"Risk" involved in booking flight before visa?

[Pennycat 880]

I know I know I know I know I know I know I know. But bear with me for a second.

I'm talking about Southwest which has a route from Costa Rica to BWI (local for me), non-stop, and it is almost always next to nothing but for our guesstimate POE weekend (and several weekends after) it is only $154 (the lower end of "normal"--it was in the $130s for the promo fares when they first opened the route but never again).

Southwest does *not* have a penalty for changing--you only pay the fare difference. So if we miss our guesstimate, and if on the "new" day the price has gone up to $264, then we're paying another $110. But, the thing is, we'd be paying that $264 if we waited to book until visa-in-hand anyway so..... no harm no foul? May as well see if we can save a few bucks? Or if we're really feeling strapped for cash, we can book on a day where the price has gone down to $154....

I know it's only $110, and that the advice everywhere is that it's "risky".... but..... with Southwest's policy where's the risk? Am I missing something? This mostly makes a difference because to me, money is money and I don't like to spend it unnecessairly (there's a *reason* I've been able to travel as much as I have in my life, and that's largely because I'm thrifty, good at budgeting and made travel the #1 priority). That's us going to a hockey game together!

So, am I missing something major here? Would you do it?

[heo luoi 206]

You seem confident in the policies and if they outweigh the risk do it. worse case you eat $110 which is likely far from the end of the world thrifty or otherwise. Its over 40% off. It the policy is what you say it is I'd do it.

[saddlepatch 6]

That's an amazing deal! But personally, I'd wait.

Spirit usually has just as amazing of deals last second, same with American and Delta. Look at all your POE options too, shuttle buses to different airports for cheaper flight costs. Not sure in terms of options in CR but you're in a pretty nicely central hub, so if you're okay with driving two hours in any direction, that will open up more hubs for you which may be cheaper!

But that's my opinion. If you're confident with Southwest's policy then do what you think is best for you

I got my flight on the 7th with Delta for 164 from Toronto to Tampa

Not to shabby!

[Pennycat 880]

That's an amazing deal! But personally, I'd wait.

Spirit usually has just as amazing of deals last second, same with American and Delta. Look at all your POE options too, shuttle buses to different airports for cheaper flight costs. Not sure in terms of options in CR but you're in a pretty nicely central hub, so if you're okay with driving two hours in any direction, that will open up more hubs for you which may be cheaper!

But that's my opinion. If you're confident with Southwest's policy then do what you think is best for you

I got my flight on the 7th with Delta for 164 from Toronto to Tampa

Not to shabby!

Ah yes should have mentioned. I don't own a car (car free living for me!) so while I'd be theoretically willing to drive to New York or something (deals to DC are still somehow better), I can't. Car rental or Amtrak would wash out any possible savings.

Spirit I considered but the fees for bags (he's moving, after all) would also wash out the savings plus, his POE would be Ft. Lauderdale, and I'd prefer to go non-stop or transfer abroad (El Salvador is the only option) to mitigate the risk of a missed connection. He's never flown before so keeping anxiety at a minimum is the name of the game.

I've never seen the one-ways on SWA go over $270. So it's not a big deal but as the poster said above 40% discount and (seemingly ) no risk other than "the price might go up to what you'd need to pay anyway".... maybe?

[heo luoi 206]

Non stop , international flight for $150 is firesale price. Holding out for better at this point would be greedy. When you get dealt a black jack you take it, you dont doubledown

have you vetted the policies for all the air carriers? Your OP seems to resolve all the risk @ SWA, at most you're paying what a typical fare is. If you can do that at every airline and think < $150 for some last second deal? How much cheaper do you think you could realistically get? I've got plenty of other things to do. My time is worth more than the time/energy to vet all those.

[Pennycat 880]

That's an amazing deal! But personally, I'd wait.

Spirit usually has just as amazing of deals last second, same with American and Delta. Look at all your POE options too, shuttle buses to different airports for cheaper flight costs. Not sure in terms of options in CR but you're in a pretty nicely central hub, so if you're okay with driving two hours in any direction, that will open up more hubs for you which may be cheaper!

But that's my opinion. If you're confident with Southwest's policy then do what you think is best for you

I got my flight on the 7th with Delta for 164 from Toronto to Tampa

Not to shabby!

Ah yes should have mentioned. I don't own a car (car free living for me!) so while I'd be theoretically willing to drive to New York or something (deals to DC are still somehow better), I can't. Car rental or Amtrak would wash out any possible savings.

