Plane Ticket Planning - Embassy Interview

[PachucoBro 3]

Well here is an issue... people say don't buy the tickets in advance because obviously if something goes wrong there went your money if you can't leave on the day you were supposed to. BUT! If you buy tickets 2 weeks in advance, to say Bogota from the States you are gonna pay about $800 round trip. If you try and buy the same tickets 2-5 days in advance you will pay about $1200.

Anyone come up with some cool ideas on arranging flights for yourself and your fiancee when you plan to fly to the interview and return together? Another caveat to my situation is that the Embassy is in Bogota, but my fiancee lives in Barranquilla and both of us would like to see her family before departing...LOL add in some more tickets and planning!

Oh and I live in Austin, Texas for those who don't read the profiles.

[kirk and Jenny 0]

Well here is an issue... people say don't buy the tickets in advance because obviously if something goes wrong there went your money if you can't leave on the day you were supposed to. BUT! If you buy tickets 2 weeks in advance, to say Bogota from the States you are gonna pay about $800 round trip. If you try and buy the same tickets 2-5 days in advance you will pay about $1200.

Anyone come up with some cool ideas on arranging flights for yourself and your fiancee when you plan to fly to the interview and return together? Another caveat to my situation is that the Embassy is in Bogota, but my fiancee lives in Barranquilla and both of us would like to see her family before departing...LOL add in some more tickets and planning!

Oh and I live in Austin, Texas for those who don't read the profiles.

Quite the dilema. Next time I am in the city I am going to check about refundable tickets. When I do the searches on cheap flights on the internet they do not seem that much more expensive.

[caagirl 0]

what my fiance will be doing the day he gets his interview he will be buying his airplane ticket two weeks in advance..So if he gets his visa on the 7th on the 21st he will be flying out... That way he can say proper goodbyes and get to spend a few more days with love one hopes this helps

Sincerly a fiancee in waiting

christina

[pja002 0]

Well here is an issue... people say don't buy the tickets in advance because obviously if something goes wrong there went your money if you can't leave on the day you were supposed to. BUT! If you buy tickets 2 weeks in advance, to say Bogota from the States you are gonna pay about $800 round trip. If you try and buy the same tickets 2-5 days in advance you will pay about $1200.

Anyone come up with some cool ideas on arranging flights for yourself and your fiancee when you plan to fly to the interview and return together? Another caveat to my situation is that the Embassy is in Bogota, but my fiancee lives in Barranquilla and both of us would like to see her family before departing...LOL add in some more tickets and planning!

Oh and I live in Austin, Texas for those who don't read the profiles.

Quite the dilema. Next time I am in the city I am going to check about refundable tickets. When I do the searches on cheap flights on the internet they do not seem that much more expensive.

Try looking at the price of a changable ticket. They cost a little more, maybe a lot, but you can change the dates if necessary. Sometimes you do have to pay additionally to make the change but check it out. Try the airlines direct 1-800 number.

[Delhiguy 0]

Rather than buy changeable or refundable tickets, what I generally tend to do is go to my travel agent and book the flights I might be taking well in advance to get a cheap ticket. It can even be 2-3 bookings on or around the same day. There is no charge for it, since I dont buy the ticket. However the travel agent, generaly gives me a cut-off date of around a week before the flight where I have to confirm my booking and actually buy one ticket. This is completely possible at all travel agents. I do this here in India, have done this in the US and a few European countries as well, and from what I udnerstand its entirely possible anywhere since travel agents tend to book blocks of tickets in advance, and can easily sell off a last minute booking cancellation, even on empty flights.

Of course, you either need to know a travel agent well to do this or find a reliable one. Maybe you can ask your fiance to find one like that through her firends/family.

[seldi 1]

I already bought my fiance's tickets, but they're for mid January. The reason why I bought them so early and for such a late date is because I'll be going over to Argentina/Paraguay for the holidays and to help him pack and get ready and then we'll fly back together....and it's nearly imposible to buy tickets at that time of the year unless you buy them months in advanced. I made sure the dates could be changed if anything goes wrong (hope not!), I would just pay a $50 fine if the date does change, but I have the flexibility to change it, which is nice!

Edited August 31, 2006 by seldi

[kpathak 0]

I agree with Delhiguy -- I have also done this in the past and this ploy has always worked for me.

KP

Rather than buy changeable or refundable tickets, what I generally tend to do is go to my travel agent and book the flights I might be taking well in advance to get a cheap ticket. It can even be 2-3 bookings on or around the same day. There is no charge for it, since I dont buy the ticket. However the travel agent, generaly gives me a cut-off date of around a week before the flight where I have to confirm my booking and actually buy one ticket. This is completely possible at all travel agents. I do this here in India, have done this in the US and a few European countries as well, and from what I udnerstand its entirely possible anywhere since travel agents tend to book blocks of tickets in advance, and can easily sell off a last minute booking cancellation, even on empty flights.

Of course, you either need to know a travel agent well to do this or find a reliable one. Maybe you can ask your fiance to find one like that through her firends/family.

[Ladylethal 12]

I purchased mine already, my interview is in 26 days. To change mine I´d have to pay 100 dollars but I am game since I got a ticket that was 50% off regular fare.