booking flights

[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???

I hope you understand your Fiance's situation. Money is tight and not easy to find nowadays. Be compassionate to your Fiance and try to understand him. Just imagine how much is the difference in terms of the amount since he is paying for 2 tickets. You may not know how hard he works to earn the money to pay for the flights. Most of the Americans use Credit Cards and that will still need to pay later. Remember you are going to live and share life with him sooner and forever. Whatever savings that you and him could generate from the purchase of plane tickets that would be a great help later. Learn to appreciate all the goodness and blessings that you have. Keep loving and be patient always ! God bless you and your daughter to your jouney in America

[ascxvz 4]

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 !

thanks

[ascxvz 4]

I hope you understand your Fiance's situation. Money is tight and not easy to find nowadays. Be compassionate to your Fiance and try to understand him. Just imagine how much is the difference in terms of the amount since he is paying for 2 tickets. You may not know how hard he works to earn the money to pay for the flights. Most of the Americans use Credit Cards and that will still need to pay later. Remember you are going to live and share life with him sooner and forever. Whatever savings that you and him could generate from the purchase of plane tickets that would be a great help later. Learn to appreciate all the goodness and blessings that you have. Keep loving and be patient always ! God bless you and your daughter to your jouney in America

thanks

[TeddyHoney 42]

I understand both sides, but agree that you really need to wait until VISA is in hand before purchasing airline tickets. Maybe a little off topic, but have you and your fiance considered the problems related to the USC/petitioner or foreigner being the one who purchases the airline tickets for the Filipina beneficiary? I have read here on VJ so many different scenarios of some petitioners who buy their beneficiary's tickets and the beneficiary have problem when trying to check-in for flight and boarding in the Philippines, needing copy of credit card used to purchase ticket and photo ID of the purchaser, some wrote they did the same but had no problem at all, some say that having photo copy of the credit card and photo ID of the foreign purchaser is no longer good enough. Seems its all over the place and inconsistant at best as to what is the true and official requirement and proceedure regarding situation in which the petitioner/foreigner is the one who purchases the airline ticket for Filipino beneficiaries. Maybe there is no standard to follow - and that wouldn't surpries me! Some also stated that they send the money to their beneficiary to purchase the ticket in the Philippines to get around this potential problem, which is the option I would like to use but the only thing complicating that for me is the increasing ticket prices coming soon after the Thanksgiving holiday here in US making it actually more convienient for me to use credit card to purchase from here. I've tried and researched and just can't get a straight answer on what the actual policy is or where I can find the official documentation surrounding the seeming, relatively new condition of foreigners not allowed to purchase tickets for Philippine nationals to leave Philippines or needing purchasing credit card and purchaser validation.

Sorry for long question and detail. I'm just wondering if you and your fiance have considered this as being potentiall problem when you decided he would be the one to purchase your airline tickets as the foreign purchaser. My fiancee will be leaving the Philippines to come here in US possibly around the same time you are and I've been trying to figure out the best way to get her through the check-in and boarded on the plane with no hassles or delays that could cause her to miss her flight, and also what is most economical for us as well. For us, price of ticket matters less if I can use my credt card. Sending her cash to purchase ticket in the Philippines makes ticket price more of a consideration and constraint. In the end I will just do whatever it takes to get her here, but unfortunately I'm the kind that likes to plan ahead and in this process that's ust not possible most of the time - like now! Makes me uncomfortable.

God bless to you, your child and your fiance.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Gee, what is 9 extra hours of flight before meeting my fiance again? I personally would rather spend less for two tickets, although it comes with more layovers, than spend more, because in the end I'd be with my fiance again.

Dear OP, look at this positively. More money saved means more money for the wedding and AOS procedure. Right?

[gland 5]

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???

The 9 more hours wont kill you. It took me 30 hours to get from Vietnam the last time. It isn't that bad. Just think what will be waiting for you when you get to where you are going.

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

dont be such in a hurry...get the visa, buy the ticket...you dont want to be that person that says to themselves I wish i had just waited to save a couple hundred dollars. once you get your visa you will be secured to come here. Take the time to say "see you later" to family, friends and what not. You will need this time as you wont be able to see them for a while. I already told the misses that she will have to wait even if she gets her visa for a little bit before she has to come here and she agrees with me. So do the same with your love one. you have a lifetime to spend together. remember that

[southcalhog 43]

dont be such in a hurry...get the visa, buy the ticket...you dont want to be that person that says to themselves I wish i had just waited to save a couple hundred dollars. once you get your visa you will be secured to come here. Take the time to say "see you later" to family, friends and what not. You will need this time as you wont be able to see them for a while. I already told the misses that she will have to wait even if she gets her visa for a little bit before she has to come here and she agrees with me. So do the same with your love one. you have a lifetime to spend together. remember that

I Agree!

