Can I buy ticket from USA in US Dollars for spouse travelling one way from India?

[sunshine_84 11]

I have always purchased tickets from the country where I start my journey.

Can someone travel to USA from India using a ticket purchased from USA and paid in US Dollars? I am mainly interested in Emirates and Qatar Airways. Will there be any issue or need to pay any extra cost at the airport?

I have never come across this scenario, but my guess is that there should not be any problem. But it would be nice if someone who has a personal experience in the past can share their thoughts.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

I have always purchased tickets from the country where I start my journey.

Can someone travel to USA from India using a ticket purchased from USA and paid in US Dollars? I am mainly interested in Emirates and Qatar Airways. Will there be any issue or need to pay any extra cost at the airport?

I have never come across this scenario, but my guess is that there should not be any problem. But it would be nice if someone who has a personal experience in the past can share their thoughts.

We've done this for my Mum out of Nigeria many times. This was pre 9/11 though so things might have changed.

[jaycali 415]

Not a problem what so ever.

Unless the airline charges luggage fees, there are no additional costs either. I always buy my ticket from US websites because they're cheaper than Norwegian websites.

Edited May 24, 2012 by jaejayC

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is frequently a requirement that the card used to buy the tickets be with the traveler. If you are buying for your family member or fiance you can overcome this by pre validation with the airlines. You can go to the nearest airport with your ID, your card and the information of the flyer and they will make record of it. Sometimes you can do this through a partner airline. Be sure you know if you need to do this ahead of time as it isn't fun getting turned away ( yes Emerites requires this I visited their offices near LAX )

[sunshine_84 11]

There is frequently a requirement that the card used to buy the tickets be with the traveler. If you are buying for your family member or fiance you can overcome this by pre validation with the airlines. You can go to the nearest airport with your ID, your card and the information of the flyer and they will make record of it. Sometimes you can do this through a partner airline. Be sure you know if you need to do this ahead of time as it isn't fun getting turned away ( yes Emerites requires this I visited their offices near LAX )

hmm your answer does not seem to be applicable to all airlines. I have bought tickets from NorthWest, Delta, British, Air India, Virgin Atlantic etc for my family members in the past using my payment card. I never had to show my ID and never had to give my CC to traveling members.

[sunshine_84 11]

Not a problem what so ever.

Unless the airline charges luggage fees, there are no additional costs either. I always buy my ticket from US websites because they're cheaper than Norwegian websites.

Emirates and Qatar Airways do allow 2 free check-in bags at no extra cost. So I hope it does not matter whether ticket is bought from India or USA.

Yes, I see that Indian agents/sites charge little more than US websites.

[linux7 2]

Emirates and Qatar Airways do allow 2 free check-in bags at no extra cost. So I hope it does not matter whether ticket is bought from India or USA.

Yes, I see that Indian agents/sites charge little more than US websites.

Qatar, Emirates & Air India are just one of the few airlines left that allow 2 free checked bags. I am also thinking to buy tickets from US for my wife to come here. We are thinking to buy Lufthansa as they have service to Detroit Metro, and that would be her POE and I can be there just incase of any issue.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

hmm your answer does not seem to be applicable to all airlines. I have bought tickets from NorthWest, Delta, British, Air India, Virgin Atlantic etc for my family members in the past using my payment card. I never had to show my ID and never had to give my CC to traveling members.

It may depend of the fraud rating of your home country. Unfortuneately Nigeria doesn't earn high ratings.

[sunshine_84 11]

Qatar, Emirates & Air India are just one of the few airlines left that allow 2 free checked bags. I am also thinking to buy tickets from US for my wife to come here. We are thinking to buy Lufthansa as they have service to Detroit Metro, and that would be her POE and I can be there just incase of any issue.

Yes, there are few airlines from Asian countries offer 2 free checked bags.

Yes, Lufthansa has a direct flight from Mumbai/Delhi to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Detroit (DTW).

I recently flew with Lufthansa and I did not like their service at all. Their in-flight food was pathetic for vegetarian and in-flight entertainment was pathetic. They still use old Windows 2000 based entertainment system with crappy LCD resolution and takes forever to accept touchscreen events with very few entertainment options. They lost my relatives luggage and took 7 days to get it delivered after numerous phone calls to India office. Their USA customer service is totally pathetic, and have no sense of knowledge about how to treat their customers. Only positive side was their on-time departure and arrival. I would fly with Lufthansa again only if they offer me savings of more than $200 per round-trip ticket.

