Hello all

Can someone share their experience with picking the best flight to bring their fiancee to the USA.

Thank,
Bryan

I have always used Cathay Pacific because I liked their service. A friend flew back from the RP for a visit here last Christmas and had a bad experience with NWA. I suggest you have your fiancee buy the ticket there, you should get a much better deal. Claudeth flew out of Cebu and got her ticket for about $200 less than if I would have purchased it. Good luck

On my last trip to the Philippines, I flew Philippine Airlines. I enjoyed the flight much more than my usual China Airlines. I was much more comfortable flying with a bunch of Filipinos rather than Chinese (not that I have anything against Chinese, just identified more with the Filipinos), and best of all the flight is nonstop.

Philippine Airlines has non-stop flights from MNL to LAX and MNL to SFO. Most or all of the others stop somewhere in Asia. I haven't been on one of the Phil Air non-stop flights yet, but I was on a Phil Air flight from MNL to LAS with a stop in Vancouver.

I have also taken Korea/Delta with good results (stop in Seoul).

Usually I find Phil Airlines and China Airlines have the best fares, but you gotta check. Also, your connecting flights will be a big factor.

I live in North Florida, so I use Northwest Airlines. For me, I earn enough sky miles that every fourth trip is free. Prices are good. I know for sure it is much cheaper in US dollars to buy a ticket from Manila to US, than from US to Manila. Doesn't make sense but it is. I see your in Texas. Northwest has excellent prices out of Houston to Manila. For me, it's Jacksonville to Detroit and then Detroit to Manila, with a 2 hour stop in Nagoya. Excellent flight. I checked on the price for Manila to Jacksonville for Rosemaries hopefully soon to be departure. It was $668 for one way. Not a bad price. Good luck!

The most direct route would be to fly PAL nonstop to LAX and then connect on a US carrier to Texas.

NWA is often cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Cathay is the nicest way to go in my opinion (new planes with in seat entertainment systems), but you do have the transfer at Hong Kong.

I searched on kayak.com which searches all the airlines and most the ticket brokers. I ended up using NW Airlines directly for the best price, thus eliminating the ticket broker fees.

Ya, www.kayak.com is great.

I have been on Korea and China. So far I loved the service on China, although my rear end getting kissed all the time got old halfway through a 14 hour flight. My Filipino travel agent has veered me away from PAL because of the overpriciness and not as good service experience he has had. I heard from some filipino friends of mine JAL is a sweet airline too.

But now that my wife got her work permit, and was a travel agent in the Philippines, she is working for AirFrance, a part of Skyteam which gives us the options of NWA, Korean Airlines or Continental Airlines to get to the Philippines. Sorry PAL, no chance now you never joined Skyteam.

My agent however has been the least expensive among all that I have tried and he bends over backwards to take care of you. His name is John at Travel USA, 847-818-1856.

Is it really necessary to buy roundtrip ticket for fiancee? Coz no way she can use it unless the two of us is going to take a vacation.

Uhm.......no.



The ticketing difference also depends on the time of year too. The peak season is opposite over there. So when its peak season for us here in the States, its dead season over there and vice versa.

I had read someone here on VJ stating that immigration will have a problem with a one-way ticket for a K-1 visa. Is it possible to just buy a one-way and save the money?

A friend of mine had no problems getting a 1 way ticket for his fiance 6 weeks ago on a K1.

I usually just use Orbitz.com
I sort by price first, and it gives me maybe a hundred flights, then I find the shortest flight that in the first fourth of the results, getting me something cheap and quick.

I don't go after flight miles, because the savings I get from my method exceed the savings derived from flight miles.

BTW, I would not buy a NWA flight far in advance. They are financially weak and have labor problems.

I usually end up on China airlines.

A word to the wise: after you find your flight, doublecheck the airlines website to see if the schedules jibe. 2 times in a row, I ran late in Houston from a China Airlines flight- once I managed to run to the connecting plane, the second time I failed. Turned out that the Orbitz schedule said that that the plane would arrive an hour before the airline had scheduled it to arrive. Got a free night in Houston in a Marriot out of it, but I missed a day of work.

What's the alternative? Buying an open-ended round-trip ticket that is valid for how long? The rest of her life assuming the marriage works out the way it is supposed to? I'd think a one-way ticket is the only reasonable way to go since you may be buying the ticket within a few days of use. One-way to from Phil: $650, round-trip: $1800.

For one open ended tickets as far as I know with China Airlines is 6 months. I know because I had to extend the trip another two weeks after the month stay. Also a friend of mine had trouble with his passport and getting on the plane trying to get through the check in counter.

