Purchasing Airline Tickets for the Philippines

[JANETandLYLE 11]

I am preparing to purchase airline tickets within about one week to pick up Janet in the Philippines (Cebu) and escort her back to the USA (Montana). Is it important for me being a USC to buy myself a round trip ticket and then buy her a one way ticket to USA (Montana)? Is it a problem if I find a good price on a one way ticket for me to Cebu, then buy TWO one way tickets back from Cebu to USA (one for each of us). A travel agency in the Philippines told me that I might need to buy myself a round trip ticket, since I'm not a Phil citizen, as they are concerned I might not return from the Philippines. Anyone have any experience in this area? I figured as long as I could show a return ticket even though separate from my one way to the Philippines ticket, I would have no problems. Should I just buy my round trip ticket, and buy Janet a one way to US ticket? Would we be able to sit together on the return trip? I seem to remember you can ask for your choice of seats most places overseas, anyway. I had spoken with Mango Tours. Any advice is appreciated.

[GuardianOne 0]

I used Korean Air... May be easier if you fly to LAX or another major west coast airport first. Luckily, in my case I knew some Local Fiipinos would were able to get me a special at the time with their travel agent that was $400 less than any other ticket.

I'm not 100% if you can ask for you two to sit together, all sites were assigned for my flight, so you would probably need to buy yourself a round trip ticket and a one way ticket for her on the return flight.

[JANETandLYLE 11]

I used Korean Air... May be easier if you fly to LAX or another major west coast airport first. Luckily, in my case I knew some Local Fiipinos would were able to get me a special at the time with their travel agent that was $400 less than any other ticket.

I'm not 100% if you can ask for you two to sit together, all sites were assigned for my flight, so you would probably need to buy yourself a round trip ticket and a one way ticket for her on the return flight.

Thanks for your reply. I also now have a question on originating flights. I understand flights originating from the Philippines (which Janet's would be) must be purchased in the Philippines. That would mean then her ticket for sure must be purchased from either a travle agency that can handle that or somehwere there in the Philippines. I think I will also have janet maybe check on a ticket with a local travle agency there. I'm not sure the best way to do this. My whole plan was to go there and return with her and be with her. Grrrrr...some of this seems so chaotic...I'm glad its almost over for us

Edited October 24, 2009 by JANETandLYLE

[Pinay Wife 47]

Should I just buy my round trip ticket, and buy Janet a one way to US ticket? Would we be able to sit together on the return trip? I seem to remember you can ask for your choice of seats most places overseas, anyway. I had spoken with Mango Tours. Any advice is appreciated.

It's always cheaper to buy round trip and yes, you can sit together on the return trip. When you make the booking, ask your travel agency or airline representative to cross-reference your fiancee's "record locator" to yours and have them indicate in your flight info that you are "travelling together". As soon as you make the booking, ask if you can request the seats already. If not, ask the earliest date you may do so.

Even if you are not able to reserve the seats, you can always request that during check-in. Airlines try to seat together passengers who are "family".

[sjr09 155]

I used Korean Air... May be easier if you fly to LAX or another major west coast airport first. Luckily, in my case I knew some Local Fiipinos would were able to get me a special at the time with their travel agent that was $400 less than any other ticket.

I'm not 100% if you can ask for you two to sit together, all sites were assigned for my flight, so you would probably need to buy yourself a round trip ticket and a one way ticket for her on the return flight.

Thanks for your reply. I also now have a question on originating flights. I understand flights originating from the Philippines (which Janet's would be) must be purchased in the Philippines. That would mean then her ticket for sure must be purchased from either a travle agency that can handle that or somehwere there in the Philippines. I think I will also have janet maybe check on a ticket with a local travle agency there. I'm not sure the best way to do this. My whole plan was to go there and return with her and be with her. Grrrrr...some of this seems so chaotic...I'm glad its almost over for us

You dont need to buy the ticket in the PI, but you will need to buy from a travle agency in the US then email her the check-in/iterinary or keep a copy with you.

Edited October 24, 2009 by sjr09

[sjr09 155]

I used Korean Air... May be easier if you fly to LAX or another major west coast airport first. Luckily, in my case I knew some Local Fiipinos would were able to get me a special at the time with their travel agent that was $400 less than any other ticket.

I'm not 100% if you can ask for you two to sit together, all sites were assigned for my flight, so you would probably need to buy yourself a round trip ticket and a one way ticket for her on the return flight.

Thanks for your reply. I also now have a question on originating flights. I understand flights originating from the Philippines (which Janet's would be) must be purchased in the Philippines. That would mean then her ticket for sure must be purchased from either a travle agency that can handle that or somehwere there in the Philippines. I think I will also have janet maybe check on a ticket with a local travle agency there. I'm not sure the best way to do this. My whole plan was to go there and return with her and be with her. Grrrrr...some of this seems so chaotic...I'm glad its almost over for us

You dont need to buy the ticket in the PI, but you will need to buy from a travle agency in the US then email her the check-in/iterinary or keep a copy with you.

