Airline Tickets After Visa

[JasonGG 275]

I'm not sure where to post this question, but figured a lot of people coming to this forum are also in the process of figuring this out . . .

 

I will fly to Vietnam in June to accompany my fiance and her daughter back to the U.S. in July.  Do I buy one round trip ticket for myself online (Washington DC - Vietnam - Washington DC) and then hope I can book 2 one-way tickets (Vietnam - Washington DC) on the same flight in adjoining seats after completing my purchase.  Or do I need to make this purchase over the phone with one of the travel booking sites or directly with the airline to guarantee we are sitting together.

 

I have used JustFly and CheapOAir in the past, but Cheapoair doesn't allow 1-way tickets originating from Vietnam.  Justfly allows me to choose my seats, but I worry that in the time it takes to complete my purchase, adjoining seats won't be available for the return trip.  Any advice or recent experience available?

 

Thanks - Jason

[Roel 7,192]

Don't buy any tickets for your fiance until she has her visa in hand, just an advice. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

14 minutes ago, Roel said:

Don't buy any tickets for your fiance until she has her visa in hand, just an advice. 

Yep that. 

[JasonGG 275]

17 minutes ago, Roel said:

Don't buy any tickets for your fiance until she has her visa in hand, just an advice. 

Yes, thank you.  She and her daughter were approved May 4 and the visas were issued last Monday.  Expecting them to be delivered this coming Monday or Tuesday and we are waiting until they arrive (without any typos)) before purchasing tickets.  Just wondering how others have done this once they have the visas in hand.

 

Thanks - Jason

[payxibka 10,045]

6 minutes ago, JasonGG said:

Yes, thank you.  She and her daughter were approved May 4 and the visas were issued last Monday.  Expecting them to be delivered this coming Monday or Tuesday and we are waiting until they arrive (without any typos)) before purchasing tickets.  Just wondering how others have done this once they have the visas in hand.

 

Thanks - Jason

Do you really think that the tickets will sell that fast for that flight?  I mean we are talking minutes. 

[JasonGG 275]

35 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Do you really think that the tickets will sell that fast for that flight?  I mean we are talking minutes. 

Yes, which is one reason why I am asking the question.   Also the available tickets differ depending on one way and round trip.

 

Considering your response, can I assume you had a similar situation?  Did you order online or have to contact someone by phone to make sure you got your seats together.

[payxibka 10,045]

7 minutes ago, JasonGG said:

Yes, which is one reason why I am asking the question.   Also the available tickets differ depending on one way and round trip.

 

Considering your response, can I assume you had a similar situation?  Did you order online or have to contact someone by phone to make sure you got your seats together.

Calling and talking to an agent will guarantee you what you want.  I did it off of two different sessions of the booking site and booked the flights only minutes apart and did my seat selection right away.  With the changes in airline rules, some "class" of tickets do not allow advance seat selection so be careful

[chi6488 94]

You can call like expedia and book over phone with your situation.  You can then also book most legs with the agent. Some airlines do not allow seat selection.

 

My fiance just arrived the other day from vietnam and she flew with Japan airlines then two legs with american airlines.  Japan did not allow seat selection but AA requested seats for us and she was able to sit at requested seats.

[Mike & Tuyen 598]

19 hours ago, JasonGG said:

I'm not sure where to post this question, but figured a lot of people coming to this forum are also in the process of figuring this out . . .

 

I will fly to Vietnam in June to accompany my fiance and her daughter back to the U.S. in July.  Do I buy one round trip ticket for myself online (Washington DC - Vietnam - Washington DC) and then hope I can book 2 one-way tickets (Vietnam - Washington DC) on the same flight in adjoining seats after completing my purchase.  Or do I need to make this purchase over the phone with one of the travel booking sites or directly with the airline to guarantee we are sitting together.

 

I have used JustFly and CheapOAir in the past, but Cheapoair doesn't allow 1-way tickets originating from Vietnam.  Justfly allows me to choose my seats, but I worry that in the time it takes to complete my purchase, adjoining seats won't be available for the return trip.  Any advice or recent experience available?

 

Thanks - Jason

We booked ours through OneTravel.  As others said, go with a travel company that you can speak with to explain.  They'll be able to get you together.

[Loren Y 2,753]

When I have flown, and I fly a lot, when ever I had to buy another ticket for the same flight I almost always did it online wherever I could find it the cheapest, and when you check in at the airport make sure you are there just a little earlier than most people, and check in together and ask for seats next to each other. I would say 99% of the time it was never a problem to get adjoining seats. No matter what you pick online, if you read the contract of carriage for most airlines, your seats are not really guaranteed until you check in at the counter.

[payxibka 10,045]

5 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

 No matter what you pick online, if you read the contract of carriage for most airlines, your seats are not really guaranteed until you check in at the counter.

Check-in.  Period.  Online as well not just at the counter

[TNJ17 1,329]

20 hours ago, payxibka said:

Do you really think that the tickets will sell that fast for that flight?  I mean we are talking minutes. 

Right... this is a non issue. And if it does, well big whoop. Ask the airline at check in, or people on the plane to change seats, or fly apart anyways. It’s not like it will kill you. Or like you can’t get up from your seat. It’s just a flight.

Edited May 13, 2018 by TNJ17

[JFH 12,189]

21 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

Right... this is a non issue. And if it does, well big whoop. Ask the airline at check in, or people on the plane to change seats, or fly apart anyways. It’s not like it will kill you. Or like you can’t get up from your seat. It’s just a flight.

Agreed. Just buy the tickets and consider sitting together to be a bonus that may or may not happen (and it probably will - I work for an airline so I know how it works). You’ve managed this long apart - another 15 hours or so won’t kill you. 

Edited May 13, 2018 by JFH

[OlayemiLoray 172]

Purchased our flight tickets through ASAP..RT to Nigeria for myself and one-way ticket for my husband from Nigeria to America..Agent couldn't get us seated together on our returned flights, but the agent at the counter for Emirates got us seated for the first and second leg of our our flights..I know people say it's just a 15 hour flight, but consider the fact that my husband has never flown before and I wanted to make sure our 24 to 25 hours flight was pleasurable for the both of us..You may or may not find someone who wants to flip seats, but doesn't hurt to try..However, you can try it like I did by speaking with the agent counter by seating you together..Good luck!

[zeta054 111]

U could also try speaking with the airline directly and see if you can purchase the tickets for a 1 way for your wife and daughter. Or you could have her speak with the airline in VN directly and see if they can put her on the same flight and buy a one way ticket.