booking flights

[ascxvz 4]

my fiance and i had a bit of argument...he checked on expedia to check flights for dec 3, which is the suppose date i am planning to leave the philippines...what he learned is that buying tickets 4 days before dec 3, doubles the price of the ticket...but we cannot buy it yet until after nov. 25, which is my interview date and after the visa is in my hand (some say 6 days before u get visa)....

He is taking the option into letting me and my daughter have 2 stop over...so that it would be cheaper...but will take me and my daughter 9 hours more flight...then he said, "we wont be buying tickets double the price" i answered back and said "i wont be flying 9 hours more"...then we hanged up the phone...pissed off

can someone give me a suggestion please on what to do???

[Leatherneck 693]

You're limited as to what you can do. Of course the airlines will charge a premium on tickets purchased so close to the day of departure.

1. The only way around it is to get a flight 7-14 days prior to the day you want to fly, the further out from the target day of departure the better off you are.

2. Get one of those around the world (not really around the world, but one that takes you everywhere but where you want to go) flights with more than 1 or 2 layovers.

3. Pay top dollar for the privelege of flying with little advanced purchase.

Not much else you can do, you guys have gone through this long process, why fight now.

Pay top dollar, get a flight with more layovers or book the flight with 7-14 days prior to departure.

[hnubno 9]

Wait a little longer to see if it's cheaper... maybe like half a month to a month. Plane tickets are very expensive right now tho. I just bought my fiancé a plane ticket and he has to make 4 stops before he gets to my town. That's one more stop extra for him then when I went over to him. It was what I could afford... even tho I worry about him coming over with so many stops.

[ascxvz 4]

You're limited as to what you can do. Of course the airlines will charge a premium on tickets purchased so close to the day of departure.

1. The only way around it is to get a flight 7-14 days prior to the day you want to fly, the further out from the target day of departure the better off you are.

2. Get one of those around the world (not really around the world, but one that takes you everywhere but where you want to go) flights with more than 1 or 2 layovers.

3. Pay top dollar for the privelege of flying with little advanced purchase.

Not much else you can do, you guys have gone through this long process, why fight now.

Pay top dollar, get a flight with more layovers or book the flight with 7-14 days prior to departure.

--our wedding date is dec 10, but i guess we just need to move it---

[Leatherneck 693]

Really the first thing you need to do is wait until that visa is in your pretty little hands.

Looks like you guys did not leave much room in your palns for any hiccups with getting your visa.

1. What if there is a HUGE delay in receiving the visa after the interview?

2. What if you get a 221g?

3. What if visa delivery is delay by the delivery company?

Edited November 6, 2011 by Leatherneck

[ascxvz 4]

my fiance and i had a bit of argument...he checked on expedia to check flights for dec 3, which is the suppose date i am planning to leave the philippines...what he learned is that buying tickets 4 days before dec 3, doubles the price of the ticket...but we cannot buy it yet until after nov. 25, which is my interview date and after the visa is in my hand (some say 6 days before u get visa)....

He is taking the option into letting me and my daughter have 2 stop over...so that it would be cheaper...but will take me and my daughter 9 hours more flight...then he said, "we wont be buying tickets double the price" i answered back and said "i wont be flying 9 hours more"...then we hanged up the phone...pissed off

can someone give me a suggestion please on what to do???

let me just add...our wedding date is dec 10

[Leatherneck 693]

Your wedding day is exactly 15 days after your interview, that really is not much time built in for any kind of delay at the embassy level, which is out of your control.

The only thing you can do is wait until you have the visa in your hand. There is no way you can book a flight now, you have no idea what might happen with the interview or how long it will take you to have the visa in your hands.

[ascxvz 4]

Your wedding day is exactly 15 days after your interview, that really is not much time built in for any kind of delay at the embassy level, which is out of your control.

The only thing you can do is wait until you have the visa in your hand. There is no way you can book a flight now, you have no idea what might happen with the interview or how long it will take you to have the visa in your hands.

yeah you are right...we need to move the wedding day

[Leatherneck 693]

yeah you are right...we need to move the wedding day

If I were you, I would just keep things as they are for the time being. If all goes well with the interview and with getting the your visa delivered to you, you're ok.

But if you move your wedding now, what day do you set as the new date?

If you move the wedding day before the interview, then get a 221g during the interview, what date do you change your wedding to now for the second time?

How long will your case be in AP? All unknown 'what if's' that are out of your control. I'm not saying you will get a 221g and be in AP, just things to think about.

Chloe, things like this are the very reason many K1'ers do not make the wedding plans until after the visa is in hand.

