover--even it was still $2044 itself. Considering my other options, I think it was a fantastic deal.

My first trip to the Philippines was $1100, and that included the insurance, tax and all--but I also flew during a non-holiday season and bought my tickets two months in advance.

So is it higher than normal? Yes. Is it reasonable? Given the situation, Yes. Is it worth spending an extra $400 to be with my asawa on her interview date and having matching return trip tickets home with her? Do I even have to answer that?

Let me also mention I am flying from the east coast and must depart out of Atlanta as well--which forces me to fly to an international airport from Atlanta (adds to the cost of the flight).

I flew from JFK 2yrs ago Dec 23, 2005 and I paid $850 tax included.. Well of course through an agent.. Paid the ticket December 5, 2005.

Well this year last January I paid really less.. $720 tax included.. Went home for my daughter's birthday.. I went there January 5, 2007 and paid for the ticket December 15, 2007.

where did you purchase your tickets? I am needing tickets to cebu hopefully soon (im on east coast too, but not near NYC) Edited December 18, 2007 by niceguy26

[Roserick 0]

where did you purchase your tickets? I am needing tickets to cebu hopefully soon (im on east coast too, but not near NYC)

I bought the $720 one @ priceline.com flew United from JFK to Tokyo transferred to Japan Airlines from Tokyo to Manila.

As for the other one I got it through my local agent.. (Filipino)

[Stibnite 0]

I bought the $720 one @ priceline.com flew United from JFK to Tokyo transferred to Japan Airlines from Tokyo to Manila.

As for the other one I got it through my local agent.. (Filipino)

Yes, there are cheaper tickets available for me--even at priceline. Priceline had the same date tickets available for $1227. The airlines that I mentioned charging higher prices were ones that allowed you to buy tickets from non-US departure airports.

However, the problem with priceline.com = "Sorry! Currently, all tickets purchased from Priceline.com require a US departure airport."

I cannot buy Arlyn's return ticket through priceline, and the agents we spoke with in the Philippines were charging us upwards $1400+ for a similar return flight because the 1-way was "more expensive" and they couldn't even get the flights to match on the complete return. Although they did find 1-way tickets that didn't match my return on separate days for $650 range--but that would have defeated the purpose for us returning home together.

Unfortunately, Arlyn is still working full-time until I arrive, and she doesn't have time to venture out looking for agents everywhere to shop for a couple hundred $$ savings.

Well, with continental, I was not only able to buy her ticket from my end, I was able to get it to match my return exactly and get neighboring seats the entire way back.

Although I will certainly say, $720 is a great deal. You got a bargain on that. I wish there could have been prices like that this year. I guess international flights have increased greatly in price since USCIS mentioned that there were 2.5 million + petitions filed this year as opposed to last years 1.3 million.

As for me, though, I'll gladly fork out $400 extra for the convenience and service I got from Continental. Heck, it's worth it just to speak to a clear, English speaking customer service rep, haha!

Edited December 19, 2007 by Stibnite

[Roserick 0]

Yes, there are cheaper tickets available for me--even at priceline. Priceline had the same date tickets available for $1227. The airlines that I mentioned charging higher prices were ones that allowed you to buy tickets from non-US departure airports.

However, the problem with priceline.com = "Sorry! Currently, all tickets purchased from Priceline.com require a US departure airport."

I cannot buy Arlyn's return ticket through priceline, and the agents we spoke with in the Philippines were charging us upwards $1400+ for a similar return flight because the 1-way was "more expensive" and they couldn't even get the flights to match on the complete return. Although they did find 1-way tickets that didn't match my return on separate days for $650 range--but that would have defeated the purpose for us returning home together.

Unfortunately, Arlyn is still working full-time until I arrive, and she doesn't have time to venture out looking for agents everywhere to shop for a couple hundred $$ savings.

Well, with continental, I was not only able to buy her ticket from my end, I was able to get it to match my return exactly and get neighboring seats the entire way back.

Although I will certainly say, $720 is a great deal. You got a bargain on that. I wish there could have been prices like that this year. I guess international flights have increased greatly in price since USCIS mentioned that there were 2.5 million + petitions filed this year as opposed to last years 1.3 million.

As for me, though, I'll gladly fork out $400 extra for the convenience and service I got from Continental. Heck, it's worth it just to speak to a clear, English speaking customer service rep, haha!

Well someone just posted a thread about Cathay Promotion couple of weeks ago..

Ranging $719 - $800