Need Help FAST... Booking Flights for Visa Interview

[Looking4Wife 0]

My wife's visa interview is upcoming, and I plan to meet her in Barranquilla, and then fly with her to Bogota. After that, we will be leaving from Bogota to return to the USA.

FYI:

Depart from USA = 3/30 or 3/31.

Interview = 4/10/2007.

Return to USA with wife = 4/12.

Problem is...

1. It has always been a no-brainer to book my previous trips, since they were just from Point A to Point B, and only me flying. Expedia.com has always given me the lowest prices in comparison to other sites.

NOTE: The one time I tried to use a travel agent, AAA, they quoted me about double what I could find on Expedia.

2. I used the "Multiple Destination" feature of Expedia to run scenarios for the visa interview trip.

A. I entered my flight dates.

B. I entered my wife's travel dates (same as mine without the initial flight from USA of course).

C. The travel time/best price scenarios for her don't necessarily match mine.

D. Since the ticket price is "bundled" (i.e. 2-3 destinations under one price), it seems each scenario has to be dissected, and the airlines have to be called to verify pricing for EACH SCENARIO!

Am I overlooking something obvious here... or is it really this hard?

Thanks in advance...

Edited March 9, 2007 by Looking4Wife

[sereia 0]

maybe try a travel agent this time. find one that specializes in good deals. i used flight centre a few times and were given reasonable rates. also, the reason i used them WAS because i had many points in my trip, not just a regular round trip.

good luck!

[CarolineM 0]

call the airline directly.

you don't need a travel agent...

[sereia 0]

i would definitely do both and compare prices. put the first one on hold then call the other.

whenever i book a ticket to go see my fiance i check online in a million places, check airline directly, and check my local travel agent that specializes in morocco. amazingly enough, the travel agent gives me the best deal. *shrug*

Edited March 9, 2007 by abdounjen

[milimelo 4,477]

Why don't you try this website: http://www.amadeus.net/home/index.htm

This is what the travel agents use and you can select multiple destinations. It even has an option to search for low-cost flights and give you an idea of what prices are current. I use it to check out different schedules for my boss and it works great.

[Queen Jenn 0]

I would either call a travel agent or call the airline directly. Either way, I would purchase the trip insurance. Just in case the interview doesn't go as planned. I mean, what if they ask for more information and give her another interview date? I've never dealt with the embassy in Colombia, but as a paralegal, I've become an expert in CYA (cover your a**). And if you purchase TWO tickets in advance and hit a snag in the interview, you are out the money for her ticket.

Just my thoughts, anyway. GOOD LUCK WITH THE TRIP AND THE INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!

[Mags 112]

Yeah, I was thinking about the "tightness" of the schedule. What if there is a delay in getting the visa out to her?