[Leatherneck 693]

Chloe, not sure how much travel experience you have, let it be no surprise to you, the price of tickets will not be getting cheaper anytime soon, especially around the time you want to fly. So you'll need to be flexible and work with your fiance, double the price is real money-adding up quickly and a very bitter pill to swallow when you're the one paying.

Remember, your fiance is not done spending money.

. You have a wedding planned, surely you'll want some type of honeymoon.

. You and your daughter will need weather (it will be winter in the U.S., something you do not have in Philippines) appropriate clothing.

. Which means increased utility bills to heat the house to keep you and your daughter warm, you're not acclimated to the colder weather yet.

. Most bachelors will need to shop for things to make the house more to the liking of a woman. New sheets, towels, better kitchenware, etc.

. New clothes for your daughter to attend school and the expenses related to school.

. Grocery shopping in an Asian market for food you like.

. The expense of AOS is on the horizon at some point also.

An few extra (9) hours of layover or flight time is a small sacrifice in the big picture of things to help your fiance, you're getting married now... no longer 'me' this is a team effort as in 'we' or 'us.'

Good luck

Edited November 6, 2011 by Leatherneck

[SuperDuper! 230]

The OP needs to be more understanding and flexible. Your fiancee has put out a ton of cash already for this whole process. Give him a break and be willing to have a longer lay over so he can save mucho on the plane tix.

ps, the fact is, if you buy plane tix less than 6 weeks B4 the flight, you tend to get gouged big time.

In spite of the popular belief, there is no money tree in the man's backyard.

Sit back, and enjoy the ride, it's not worth a tampo.

Peace and good luck.

[Kevin&Lenith 36]

The OP needs to be more understanding and flexible. Your fiancee has put out a ton of cash already for this whole process. Give him a break and be willing to have a longer lay over so he can save mucho on the plane tix.

ps, the fact is, if you buy plane tix less than 6 weeks B4 the flight, you tend to get gouged big time.

In spite of the popular belief, there is no money tree in the man's backyard.

Sit back, and enjoy the ride, it's not worth a tampo.

Peace and good luck.

leatherneck couldnt have said it better, to be honest alot better than I could have. A good chance I would have put the phone down in a not so quiet manner.

[kevin@anna 7]

and once again.these tickets should have been thought of alongtime ago when the two of you became engaged.these are costs that very few people think of.after my wifes interview in manila she got a cheap flight from manila to sf 12 days later.went home to gensan for 12 days to stay with her family and say her goodbyes.we travel home every year

may i also add i will never fly pal again

[az110965 252]

" 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".

It will accomplish NOTHING to inform or request the CO to expedite the visa release. What happens if there is AP? What happens if there are additional documents that are needed?

Booking a flight before even attending the interview is not a smart idea. Too many things can go wrong from the simplest thing like the printer breaking, delaying the issuing of visas (it has happened), to the Consulate being called out of town, resulting in the need to reschedule the interview (it has happened very recently)...

Get through the interview, get APPROVED without AP, get the visa in hand - THEN book your flights.

[Leatherneck 693]

and once again.these tickets should have been thought of alongtime ago when the two of you became engaged.these are costs that very few people think of.after my wifes interview in manila she got a cheap flight from manila to sf 12 days later.went home to gensan for 12 days to stay with her family and say her goodbyes.we travel home every year

may i also add i will never fly pal again

Asiana, Cathy Pacifc or Korean Air for me... I agree with you about PAL.

[Theresa0828 65]

I did an 8 hour layover at Narita airport coz it was the cheapest ticket that I can get... but i wasn't dreading the 8 hour, i was actually looking forward to it, I know Narita airport is a good layover and there are a lot of things to do there. I spent my layover looking around the shops and even buying a couple of souvenirs, and when i got tired of that, i took out my laptop and watch some DVD movies.

Although I do understand the OP's situation of having a kid with her... I suggest bring some toys, if you have a laptop, bring DVD's that your kid like so that your kid can watch while waiting... Also looked online what are the facilities that the layover airport has to offer so that you can plan some things to do... Most airports nowadays, especially international ones are like malls... you will be surprise of how much you can do.

Patience... patience... patience... and understanding. Goodluck and hope you have a good trip!