Anyone have any advise on the purchase of airline tickets for Gem for her journey to the U.S.??. Should I purchase them here, or is it better to get them while I'm in the Philippines. I read some where on here that there are additional taxes or fee's if I get them in Phls?? any heads up on this I'd appreciate it. Thanks...Frank

I can only speak from my own experience. I found it was about $150 USD cheaper to buy the ticket over there. I sent my wife (fiance then) the money and she purchased the ticket from a local agency. I also found similar savings for my step daughter to come here in July. Online the best I could do for one way here was $820 and in CDO, we could get the ticket for $688. It takes some shopping around there too as not all travel agents in the Phils are the same either, but I find you can get better deals if she looks there then getting it here.

I found the best deal for a ticket to Manila from here on a site called www.cidtravelpro.biz. Most airlines were getting $1400+ USD for a roundtrip ticket in July. I got a ticket on Northwest for $1169 each. Once you hit the site, you have to click on book travel and then on the international flight search from the next page. That takes you to another search page that is for an airline consolidator. Only word of warning is that since its a consolidator, tickets refunds AND changes are NOT allowed, so once you buy it you're stuck to that itinerary. The search engine is a little finicky sometimes too, but keep trying.

That's my two cents......

Scott

its cheaper if one has to purchase it in phil pertaining you'll find the best deal... my husband was so excited when i texted him that i got my visa already so that very moment he bought me the ticket in orbitz.com lol... i did ask the local agency here in cdo also and guess what? at least $200 cheaper and if you include the airport tax, it would would have been even more cheaper but oh well. lol... good luck on the planning and have a safe trip!!!

Okay, thanks for the advise. I'll ask her to start looking at travel agents in the area and see what prices she comes up with and start the comparison. Does anyone know the fee they will charge her when she is actually in the airport with ticket in hand...Is there some sort of departure fee or tax, other than the 750peso Americans pay when they leave? I heard they have a separate area that filipino's go to, and pay some other departure tax or fee?

http://www.philtourism.com/ttax.html




Travel tax rates:

First Class = PHP 2,700

Economy Class = PHP 1,620

Thank you. I knew I seen it somewhere but I just could never find it again. That answers my question

You're welcome

There is also a terminal fee of $750 in Manila if it hasn't gone up any since my wife came here in June. It's separate from the travel tax for Filipinos leaving the country. Everyone pays the terminal fee.

if your looking for round trip tickets to manila and back this site is good. http://www.bt-store.com/

Hi - just a correction, should be 750 PHP not USD

Well, I had given all my pesos away before heading to the airport.. and no one told me about there terminal fee of $16.50 UDS.. I had $10.00 in cash in my wallet thinking I would just eat and drink on the plane until I arrived in Tulsa.. I did my good byes and headed to the line got my luggage checked in and proceeded to the customs line.. I had 20 minutes to make it to the terminal.. Well, I see the sign saying all need $16.50 terminal fee.. I looked in my wallet and said.. of all times not to have any cash. I was told about the ATM at the window... but it wouldn't take any of my cards.. So.. I missed the flight.. and got to stay with my fiancee another day and got to have chicken adobo one more time and other things But being $6.50 short cost me about $250.00 in other fees for missing flights ect.. But, one more day with my girl was worth every penny.

The departure fee in Cebu is 550 PHP.

I'm looking at ticket prices, and not knowing when we should plan this is making me crazy, so maybe I should stop looking at tickets.

hi i checked out this site and it's only for flights from the US to other countries. it didn't give me any flights for Manila to US. thanks anyway for the info.

Try some of these

economytravel.com
cheapoair.com
discounttravel.com
vayama.com

it always that way in most websites. even orbitz.com doesnt offer but my husband called them and talk to a live operator and he did get a ticket for me at orbitz mnl-denver last yr... try calling them or the other sites see if they offer

Thanks for all your replys...I will use all your ideas and look for a good deal..Regards, Frank

Ooppps!!!! You are very correct! Thanks for catching my typo. I imagine that would be a shocker for someone that did not know different to read that. Almost as much as a ticket.

Thanks again!

Scott

I purchased my ticket from a friend of my mom's travel agent. She got me a round trip from San Francisco to Manila for $1050 and Rose a one way for $834. and our seats are next to each other. If I needed to change dates, there is a $75 fee per ticket. If you try to purchase in PI, your flight may be booked full or you may not have seats together. Also, remember that the planes fees change during different times of the year, so when other people tell you what they paid, it might have been during non peak season. I arrived here March 27 and we will leave April 4.

Before I purchased the ticket, Rose called man.y travel agents and was not able to get a lower price ticket and all the fees and taxes were included