Flights

[LukeU 413]

Hey everyone,  spammy Luke again! 

 

So finally, the time has arrived to book my flight out! (May 11th) and then I remember reading someone's horror story about their AOS being declined because they had left the USA before receiving their AP. This boiled down to them cancelling their return leg of the flight but it not getting recorded correctly by the booking agent. They hadn't actually left the USA but the system showed that they had. 

 

My question is, would it be safe to book a return ticket for say February 2020 and then file AOS/EAD/AP etc?

Or sell one of my spare organs for the one way ticket to be on the safe hand? (Return works out approximately £650, where as a one way eyewateringly costs £1675!)

[Hypnos 6,576]

Whichever is cheapest is fine. If you feel the need you can always cancel the return leg, if necessary. 

[Mother of Moomin 25]

I am flying out on the 30th of May and booked a one way ticket with TC for £349! (I had to make sure there wasn't a catch like my seat was going to be strapped to the wing of the plane or the pilot's knee.)

 

If you prefer you could still do the round trip with a bigger/better airline and just cancel the return leg a few days upon arrival. If you actually want to fly back for a short visit once you have your Greencard, you could chance it and potentially have a flight already waiting for you. It is probably wishful thinking but there is a slim chance it might play out that way! If it doesn't, once again just cancel.

 

P.s flight schedule change is highly likely for flights booked so far in advance. This opens up the possibility of a refund if you choose to not accept the "unfortunately unsuitable" change proposed. I discovered that by accident with VA (of course review all TOCs before purchasing anything from anyone).

 

Congratulations and good luck.

 

 

 

[helen83 52]

I've booked a return flight as I had intended to come back end of the year for a family occasion but this was before i realised how long AOS was taking so I'm just  going to cancel it but I've risked it because those one way tickets are very costly lol

[LukeU 413]

1 minute ago, Halee said:

I am flying out on the 30th of May and booked a one way ticket with TC for £349! (I had to make sure there wasn't a catch like my seat was going to be strapped to the wing of the plane or the pilot's knee.)

 

If you prefer you could still do the round trip with a bigger/better airline and just cancel the return leg a few days upon arrival. If you actually want to fly back for a short visit once you have your Greencard, you could chance it and potentially have a flight already waiting for you. It is probably wishful thinking but there is a slim chance it might play out that way! If it doesn't, once again just cancel.

 

P.s flight schedule change is highly likely for flights booked so far in advance. This opens up the possibility of a refund if you choose to not accept the "unfortunately unsuitable" change proposed. I discovered that by accident with VA (of course review all TOCs before purchasing anything from anyone).

 

Congratulations and good luck.

 

 

 

Having been in the cockpit of the 787 Dreamliner and the A350-1000, I'd be quite happy on the pilots knee, there's more room on the jumpseat than economy that's for sure

 

Flying into Detroit is quite limited on airlines without having many stopovers, so I'll probably just book the cheapest return for as far in the future as possible. Even if I don't cancel it like you say, hope for a schedule change which I'll unfortunately be unable to accept. 

 

Gatwick to Chicago was an option with Norwegian but then I'd have to rent a car and 6 hours later I'd be almost there. 

Just now, helen83 said:

I've booked a return flight as I had intended to come back end of the year for a family occasion but this was before i realised how long AOS was taking so I'm just  going to cancel it but I've risked it because those one way tickets are very costly lol

To be fair we're looking for a June wedding so with a Feb or Mar 2020 return date I think I should be safe. 

[JFH 12,190]

Do you have enough frequent flyer mileage from previous trips to get a one-way ticket?

[LukeU 413]

1 minute ago, JFH said:

Do you have enough frequent flyer mileage from previous trips to get a one-way ticket?

Unfortunately not as a lot of my previous flights have been staff travel (standby) and going via Amsterdam as I know AMS - DTW is often a quiet flight. But I never take checked luggage during my previous trips as standby is self-transfer of baggage. This time I'll be taking x2 checked luggage so

 

So I've maybe gotten enough miles for a small upgrade but nothing much else. My few confirmed trips have been booked through 2 different carriers and not always the same (due to the stupid fluctuation in pricing). 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, LukeU said:

Hey everyone,  spammy Luke again! 

 

So finally, the time has arrived to book my flight out! (May 11th) and then I remember reading someone's horror story about their AOS being declined because they had left the USA before receiving their AP. This boiled down to them cancelling their return leg of the flight but it not getting recorded correctly by the booking agent. They hadn't actually left the USA but the system showed that they had. 

