What's the best way to book a flight for hubby??

[nurse1967 287]

Hey my MENA peeps. I need some help with the best way to book a flight for hubby from Cairo to USA. What are some sights where you can do that? Is it better to book round trip or one way? Just trying to think ahead since hubby has his interview on August 13th. Thanks guys!!!

[caybee 21]

Our experience was from Casablanca, but I assume it's similar from Cairo unless there's a country-specific rule about the ticket. You can book either round-trip or one-way, whichever is cheaper. In many cases, round-trip is, but one-way was cheaper when my husband did it. I was having trouble booking a flight originating overseas, so my husband used a travel agent there to get him as far as JFK, and I booked the second leg of his flight. The travel agent tried to convince him that he was required to get a round-trip ticket for K-1, but my husband already knew that wasn't true, so he insisted on the one-way.

Good luck at the interview!

[nurse1967 287]

Thank you so much! Yes, it seems difficult to book a trip from the USA that originates in Egypt. I just want to know all my options so we can try to get the best price possible!!!

[Shawna Mahmoud 0]

When Ahmed came last year, I booked a one way ticket. I had no problems. We used Alitalia and he had a layover in Rome and then came straight to Chicago. He had no problems in Cairo Airport. His visa was in his passport and they looked at it and gave him no hassles.

[nurse1967 287]

Thanks so much for the info. I guess I should call some airlines and try to figure out how do to book for him. I don't think most airlines in US will let you book a flight that originates outside the USA. Not sure though

Edited July 11, 2009 by Betsy El Sum

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

Hey Besty,

I know you been waiting for quite sometime for this interview! Just wanted to say congrats!!! InshaAllah you will be together with your husband soon!! Good luck finding a cheap flight. Best wishes!

Sharifah

[nurse1967 287]

Thank you so much Sharifah!! Yes we have been anxiously awaiting this interview date!! But you know Cairo, it's not over until the fat lady sings. LOL

[yasser/fatimah 0]

Congrats Betsy!!!!

[Shawna Mahmoud 0]

Thanks so much for the info. I guess I should call some airlines and try to figure out how do to book for him. I don't think most airlines in US will let you book a flight that originates outside the USA. Not sure though

I don't think you will have a problem finding an airline. I use NWA/Delta most of the time when I fly to Egypt. I would have used them for Ahmed's ticket but Alitalia just happened to be cheaper with the shortest layover. I booked his flight on my side. As long as you have his name spelled as it is on the visa/passport, It should be fine.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I just wanna say GOOD LUCK at the interview

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

Last October my husband bought his own ticket in Egypt on Egypt Air one way to JFK. (I highly recommend this route) for $500. Then after I knew his travel date I bought a one -way ticket for $200 to my city (love that Jet Blue) and he was able to print the electronic ticket in Egypt and had no problems. Such a deal considering it was not yet winter (cheap fares) and I live in the Pacific Northwest.

Egypt Air and I believe Delta have the only non-stop flights from Egypt to the USA. We wanted to avoid transfers in Frankfurt or Amsterdam (the usual when coming from Egypt to the NW). Also Egypt Air had more generous luggage allowances (at that time, not sure about now).

Also for some reason in Egypt he was allowed to "reserve" his seat/ticket for up to a week without putting any money down, which helped me make sure I could find a connecting flight within a reasonable amount of time (to make sure he finished with customs and Immigration) that was also a good price. Once I had confirmed arrangements on my end, he went and picked up his ticket.

With Ramadan coming around his interview time (and lasting until the later part of September) If you are lucky he will be coming in the same time my husband came last year. We had to wait for about a week AFTER the Eid before the ticket prices came back down to "normal". Egyptians LOVE to go home for Ramadan/Eid from ALL OVER THE WORLD, so tickets are HIGH and SCARCE during the whole month (especially the last 2 weeks) and until the end of the Eid.

Just don't buy the ticket until the Visa is IN HAND... Too unpredictable..

Edited July 11, 2009 by KHPerfectMatch

[Aymsgirl 0]

Last October my husband bought his own ticket in Egypt on Egypt Air one way to JFK. (I highly recommend this route) for $500. Then after I knew his travel date I bought a one -way ticket for $200 to my city (love that Jet Blue) and he was able to print the electronic ticket in Egypt and had no problems. Such a deal considering it was not yet winter (cheap fares) and I live in the Pacific Northwest.

