POE Experiences arriving in the U.S.

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

You have many, many, many choices of airlines out of Manila to the US. Take your pick. Go for the best price and time that suits your agenda. You hear negativity about PAL but it's okay. Maybe not the best but it's not the worst either. I have flow so many back and forth to the Phils over the years. My personal favorites are Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Korean Airlines and China Airlines are okay, too. The US carriers (United, American and Delta mainly) are okay, though being from the Phils you may prefer the Asian based carriers if not only for the food chices. When Chie came she flew PAL. It was her very first flight and she had no complaints. I have flown PAL in the old days, during there more difficult times and even more recently in the past several years. They're okay. there is better for sure, but I assure you there is worse, also!

We are considering Japan airlines.. We checked few days ago and it was the cheapest.. Unfortunately we cannot book yet because we are still waiting for my visa..We checked today and there is no available for our chosen date.. My fiance told me that it will be better for me to have the Asian airlines since I will need rice during my travel.. Lol

[TeddyHoney 42]

Thank you so much for your suggestion.. Yes I will put SFO on my list of choices for my POE.. It will be my first time to travel out of my country and I do not have any idea how it will be.. Thanks that we have VJ.. Very reliable..The members are informative and helpful..

Sure

[TeddyHoney 42]

We are considering Japan airlines.. We checked few days ago and it was the cheapest.. Unfortunately we cannot book yet because we are still waiting for my visa..We checked today and there is no available for our chosen date.. My fiance told me that it will be better for me to have the Asian airlines since I will need rice during my travel.. Lol

Haha. Yes, I thought that might be a factor I flew JAL in 2009 to the Phils. Nice airline. Good choice! God bless you journey and your future together!

[Joshuaching 11]

When my wife travels to the US, we plan on using SFO as our POE. There is no problem in that, except that I worry that the immigration/customs guys might wonder why we are arriving at SFO instead of LAX when our final destination is Winchester, California down South.

The reason for my choice of SFO is to pick up our family Van, see the San Francisco sites first, then drive down to Winchester, California which is about 60 miles northwest of San Diego, Ca.

Any thoughts? Perhaps a simple explanation to the airport authorities would suffice.

[Darnell 8,478]

Korean Airlines has nice jump, direct flight , from Seoul to Dallas (if'n yer coming to Texas)

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello all. We hope to soon schedule Katherine's flight to the U.S. We are just curious what

to expect at the Point of entry? Specifically, wait times, questions asked by immigration officer,

any problems or issues people have had. We were also told that Hawaii is a very easy, laid back POE.

Thank you for any comments or advice.

Our POE was Honolulu and it was very easy. When you walk into the POE room the counters you will want are on the far left, there will be an Immigrations agent standing by the doorway if you have questions.

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

Our POE was Honolulu and it was very easy. When you walk into the POE room the counters you will want are on the far left, there will be an Immigrations agent standing by the doorway if you have questions.

Thanks Hank,

Can you tell me how long it took to get Through immigration and customs in Honolulu? I am concerned

because a few VJ members have said that 2-3 hours for

a POE layover may not be enough time to get through

immigration. One of the flights I am looking into has a

4 hour layover in Honolulu. Did your Wife fly through Guam?

This particular flight I am looking into stops in Guam first. I was told that Guam has a POE also? Confused about

this.

Thanks

Edited August 22, 2012 by Kathy and Jesse

[Shawn C 11]

My friend just came to Hawaii and from landing to her walking out the door was 1 1/2 hours. She was already married but was her first time here with a shiny new visa. I don't know if K-1 visa will be longer, but I wouldn't see why it should be too much.

[B_J 2,752]

LAX was really easy. The entire process from leaving the plane to finding me in the airport took less than an hour. The fact that it was late at night and it wasn't busy may have been the reason the time was so short. But definitely no complaints.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Thanks Hank,

Can you tell me how long it took to get Through immigration and customs in Honolulu? I am concerned

because a few VJ members have said that 2-3 hours for

a POE layover may not be enough time to get through

immigration. One of the flights I am looking into has a

4 hour layover in Honolulu. Did your Wife fly through Guam?

This particular flight I am looking into stops in Guam first. I was told that Guam has a POE also? Confused about

this.

Thanks

WE flew Hawaiian airlines, our first stop was Hawaii. (I have heard mixed info on Guam also)

When we got off the plane we walked as quickly as possible to immigration, so we were the first ones to arrive, the immigrations officers were not even at the counter for doing the visas so we waited about 10 minutes, after that it took maybe 15 minutes and we were on our way to collect our luggage and go through customs. We were the only flight that was processing through also.

We had a couple hours lay-over in Hawaii so we had time to relax after checking our luggage back in. They check the luggage just outside of customs to the left end of the room.

[Rosie_Todd 8]

does anybody know which cities in continental US have nonstop flights from Manila? The only two I know of are LAX and SFO...just wondering if there are others?

Edited August 22, 2012 by Rosie_Todd

[Tintin and Mike 127]

does anybody know which cities in continental US have nonstop flights from Manila? The only two I know of are LAX and SFO...just wondering if there are others?

only LAX and SFO as far as I know on PAL (Philippine Airlines) well maybe Vegas too but don't quote me on that

Edited August 22, 2012 by tintin talaga

[southcalhog 43]

only LAX and SFO as far as I know on PAL (Philippine Airlines) well maybe Vegas too but don't quote me on that

Im sure you are right, LAX, SFO, is all i know of myself.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Im sure you are right, LAX, SFO, is all i know of myself.

No direct flights into San Diego? Man that sucks!!

[southcalhog 43]

No direct flights into San Diego? Man that sucks!!

No Hank that i know for sure unless they changed Lately.there is a lot of Filipinos as you know in San Diego but no direct to San Diego .....Yet!