 

My question is, would it be safe to book a return ticket for say February 2020 and then file AOS/EAD/AP etc?

Or sell one of my spare organs for the one way ticket to be on the safe hand? (Return works out approximately £650, where as a one way eyewateringly costs £1675!)

 

Buy a return. I remember the actual first hand accounting by that person and it was an extremely rare series of errors. Now it is VJ legend, passed down to each subsequent graduating class. 😁😂

 

Just cancel it and consider it money saved. The idea of using it puts you back in the UK (maybe) with no return to the US. At some point that backward booking will get cumbersome, if it even works out the first time.

[fip & jim 452]

This doesn't help with you flying out to emigrate but for future trips it's relevant. Virgin Atlantic have a sale at the beginning of the year. The available tickets are usually for March/April. That's why my daughter is flying out next week for a visit, plus it coincides with her Easter break. Her return ticket cost 698 pounds*. The sale starts around the 2nd or 3rd of January. You should have your AP/GC by then.

(*To DTW, I forgot to mention).

Edited March 18, 2019 by fip & jim

[LukeU 413]

35 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

Buy a return. I remember the actual first hand accounting by that person and it was an extremely rare series of errors. Now it is VJ legend, passed down to each subsequent graduating class. 😁😂

 

Just cancel it and consider it money saved. The idea of using it puts you back in the UK (maybe) with no return to the US. At some point that backward booking will get cumbersome, if it even works out the first time.

Ahhh okays, well there we go, it's officially carried over to the graduating class of March 2019! I did my part 😉 

 

Jobs a good 'un then, I guess we'll get the flight booked

[LukeU 413]

Just now, fip & jim said:

This doesn't help with you flying out to emigrate but for future trips it's relevant. Virgin Atlantic have a sale at the beginning of the year. The available tickets are usually for March/April. That's why my daughter is flying out next week for a visit, plus it coincides with her Easter break. Her return ticket cost 698 pounds. The sale starts around the 2nd or 3rd of January. You should have your AP/GC by then.

Thank you Fi!  I'm sure that's what Courtney booked her upcoming trip with, I got a notification from Jacksflightclub and then we checked

[fip & jim 452]

1 minute ago, LukeU said:

Thank you Fi!  I'm sure that's what Courtney booked her upcoming trip with, I got a notification from Jacksflightclub and then we checked

I wish Norwegian flew to DTW. My friend in NY State could make 2 or 3 trips a year back to the UK from JFK flying with Norwegian. James looked in to driving from here to do that, or Chicago like you said. It adds another day either side to the trip and he used to get bad jet lag on the way east. He even got one of those melatonin waters to try and sleep on the plane but it didn't work and then he had jet lag and felt super drowsy.  🤣

[LukeU 413]

2 minutes ago, fip & jim said:

I wish Norwegian flew to DTW. My friend in NY State could make 2 or 3 trips a year back to the UK from JFK flying with Norwegian. James looked in to driving from here to do that, or Chicago like you said. It adds another day either side to the trip and he used to get bad jet lag on the way east. He even got one of those melatonin waters to try and sleep on the plane but it didn't work and then he had jet lag and felt super drowsy.  🤣

I am still toying with the idea of Norweigan into Chicago and just renting a car to be honest but by the time I rent a car the £300 saved will be spent on that and fuel and food on the road I'm sure. Plus 6 hours after an 8 hour flight doesn't sound too great. 

 

Coming East is definitely worse than going West, but yeah, uncomfortable at best 

[fip & jim 452]

2 minutes ago, LukeU said:

I am still toying with the idea of Norweigan into Chicago and just renting a car to be honest but by the time I rent a car the £300 saved will be spent on that and fuel and food on the road I'm sure. Plus 6 hours after an 8 hour flight doesn't sound too great.

Courtney can't pick you up?

 

If I have my licence and car by then I could do it. 🤔

[LukeU 413]

11 minutes ago, fip & jim said:

Courtney can't pick you up?

 

If I have my licence and car by then I could do it. 🤔

It's a good 6 hour drive, so then we'd be looking at her coming the day before and having a hotel and by then it's getting up to the DTW price. I think I'll just go for the return flight and just cancel the outbound leg   From DTW she'll definitely pick me up  it's under a 2 hour trip then and I'll generally drive us back home so