Does anybody know how I can buy a one-way plane ticket from Vietnam to the U.S.? AND have us on the same plane, hopefully in adjoining seats? I'm sure I'm far from the first to encounter this problem, can someone help?

I got mine (round trip) through United and got the best deal ($1196 from the East Coast). Believe me I researched it for a couple of months and they were the cheapest. So I would go to United's website united.com and get the quote and flight information, then call them and check on the available seats. If you chose to buy the ticket you have to get it through the website or you will have to pay $15 more. After I got the ticket I was able to go and check on the seating with my MileagePlus account. I was able to get a window seat on all of the flights except the one departing HCMC, it was packed. I also noticed that after late March the prices went up dramatically. The same ticket would cost me $1500.00, no matter when I left.

Hope any of the information helps MP.

When I went to pick up my Wife in Vietnam and step daughter I bought 1 round trip ticket for myself flew with China Air lines. when I got to Vietnam I went to china airlines office and ask them that I needed 2 1 way ticket's to the US on same flight that I was taking back. no problem whats so ever with China airlines. and even saved about 400.00 buying the ticket there.

Thank you. That is just the sort of information I was looking for. Boy, I hate to leave it up to the last minute like that, but then again, what if she doesn't pass the interview? I don't see how she couldn't pass, but with HCM you never know.........

Oh, well, at least I know what I can do now. Thanks again.

Think Positive!!!!

I had booked my flight on China Airlines. After Thi passed her interview on Wednesday, I called them about getting her a ticket on my flight back to US on 3/5. Originally they had no seats but put her on stand by. A day later they called saying they had a seat. After she picked up her visa on Friday we paid for her ticket at China Airlines which is just a couple of block from the Consulate. They will not book a ticket until they see the passport with the visa in it that's why we had to go after the Consualte. So it wasn't a sure thing but it worked out ok. I think China Airlines is familiar with k1 visas and try to help as much as possible. They were very nice and helpful to us anyway. The one way ticket was $698. 40 USD to the LAX.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Try hooking up with tourism agency. They can give you cheaper rates than internet prices.

So...its ok to buy a one way ticket for my fiancee? I wasn't sure if customs required a round trip or it didn't matter????

If one way is cheaper go for it. It's highly unlikely that custom will turn her away.

My wife booked her ticket for China Airlines for $640 I think about 2 weeks before her flight. My uncle's wife ended up going back from Viet Nam on the same flight and they were able to get seats together when they met at the airport. I would suggest talking to a travel agent to see if they can get you a better deal than getting the ticket from the airline directly.

Its not customs but immigration. Round trip is not required for fiance or spousal visas, so one way tickets are fine.

Customs doesn't care if she has a one way or round trip ticket. They do want you to follow the law about your visa.

Also please fill in your timeline. It will help us help you and it's helpful for others to see who are just starting their journey.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26

Now that we've done this, I will tell our experiences in hopes that it will help other people.

I have a round trip ticket on Korean Air. We went to the main Korean Air office after the interview and inquired about purchasing a ticket for June 3, one way. The lady said it couldn't be done, because I had purchased my ticket through Delta (a ticket-sharing arrangement). I called BS, and asked a different way, can we buy a ticket on this specific airplane? Yes, you can. But not the last leg of your flight because it is on United. Fine. We'll deal with that later. Also, you can't buy the ticket without a visa. Fine, can we reserve it? Yes, no problem. Also, you must pay in VN dong, we can't accept U.S. cash. Fine. Well, not really.

After an unnecessarily long discussion, we got our ticket all the way to Des Moines, and we paid in U.S. dollars, and we got the thing without a visa. When in Vietnam, just keep needling, keep pressing, and someone will eventually help you. The Vietnamese will not generally give out helpful information unsolicited. Get used to it, and just accept it.

For curious folks, $965.00 from Hanoi to Seoul to Chicago to Des Moines (the Des Moines portion is on United). The lady said if we show up really early to the airport, we might even get to sit together. That would be wonderful.

P.S. I forgot to mention that the first time, they got the date wrong on 2 out of the 3 flights. Dot every I and cross every T!

Thanks for the info! I also plan to get a one-way ticket for my wife involving more than one airline in either June or September.

Ouch. James that was a lot of work. Glad you were able to get the flight. My experience with China Airlines was much different. I called them and they told me no flights together until March 16 (my return flight was March 5th) but they would call me if a seat became available on my flight. The next day they called with a seat for Thi. While they wouldn't book the flight until Thi and I were at their office with her visa stamp on her passport (there was another American there waiting for his wife to return with her passport so they are serious about that), they were polite and helpful in getting her on my return flight I had booked. I paid with my Visa card no problem. And they did get us seats together. I would fly with them again.

I when we go back to Vietnam to visit, we'll make sure not to use Delta or Korean Air.........

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26

Oh, I have nothing against Korean Air. I love Korean Air. I in fact prefer them to China Air Lines. It's just this particular ticket agent in Saigon who had to learn a lot of things that day. When we fly normally, with 2 (or 3 or 4) round trip tickets, we won't have this problem, hehe.

Wow, to go through all the delays to get to Vietnam, then the hassles with the ticket agent, you still like them? In rating the airlines I've flown so far, I have to say I think I like EVA the best (Newest planes, most direct flight, employees are nice and polite), then China Airlines (Newer and Old 747s but they were very helpful in getting Thi and me together on my flight and seated next to each other the whole flight) and United (only because the flights I had were on old 747s both going and coming as well as I don't like having to go from LAX to SFO then HK to HCMC, then HCMC to HK to Tokyo to LAX.) Of course I was flying the cheapest tickets I could find for each flight.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26

Yes, I still like Korean Air. It wasn't their fault that United's plane was late in the first place (the root cause of all my problems). In fact, the Korean Air people fixed everything the best they could once the damage was done. Korean Air flies 777s configured 3-3-3 and there seems to be just more room on the plane than on China Airlines 747s. Plus I think the food is a little better. And in addition to all that, I can't get a a 3 leg flight with China AL. I have to go through California first.

I only flew China and United before and United stank! You won't have your own little LCD TV in front of you on United and they serve instant noodles (mi goi)! What? I paid over a grand for the tickets and you serve me that crap loaded with MSG?

And, it only gets better, while being served drinks with my meals, I asked the flight attendant for a cup of water, in addition to a small cup of apple juice. She reluctantly poured it for me and asked "Is that it? anything else?" (United, I apologize for costing your company too much for that extra cup of water).........China AL flight attedants, on the other hands, politely addressed me with "Sir", every single time.

Hmm, hard choice to pick right there!

So, can I assume that our spouse in Vietnam can't just book a one-way ticket to the U.S. by contacting one of the airlines in Ho chi Minh City?

--hmmm.

She can book a one way ticket in HCMC if she has her Vietnamese Passport and the K1 visa stamp. Some will want to see it (China Airlines, from our experience), all will require it to board. She will need to the funds tp purchase the ticket, of course.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles
Wedding 2008-4-26

I guess most of the folks on here seem to accompany their spouse out of Vietnam. For me, it's going to be impossible. So, to ease the trouble for my wife, I was thinking of splitting up the plane tickets. Should I get her to purchase a one-way to a major hub in the U.S. and then I buy the second leg online?

Basically, I want to be able to give her plenty of time to catch the domestic flight.