It may depend of the fraud rating of your home country. Unfortuneately Nigeria doesn't earn high ratings.

That's sad.

Edited May 25, 2012 by smart84

[Divs 35]

I have always purchased tickets from the country where I start my journey.

Can someone travel to USA from India using a ticket purchased from USA and paid in US Dollars? I am mainly interested in Emirates and Qatar Airways. Will there be any issue or need to pay any extra cost at the airport?

I have never come across this scenario, but my guess is that there should not be any problem. But it would be nice if someone who has a personal experience in the past can share their thoughts.

Yes, you can. My husband bought my airline ticket, and that is what I traveled on.

[sunshine_84 11]

Yes, you can. My husband bought my airline ticket, and that is what I traveled on.

Which airline? Paid in INR or USD?

[Harsh_77 718]

I have always purchased tickets from the country where I start my journey.

Can someone travel to USA from India using a ticket purchased from USA and paid in US Dollars? I am mainly interested in Emirates and Qatar Airways. Will there be any issue or need to pay any extra cost at the airport?

I have never come across this scenario, but my guess is that there should not be any problem. But it would be nice if someone who has a personal experience in the past can share their thoughts.

Sure why not? There is nothing wrong or illegal you can purchase the ticket in US and pay in Dollar. You can share the PNR number and whoever is traveling can print ticket wherever they need it, based on that they can get a boarding pass at their local airport.

[Harsh_77 718]

It may depend of the fraud rating of your home country. Unfortuneately Nigeria doesn't earn high ratings.

It is not based on fraud rating... it is based on the payment system the Airline is using...sometimes I have to show my credit card at the counter even for local travel within US.

[Harsh_77 718]

Yes, there are few airlines from Asian countries offer 2 free checked bags.

Yes, Lufthansa has a direct flight from Mumbai/Delhi to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Detroit (DTW).

I recently flew with Lufthansa and I did not like their service at all. Their in-flight food was pathetic for vegetarian and in-flight entertainment was pathetic. They still use old Windows 2000 based entertainment system with crappy LCD resolution and takes forever to accept touchscreen events with very few entertainment options. They lost my relatives luggage and took 7 days to get it delivered after numerous phone calls to India office. Their USA customer service is totally pathetic, and have no sense of knowledge about how to treat their customers. Only positive side was their on-time departure and arrival. I would fly with Lufthansa again only if they offer me savings of more than $200 per round-trip ticket.

That's sad.

Most Airlines specially european and American don't have great vege food, Air-India and Jet are the only two which I know has decent vege food.

Most airplane on european and American carrier are old almost getting ready to retire so their entertainment systems are not great, if you want to experience good entertainment system than your better off with flying newer airlines which has pretty young fleet.

For travel to India, I mainly fly Jet and I never had a major delay anywhere they were pretty much on time.

[sunshine_84 11]

Sure why not? There is nothing wrong or illegal you can purchase the ticket in US and pay in Dollar. You can share the PNR number and whoever is traveling can print ticket wherever they need it, based on that they can get a boarding pass at their local airport.

I was just trying to make sure. I would not have worried if I was purchasing for myself because I have done tons of personal and business travel out of the country. So I would manage to fight if there is any issue with airline carrier at the airport. But this is for my wife who will travel 1st time to USA and do not want to give her any surprises with ticketing issue.

Most Airlines specially european and American don't have great vege food, Air-India and Jet are the only two which I know has decent vege food.

Most airplane on european and American carrier are old almost getting ready to retire so their entertainment systems are not great, if you want to experience good entertainment system than your better off with flying newer airlines which has pretty young fleet.

For travel to India, I mainly fly Jet and I never had a major delay anywhere they were pretty much on time.

I also traveled thru Swiss, British and Air France in last 7 years. I was very pleased with their food and entertainment services, but it was not the case with Lufthansa. So it's not specific to all European airline carriers. But I agree that American carriers are struggling on providing better options in food, but their in-flight entertainment service is average. I traveled with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Korean Air and all were pretty good. Not to mention, I avoid to travel internationally with Air India, that's my personal preference and IMO Air India does not deserve more than 0/5 stars. I have yet to try out Jet Airways and Qatar for international travels. I am sure some people may have different experiences than mine

Edited May 30, 2012 by smart84