Spirit I considered but the fees for bags (he's moving, after all) would also wash out the savings plus, his POE would be Ft. Lauderdale, and I'd prefer to go non-stop or transfer abroad (El Salvador is the only option) to mitigate the risk of a missed connection. He's never flown before so keeping anxiety at a minimum is the name of the game.

I've never seen the one-ways on SWA go over $270. So it's not a big deal but as the poster said above 40% discount and (seemingly ) no risk other than "the price might go up to what you'd need to pay anyway".... maybe?

[Pennycat 880]

Non stop , international flight for $150 is firesale price. Holding out for better at this point would be greedy. When you get dealt a black jack you take it, you dont doubledown

have you vetted the policies for all the air carriers? Your OP seems to resolve all the risk @ SWA, at most you're paying what a typical fare is. If you can do that at every airline and think < $150 for some last second deal? How much cheaper do you think you could realistically get? I've got plenty of other things to do. My time is worth more than the time/energy to vet all those.

This is what I'm thinking. As long as I'm not missing something major...if we need to reschedule, we're not worse off than if we bought a last minute ticket. So if "no worse off" is our worst case scenario. ...maybe may as well go for it? I guess it just feels weird to buy a ticket without 100% positivity but these circumstances may make it ok.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

This is a dream situation in regard to the fare and route. Southwest is the complete converse of all the other (= lousy) airlines. Go for it.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

too bad Southwest doesn't cover where i fly to / i always go back to booking on cheapoair.com and flying with Qatar / great airline

[Pennycat 880]

Booked it! Funny thing, the price DID go down (not much but just the principle of it gah!). Now that day is $149. We paid $154 so it's not like I'm crying into my coffee over it lol. I sprung for early-bird check-in (I spoil him so -- ha) so he'll have his pick of seats and a little more time to get settled. I've flown this route enough times now that I know the flight attendants--the lead attendant is actually Costa Rican himself so I'll see if my fiance wants me to tell this guy to keep an eye out for him (I'm going down for the interview/ long weekend, if all goes well, he'll follow 2 weeks later).

Now I'm getting myself ready for my trip-- usually for a short trip it's just a matter of throwing some clothes in a bag (my bag always has my travel toiletries and extra toothbrush, hairbrush, first aid baggie etc ready to go), but this time I'm bringing gifts for folks, my (belated) engagement gift for him (a large travel backpack that I've sewn the CR flag to, and a patch from a volcano national park we visited in Nicaragua, and a 1200 page Lonely Planet guide to the USA in Spanish) and I have to arrange for my poor cat to be watched by someone who knows how to give medicine to cats, or find a boarding place that has space. I'd completely forgotten about this--usually I can have a friend check in on him every other day or so. Nope. Little guy has hyperthyroidism now. The things we do for animals....

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Congratulations on the impending big day(s).

Be careful to ensure his recognition that cats are members of the family. In Ecuador, and perhaps elsewhere in Latin America, a cat is merely an animal.

[Pennycat 880]

Congratulations on the impending big day(s).

Be careful to ensure his recognition that cats are members of the family. In Ecuador, and perhaps elsewhere in Latin America, a cat is merely an animal.

Thank you! We're excited (and nervous), which I suppose is not uncommon.

He's on it with the cats. He's a big animal lover in general (dogs much more than cats but he loves cats, too), and is one of those Pied Piper types who animals just flock to. It's weird--but adorable. I do think that in general in Costa Rica cats are not treated with any particular affection. Whether or not they are both on-board with him is a whole different story. The other one (the not-gravely ill one) is unfortunately one of those stereotypes of the species who pretty much only likes one person (me), and even then not all of the time. She's rather rude to everyone else. The sick one is awesome, though. Everyone's friend and a joy to have in the house.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Every cat has its distinct personality.

If you haven't participated already, be sure to:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/356713-cat-barf-si-man/

Edited October 6, 2015 by TBoneTX

[Pennycat 880]

Every cat has its distinct personality.

If you haven't participated already, be sure to:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/356713-cat-barf-si-man/

Oh for sure they do. I love them all to bits, especially my two. I just wish that Edith wasn't so mean to everyone. It makes her very unpopular with my friends who just don't see how awesome and funny she is and the non- or anti- cat people of my acquaintance basically say "see?! They're evil little things, when really it's just her and it's not really how she is. She in particular is suspicious of and mean to men, and so I do worry for poor Walter (fiance). Toby is the doofus, gives "fist bumps" (head butts your fist if you hold it out for him) and spends all day flirting with passersby from his windowsill.

I'll go check out that thread now!