EDIT

I paid for my wife/daughters ticket from the US thru a travel agency.

If you pay online:

Important Notice

To avoid fraudulent transactions and to protect credit card owners, most/all reserves the right to require that the credit card used in purchasing the ticket(s) online be presented at the ticket collection point, upon check-in or in cases of reissuance, rebooking or refund of a ticket.

If the credit card owner is not part of the travelling party and is unable to present the credit card used, most/all also reserves the right to require the presentation of clear photocopies of the front of the credit card and the valid PHOTO ID of the credit card owner at the ticket collection point, upon check-in and in cases of reissuance, rebooking and/or refund. It shall be the responsibility of the credit card owner to ensure that the passenger(s) comply with the requirement.

[JANETandLYLE 11]

ok let me ask you all if what I have been working on makes sense to you all. I have been checking prices and I found if I buy a round trip ticket for myself from Orbitz it will be only $844.00 this would take care of any issues with me in the Philippines as far as having a round trip ticket. Orbitz doesn't not book from the Philippines destinations, so I went to mango Tours and punched in for a one way ticket (for Janet) to our destination here. Although her one way ticket would cost $1409.00, it shows upon comparison that we would be on the exact flights and times coming back. I'm just wondering if I go through a travel agency if I would come even close to those prices, especially my round trip ticket price of $844.00 I used Orbitz last time I went to see Janet, with no issues whatsoever with my round trip ticket. I'm thinking if we both go to the gates coming back together and request to sit together it shouldn't be a big issue. Worst case scenerio, we will at least be on the same planes. I double checked the schedules, and they are exactly the same with both. Anyone see issues with this plan? Anyone advise another route which would be better.

Edited October 24, 2009 by JANETandLYLE

[Iris&Norman 0]

Pinay travel agent in Portland. She has been helpful and seems considerate about immigration matters. I recently asked her permission to post reference on VJ. Maybe she can help book your rt and your fiancee's one-way to coincide? Anyways, Darlene is cool.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darlene Rivera, CTC, DS

Owner

DESTINED TO TRAVEL, LLC

PO Box 1324

Fairview, OR 97024

Tel | 503.512.8348

Cell | 503.750.2052

Fax | 503.512.7764

OFFICE HOURS | MON-FRI 9:30AM - 5:00 PM PST

darlene.rivera@d2travelonline.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[tallcoolone 102]

Round trips tickets are cheaper sometimes.

Buy which one is the best deal.

You can purchase a ticket for your Pinay online or in USA and take it to her.

If she tries to purchase a flight to USA in PI, they will ask to see her Visa first.

Sounds like your trying to sweat the small issues, Get your #### on a plane and go get your girl and bring her home.......

[Dennis&Dane 0]

Northwest tickets oneway from Manila to Lexington KY are $814.60 total... round trip is about $1200.00 go to Nwa.com and check prices!

[tallcoolone 102]

Northwest tickets oneway from Manila to Lexington KY are $814.60 total... round trip is about $1200.00 go to Nwa.com and check prices!

2 months ago you could book from Dallas to Manila for $800 roundtrip.

Hopefully after Christmas is over, and gas / oil price go down, there will be some more great deals on flights to PI.

[Dennis&Dane 0]

Northwest tickets oneway from Manila to Lexington KY are $814.60 total... round trip is about $1200.00 go to Nwa.com and check prices!

2 months ago you could book from Dallas to Manila for $800 roundtrip.

Hopefully after Christmas is over, and gas / oil price go down, there will be some more great deals on flights to PI.

I wish they would go down now...lol I am very hopeful of buying a ticket very soon

[Mr.&Mrs.A 0]

I am faced with the exact same situation. I have found good prices on Cheapair.com (link below)(i.e. Manila - Tampa one-way $674.00) What I will attempt is to purchase my round trip ticket and one-way ticket at same time. I will locate flight number & price on CheapoAir then call the airlines direct for the seating arrangements and see if they will seat us together. I figure worth a try! I hope this helps. I have to agree thou with Tallcoolone, If all else fails just get on the silly plane and fly!, even if you are not next to each other. Goodluck!

http://www.cheapoair.com/

[SuperDuper! 230]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Phil. Airlines offers a one-time, one-way immigration special rate to the US? This rumor crops up every now and then.

[ryandgracey 2]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Phil. Airlines offers a one-time, one-way immigration special rate to the US? This rumor crops up every now and then.

We did get a one-time immigrant discount when we got our tickets (MNL-HK-CHI via Cathay then United). But one has to be an immigrant i.e. CR or IR visa.