Egypt Air and I believe Delta have the only non-stop flights from Egypt to the USA. We wanted to avoid transfers in Frankfurt or Amsterdam (the usual when coming from Egypt to the NW). Also Egypt Air had more generous luggage allowances (at that time, not sure about now).

Also for some reason in Egypt he was allowed to "reserve" his seat/ticket for up to a week without putting any money down, which helped me make sure I could find a connecting flight within a reasonable amount of time (to make sure he finished with customs and Immigration) that was also a good price. Once I had confirmed arrangements on my end, he went and picked up his ticket.

With Ramadan coming around his interview time (and lasting until the later part of September) If you are lucky he will be coming in the same time my husband came last year. We had to wait for about a week AFTER the Eid before the ticket prices came back down to "normal". Egyptians LOVE to go home for Ramadan/Eid from ALL OVER THE WORLD, so tickets are HIGH and SCARCE during the whole month (especially the last 2 weeks) and until the end of the Eid.

Just don't buy the ticket until the Visa is IN HAND... Too unpredictable..

I agree with KH....Egypt Air or Delta usually fly non stop to JFK and then find him another flight from there to you.

[Nothing1234 2]

Last October my husband bought his own ticket in Egypt on Egypt Air one way to JFK. (I highly recommend this route) for $500. Then after I knew his travel date I bought a one -way ticket for $200 to my city (love that Jet Blue) and he was able to print the electronic ticket in Egypt and had no problems. Such a deal considering it was not yet winter (cheap fares) and I live in the Pacific Northwest.

Egypt Air and I believe Delta have the only non-stop flights from Egypt to the USA. We wanted to avoid transfers in Frankfurt or Amsterdam (the usual when coming from Egypt to the NW). Also Egypt Air had more generous luggage allowances (at that time, not sure about now).

Also for some reason in Egypt he was allowed to "reserve" his seat/ticket for up to a week without putting any money down, which helped me make sure I could find a connecting flight within a reasonable amount of time (to make sure he finished with customs and Immigration) that was also a good price. Once I had confirmed arrangements on my end, he went and picked up his ticket.

With Ramadan coming around his interview time (and lasting until the later part of September) If you are lucky he will be coming in the same time my husband came last year. We had to wait for about a week AFTER the Eid before the ticket prices came back down to "normal". Egyptians LOVE to go home for Ramadan/Eid from ALL OVER THE WORLD, so tickets are HIGH and SCARCE during the whole month (especially the last 2 weeks) and until the end of the Eid.

Just don't buy the ticket until the Visa is IN HAND... Too unpredictable..

I agree with KH....Egypt Air or Delta usually fly non stop to JFK and then find him another flight from there to you.

Egypt Air to JFK then a Delta flight or another airline w/ flexible times/fares to your city.

I looked to do what the other said about booking one flight only thru Egypt Air then the person in the US booking the individual flight in the US...however, first, if its their first time traveling and you do this: they will need to collect their luggage after the long immigration process, then find the counter in JFK where they need to check in for the next flight (which may not be close at all to the international area they flew into) then process their luggage and then off to the next gate to get to their final desitination.

For only 100 bucks to 200 dollars more, you can use Expedia, which will book the entire flight for you. Same airlines/same flights BUT you have the comfort of them being processed then escorted to the gate (already checked in thru Delta or whomever) and their luggage gets sent through too! In my opinion, much better deal. Simply have him make sure that he talks w/ Egypt Air at the aiport before leaving Cairo to make sure his luggage is sent straight through. My BIL just did that this past Thursday and had NO issues. He was processed through immigration at JFK, then his luggage was sent right through to Delta and he was escorted already checked in to the gate.

Hope all goes well w/ the interview and that you are together quickly

[yaziedandlisa 0]

Hey my MENA peeps. I need some help with the best way to book a flight for hubby from Cairo to USA. What are some sights where you can do that? Is it better to book round trip or one way? Just trying to think ahead since hubby has his interview on August 13th. Thanks guys!!!

cheaptickets.com

[LunaticFringe 0]

You can use Expedia.com to book a flight that originates in Egypt. Or you can do it direct on the Delta website. Delta also has an office in Maadi. You can call and reserve the flight and then they will hold that price for one week until you go to the office to pay. (You can do it this way if you don't have a credit card.) Delta runs a direct flight out of CAI to JFK that is competitive with Egypt Air's prices - if not cheaper.

Edited July 21, 2009 by LunaticFringe