VISA approved for Wife :) ticket purchase question

[rebel 0]

• According to Philippines law, tickets for flights departing from the Philippines cannot be purchased from any region other than the Philippines.

​what is the usual way to purchase one way tickets to the US? I am planning on traveling to the Philippines next month, VIA Cebu, for a short visit , then accompany my wife and son back to the US. my normal travel agent has warns dmd about this Law . I am guessing it is regards to travel tax, but I assume there dis a way to book all out flights in the US and pay this tax. any feedback would be appreciated. thanks

[harisinam 0]

on your to Philippines, which airline are you taking? if you are going through AA, look at the carrier that will take you to Philippines, the last stop of your international flight. Call them up. they will hook you up at good rates as they know you would be buying tickets both ways

[Greenbaum 12,259]

rebel, on 25 Oct 2014 - 05:02 AM, said:

• According to Philippines law, tickets for flights departing from the Philippines cannot be purchased from any region other than the Philippines.

​what is the usual way to purchase one way tickets to the US? I am planning on traveling to the Philippines next month, VIA Cebu, for a short visit , then accompany my wife and son back to the US. my normal travel agent has warns dmd about this Law . I am guessing it is regards to travel tax, but I assume there dis a way to book all out flights in the US and pay this tax. any feedback would be appreciated. thanks

You can buy your tickets online for all travel. Just print off the tickets and bring them with you. Pay the departure taxes and get on your flight to USA.

Travel Fees:

Travel Tax/Exit Fee for all those immigrating: 1620 Php (currently) Can be paid at the airport if its not included with the purchase of your airline ticket. Counter is staffed 24/7 at NAIA

http://www.tieza.com...l-tax-rates.php

Terminal/Airport Fee: 550 Php (currently)

[rebel 0]

Ill have to talk to my travel agent again,. But I read several comments about people having to re-purchase tickets in country .

[JRluvsLhyn 0]

• According to Philippines law, tickets for flights departing from the Philippines cannot be purchased from any region other than the Philippines.

​what is the usual way to purchase one way tickets to the US? I am planning on traveling to the Philippines next month, VIA Cebu, for a short visit , then accompany my wife and son back to the US. my normal travel agent has warns dmd about this Law . I am guessing it is regards to travel tax, but I assume there dis a way to book all out flights in the US and pay this tax. any feedback would be appreciated. thanks</p>

I just purchase ticket today one round trip for me and one way from manila to U. S. for my mom I personally booked the ticket from a travel agency and never told me about this kind of law

[Hank_ 9,174]

Not a big issue, just make sure to pay the exit fee at the airport

[M and C 32]

• According to Philippines law, tickets for flights departing from the Philippines cannot be purchased from any region other than the Philippines.

​what is the usual way to purchase one way tickets to the US? I am planning on traveling to the Philippines next month, VIA Cebu, for a short visit , then accompany my wife and son back to the US. my normal travel agent has warns dmd about this Law . I am guessing it is regards to travel tax, but I assume there dis a way to book all out flights in the US and pay this tax. any feedback would be appreciated. thanks

I booked a one-way ticket online, departing from Manila and had no problem during my travel. I just had to pay the travel tax upon departure.

Edited October 29, 2014 by M and C

[M and C 32]

As far as Philippine Airlines is concerned, "transactions made online are considered purchases in the Philippines". See link under "Payment":

http://www.philippineairlines.com/about-pal/legal-notices/terms-and-conditions/

[Al422 221]

I read them too. And I bought my wife's ticket from Manila to New York on Expedia, while in New York. And she paid all the required taxes in cash at the airport. And we had no problems.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

rebel, on 25 Oct 2014 - 08:32 AM, said:

Ill have to talk to my travel agent again,. But I read several comments about people having to re-purchase tickets in country .

My answer was my experience. Good luck.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

I simply booked my wife a one way flight on Delta Airlines online. No extra fees or taxes were necessary.

[Alona_Dan 0]

I booked one way tickets for myself, my now wife and our 2 kids on Orbitz from our apartment in Cebu last year and left with no problems at all.

Don't stress out over it. Enjoy Cebu, I loved it there. My wife is from up north near Borbon.

[yannix 24]

The law does exist and it's been around since the Marcos days. It's coded in the IATA system and travel agents will see that note/restriction when they attempt to ticket. This rule only covers tickets originating PH. Basically, your roundtrip ticket US-PH-US is legal even if it was issued in the US. Your wife and son's PH->US has to be issued in the Phils for it to be legal.

But since this is the PH we are talking about, the enforcement is hit or miss. Most have been able to travel with no issues whatsoever and then there are some horror stories you hear about having to repurchase tickets.

My suggestion is buy directly from the airline's website. If the airline is collecting travel tax, then they are doing this legally. What they are really doing is using their Phil based branch/subsidiary to "issue" the tickets for you. By law (another Marcos one), a ticket issued in the Phils has to have travel tax collected unless you are exempted. To check if the site is collecting travel tax, you can check under the taxes/fess breakdown. The tax is a line item that has the keyword "PH" and has the amount P1620 or ~$36+ (the $ value fluctuates depending on forex rates).

At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide which route (and eventually how much risk) you are willing to take. Good luck

Edited October 30, 2014 by yannix