Travelling UK to US through non-banned countries

[theballaam96 49]

Our K1 is at the NVC, but I'm taking a look at travel as I half-expect travel restrictions UK > US to be in place for a while to come. Taking a look at Kayak for 1-stop+ flights that only go through non-banned countries comes out to going through Hong Kong and spending over $7800 just on flights (baring in mind that I'd have to spend money on 14-days worth of hotels and food). Whilst we can afford that, that's miles above what we were expecting ($2k-4k), and we'd like to not spend $4k more than we need to..

Has anyone found a different route from the UK to the US that doesn't cost so much?

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

People have mentioned Serbia, Croatia and Turkey before, can any of those work for you?

You may have to look at airline websites yourself for those countries rather than relying on a third party site. They don’t always capture all the available options.

Edited July 26, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[theballaam96 49]

What airports in the US are they flying in to? With the big airports I remember,  there aren't any flights from turkey

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

I don’t know. I’m only repeating what I’ve heard others mention they’ve used. Mexico is also an option as a non banned stopover, for now. 
 

Edit: although simply putting “flights turkey USA” into google says there are nonstop flights from Istanbul to 6 cities. Like I said, you may have to search beyond Kayak.

Edited July 26, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[theballaam96 49]

Ahh, Gatwick > Istanbul > LAX for $802, far more reasonable. Thanks!

 

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

3 minutes ago, theballaam96 said:

Ahh, Gatwick > Istanbul > LAX for $802, far more reasonable. Thanks!

 

Coming out of UK, are you required to spend 4 days in a non-banned country before entering the US?  If so, Mexico has been a route for some...as @SusieQQQ stated.

[theballaam96 49]

1 minute ago, Lucky Cat said:

Coming out of UK, are you required to spend 4 days in a non-banned country before entering the US?  If so, Mexico has been a route for some...as @SusieQQQ stated.

Yea, I have to not be in a banned country (which for now includes the UK) at any point in the 14 days prior to me entering the USA

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

1 minute ago, theballaam96 said:

Yea, I have to not be in a banned country (which for now includes the UK) at any point in the 14 days prior to me entering the USA

Mexico is a possibility as demonstrated by some others.

[millefleur 5,047]

**Moved from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures to  Coronavirus Covid-19**

[retheem 568]

Try London-Dubai- USA

[igoyougoduke 1,662]

On 7/26/2020 at 8:21 AM, theballaam96 said:

Our K1 is at the NVC, but I'm taking a look at travel as I half-expect travel restrictions UK > US to be in place for a while to come. Taking a look at Kayak for 1-stop+ flights that only go through non-banned countries comes out to going through Hong Kong and spending over $7800 just on flights (baring in mind that I'd have to spend money on 14-days worth of hotels and food). Whilst we can afford that, that's miles above what we were expecting ($2k-4k), and we'd like to not spend $4k more than we need to..

Has anyone found a different route from the UK to the US that doesn't cost so much?

have you tried looking at flight search websites. so many options - dubai, mexico, istanbul, canada

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Also don't forget this changes daily. Mexico isn't banned today but may be tomorrow; you also don't want to be stuck on day 13 in a country and that one then gets banned and you gotta go home. It's good you are doing research ahead of time but just take it with a grain of salt for now

[theballaam96 49]

6 hours ago, James120383 said:

have you tried looking at flight search websites. so many options - dubai, mexico, istanbul, canada

I'd love to go through Canada as it's the least risky and I have friends in Canada who I can stay with. Unfortunately, at this time, it seems like Canada would not permit entry for me (src: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html ). Obviously this could change though between now and then

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

33 minutes ago, theballaam96 said:

I'd love to go through Canada as it's the least risky and I have friends in Canada who I can stay with. Unfortunately, at this time, it seems like Canada would not permit entry for me (src: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html ). Obviously this could change though between now and then

Be aware of the transit visa requirements through Canada.  My wife and I found out the hard way...LOL.....

[Jessica & Karl 23]

On 7/26/2020 at 4:21 PM, theballaam96 said:

Has anyone found a different route from the UK to the US that doesn't cost so much?

We are going via Mexico next month for 15 days.  LGW > CUN, then CUN > MIA > LHR.  Flights with BA are only £500 odd.  @remotercharm is out there now for a month.  Keep an eye on the mexico covid map though to make sure you're not flying into trouble.  Baja and Cancun area are about as safe as the UK, but Mexico city looks to be having some trouble.

 

I'm meeting Jessica in Mexico, so even if things change last minute and I can't get into the US, we still would have got to spend time together. As @Luckycuds says, anything can change in a day, so just keep fingers crossed.