In regards to plane tickets

[The_Sage1 2]

From what I've read, the Filipino fiancee has to purchase the tickets in the Philippines because it's illegal for an outsider to purchase their tickets to leave the country. So what is the best way to go about finding the cheapest tickets/route? I figured Philippine Airlines would be the cheapest and I flew with them to the Philippines and was impressed. What does the usual one-way flight cost to get to the USA booked locally?

[tallcoolone 102]

If purchased in Philippines, they usually want to see a Visa if your ticket is leaving RP.

You can purchase tickets online for your fiance, no problems, You can buy them in US for your Fiance no Problems.

Airlines rates change on a daily basis, and usually increase around major holidays.

You just need to shop dates to find your best value.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

exactly...you can purchase the ticket online for her or go to a travel agent in the US and do it. No issues. It's not illegal to do that. Some places wont do that, but there are plenty of online sites to buy tickets that way.

[mari joe 1]

I know what the op is talking about. I tried to find tickets on Korean Air from Manila to the USA and it would'nt even let me view the prices as it stated that it was against philippine law to purchase tickets outside the Phils if the flight origionated in the Phils. I suppose an agent would be able to get around that but I just went to another airline that seems to be the cheapest, NWA. No agent and no mention of that law. I know it's part of Delta and Delta has screwed me over before but its the shortest and cheapest flight i found. I'm really still pissed at them and I dont recommend them to anybody but her flight is on Monday and we will see how it goes. Joe

[MikeInWyoming 2]

From what I've read, the Filipino fiancee has to purchase the tickets in the Philippines because it's illegal for an outsider to purchase their tickets to leave the country. So what is the best way to go about finding the cheapest tickets/route? I figured Philippine Airlines would be the cheapest and I flew with them to the Philippines and was impressed. What does the usual one-way flight cost to get to the USA booked locally?

Well I don't know where you read that - but I used a Colorado based Agent to handle our tickets. (I flew back to the PI to be with my fiancee for the interview.) We left the PI together and while I had to pay the full tax at the airport - which might have been partially collected by an agent if the tickets were purchased locally - there were no issues with where I bought the tickets for my fiancee and her daughter.

[Nenita and David 1]

From what I've read, the Filipino fiancee has to purchase the tickets in the Philippines because it's illegal for an outsider to purchase their tickets to leave the country. So what is the best way to go about finding the cheapest tickets/route? I figured Philippine Airlines would be the cheapest and I flew with them to the Philippines and was impressed. What does the usual one-way flight cost to get to the USA booked locally?

Philippine Airlines is not usually the cheapest, but there are exceptions, depending on when and from where you are flying. In May, the best price I could find was on PA, but I had to fly from Dallas to Vancouver first, then to Manila, then on to Cebu. My trip in December will be on Cathay Pacific, from Dallas to L.A., then to Hong Kong, then to Manila, then fly to Cebu on PA.

It's impossible to give you a straight estimate of ticket price - it's highly seasonal. My flight in May went about $1,850. The flight for December was booked in July for $2,000. The same flight booked now would cost $4,000, if you could get it at all. Yet, Cathay Pacific has advertised flights in January for as little as $750, though I assume this is to and from L.A. or San Francisco. Back in March, there were flights advertised from Dallas at $1,550.

My technique for finding the best price is to first search cheaptickets.com for the lowest prices, then check the websites of the individual carriers to see if they sell the tickets directly for less. In May, cheaptickets.com had the lowest price. For December, Cathay Pacific was selling the same ticket for slightly less on their website.

I have heard of some budget Chinese carriers that sell tickets for much less than the major carriers, but I'm not brave enough to trust a Chinese-based deep discount airline.

[Ann Marie and Leo 9]

From what I've read, the Filipino fiancee has to purchase the tickets in the Philippines because it's illegal for an outsider to purchase their tickets to leave the country. So what is the best way to go about finding the cheapest tickets/route? I figured Philippine Airlines would be the cheapest and I flew with them to the Philippines and was impressed. What does the usual one-way flight cost to get to the USA booked locally?

As someone already mentioned PA is not usually the cheapest. Try Eva Airlines, it goes through Taiwan, and has pretty good connection time, as long as you book the earlier Taiwan to West Coast portion of the flight. they always seem to have a reasonable fare, and have been a very good airline for me for the many flights I have taken over the last few years.

[Jasman0717 9]

I gave money to Claudeth to buy the ticket there in the Philippines because it was cheaper. She got the ticket for about $150 less than anything I could find at the time.

[Bryan+Nelia 4life 0]

Totally depends on connecting flights, the more connections the cheaper it is. My first trip to PH was around $750 with 4 different carriers, but was a nightmare transfering bags to different planes, and making connecting times or waiting for connecting flights. My 2nd trip was $1200 through PAL but so worth it, one stop in Vancouver and then to Manilla to Butuan. No layovers and only 2 planes! Also I heard you can ask PAL for a new immigrant discount for your SO and that can be up 20%! Im not sure yet because she hasn't gotten here yet but it certainly wont hurt to ask PAL about it!

[edp333 9]

I ran into this after purchasing a ticket from AA. They refused to change the date of or honor the ticket because of the Phil law. I have never seen the law enforced. Just like purchasing a one way ticket to the Phils is against Phil law, but it has been done many times.

[ski4evr 0]

I tracked the price on a plane fare website that gave me weekly updates and I could follow it like the stock market. I found out it was better to purchase it on a Monday (weekends when most book their flight they raise the price). I wanted a non-stop flight since it was my wife's 1st time flying so the only airlines was PA from manila to LA, San Fran, or Las Vegas. I purchased it on my visa card, emailed her the e-ticket to print, and I made a copy of my Visa Card, Passport, and a note authorizing her to use the ticket to fly here and emailed it to her. Some airlines allow a one time immigrant one-way ticket purchase discount but I was not able to get it with PA. her flight was 9/23/09 and I paid in total $756.60 nonstop from MNL to SFO on a Monday which dropped in price from $930.00 from that Saturday before!

Happy Trails!

SKI