Edited November 6, 2011 by Leatherneck

[charlize56 4]

you need to wait for your visa before buying plane tickets

[mapletree 33]

Lets say you get a cheap ticket he wants for $800 or the expensive one you want for $1600. You will need two tickets, so this will be an extra $1600 to save 9 hours. This is better than $170 per hour.

He is buying you tickets and you complain that he is not spending enough? While I am sure you are priceless, $170 an hour is quite a bit of money.

Cash a reality check and wait until you have your visa, THEN be wise about spending his money.

[Leatherneck 693]

Lets say you get a cheap ticket he wants for $800 or the expensive one you want for $1600. You will need two tickets, so this will be an extra $1600 to save 9 hours. This is better than $170 per hour.

He is buying you tickets and you complain that he is not spending enough? While I am sure you are priceless, $170 an hour is quite a bit of money.

Cash a reality check and wait until you have your visa, THEN be wise about spending his money.

Double the cost x 2 is one helluva whack at the wallet for sure.

Edited November 6, 2011 by Leatherneck

[CristiFur 15]

Wait for the Visa before purchasing the tickets, never know things can change last minute.. In my case my Fiance has a 4 year old daughter so I'm definitely going to buy a direct flight! You both should have known that tickets during holidays are more expensive and considered the expenses. Good luck on your interview and hope you will be together soon.

[dekedwin 52]

I have read the experience of quite a few people on here, and one thing that is always recommended is to make no plans until the visa is in hand. It is risky to plan a wedding not allowing enough time for things to delay the process. I know you are anxious, but one step at a time is the best. Get the visa, then get the airline ticket, then plan the wedding, or plan it in such a way that it will not be a problem if it is delayed. It is better to plan for a delay and be pleasantly surprised than to plan for it to go really smoothly and then get delayed.

I know what your guy is saying because my friends bought their tickets to fly to the Philippines, and I found out that I could go with them a few weeks later, still 3 months before the flight, but because I bought my ticket a few weeks after they bought theirs, the delay cost me over $100.00 more for my ticket than they paid for theirs. When flying, some days of the week are cheaper than other days of the week. Also certain times of the month are cheaper than others. During the tourist season the flights will cost more. Around holidays, or school vacations tickets will be more expensive. Buying tickets in advance is usually cheaper. Accepting more layers helps reduce the price. Sometimes the airlines needs to fill seats at the last minute, and I have heard that you can sometimes get a really cheap flight by checking with the airlines to see if they need to fill passenger seats just before a flight. Some of the airlines offer a discount for an immigrant flying to the USA for the first time. If you fly Asiana Airlines, and join their flyers club, you can get miles. From one round trip to the Philippines and back I have almost 10,000 miles towards a next flight.

I think it would be worth being flexible to get a better deal. This all depends on circumstances. Some people have to fit into a time frame, like if they have vacation time, they have to go, when they have to go. But, I am retired, so I don't have to fly on any cirtain day, and I am glad to do what I need to do to save money on a flight. So, when I decide to fly to the Philippines I will probably not buy the first ticket I can find, and attempt to get a non stop flight. I will take the time that I need to, to get a reasonable price on a flight.

[HopeFaithLove 13]

my fiance and i had a bit of argument...he checked on expedia to check flights for dec 3, which is the suppose date i am planning to leave the philippines...what he learned is that buying tickets 4 days before dec 3, doubles the price of the ticket...but we cannot buy it yet until after nov. 25, which is my interview date and after the visa is in my hand (some say 6 days before u get visa)....

He is taking the option into letting me and my daughter have 2 stop over...so that it would be cheaper...but will take me and my daughter 9 hours more flight...then he said, "we wont be buying tickets double the price" i answered back and said "i wont be flying 9 hours more"...then we hanged up the phone...pissed off

can someone give me a suggestion please on what to do???

Hi there! I just wanna share with you my experience, hope this helps. I just thought you need to wait for you and your daugther's visa at hand before you pay for your plane tickets. Since you will still have to go for interview on Nov 25...make sure that you have enough time so you won't have problems later. When I had my interview, I got approved on the day, but it was already like 2 weeks I didn't get my visa yet, mostly they receive like within 3-7 days only. Later then I called up US Embassy and knew that my visa was printed on the following day after interview but the visas of my 2 kids were printed later almost 2 weeks after mine. I really didn't expect it. There was no problem on my kids documents, but it wasn't printed same day with me. I suggest if you really intend to fly on your chosen flight schedule, you got to inform or request the CO to expedite your visa release, granting that you got approved after the interview. Have a nice trip and God bless !