Two, I don't think the embassy cares either way, for they do suggest in the packet 4 that you DO NOT purchase your ticket before the interview in case they outright reject you or something like that.

I suggest that you determine the date of the flight first, then canvass for price deals through the internet. Another thing to consider is the airport of final destination.

If she is travelling out to your place alone and for the first time, it would be best to get a seamless one airline only flight...meaning no connecting flight using 2 airlines as there are bound to be baggage problems in the course of the transfers.

Normally, Northwest Airlines flies to the Texas area and the flights start from Manila to Japan for brief 30 mins stop, then out to Detroit or Chicago (port of entry where she needs to pass immigration and present visa papers) and thence to TX. With NW, you can book her flight, reserve a seat all the way to TX and purchase her tickets for her on-line. You can then email her the e-ticket and voila, she is ready to go.

Let me know if you need some contact persons at NW Makati office...maybe I can help her as I am a regular passenger of NW and I can guide her with the flight details.

A one-way ticket should suffice...she is travelling on fiancee visa and not as a regular tourist.

Hope to have been of some help.

Maria

You are going to get a lot of differing opinions as everyone has a preference. I am kuripot and use BestTravelStore to secure my flights and usually beat most agencies and a lot cheaper than Orbitz and Expedia or Travel Velocity. I personally plan on going to spend some time with my fiancee and flying back with her. One way tickets are not always cheaper. For those in Hawaii, Emerson Travel usually gets the best deals for you, their number is 808-597-1818 and PAL has a direct flight but it s more expensive. Good luck, Payato

hello fellow philippines vj'ers.
i have seen many suggestions that a one way ticket is sufficient when bringing fiancee over here to the u.s. but i am leery of trying that because i have never seen anything official. i suppose the reason that immigration would want round trip purchase is because of situations where they have problem with visa or paperwork and have to send fiancee back to origin. or there might be that requirement because fiancee visa is not considered permanent residency yet. i dont know but if anyone knows of official wording on that i would love to know.

on my first trip to see relyn i used northwest airlines and paid $1562. that was during christmas. my second trip was in august and i flew china airlines and paid $1006. the pretax of china is very low but the taxes get heaped on because foreign airline. with northwest they start out higher in price but have little tax. i have been monitoring airfares palagi and china seems to always have cheapest and i was very comfortable on their airline but as with what someone else said......i would be more comfortable on philippine air just because homeland of mahal ko.

i have thought that getting frequent flyer miles is not as good as just looking for best fair but i think i will have to see if china has some kind of program for that as it looks like china air will be my choice. i also have recenctly gotten an american express "blue sky" card. for every $7500 i charge i get $100 off any travel expense ie; air or hotel. i also got my mom a card so she can assist me when she buys anything just put on that card and give me check at statement closing. i use it for my cell bill, landline, or whatever i can. in two months i am over half way. it really adds up.

good luck to all of you in your journey. from terribly wet and flooded northwest,,,,,

patrick & relyn



i should add that although i wont maybe have enough points built up by april when i return to relyn but by the time hopefully (next year) she gets to make our house a home i will have enough points to cut in half one of the tickets. plus we will still travel back even after we are married here. so my friends the flights dont stop when our babe's get here.....lol. "still flyin"

[/quote] hello fellow philippines vj'ers.
i have seen many suggestions that a one way ticket is sufficient when bringing fiancee over here to the u.s. but i am leery of trying that because i have never seen anything official. i suppose the reason that immigration would want round trip purchase is because of situations where they have problem with visa or paperwork and have to send fiancee back to origin. or there might be that requirement because fiancee visa is not considered permanent residency yet. i dont know but if anyone knows of official wording on that i would love to know.[/quote]

The round trip ticket is not neccessary. After the USCIS and the USE approve a K-1 Visa, there is not likely anything the immigrations folks will do upon arrival that will caouse you to have to send your fiancee back. There are many options out there to get from the U.S. to Manila but few that will allow you to book a flight with the origin from overseas. I have flown my daughter from the Philippines to the U.S. and it was always cheaper for her to get the ticket at a local agency in the PI. I just gave her my itinerary so the agency could match the flight. I plan on the same thing with my fiancee. Here are some links to try for tickets TO Manila.
AllCheapFares BestTravelStore EdMabunga HotWire Kayak TravelPH

Goodluck, Ken (Payato)

I flew on Asiana and Korean Airlines before


Asiana: More variety of food, more generous with it.....Flight attendants are sweeter.....
Korean Airlines: Pilots fly better(they really know how to land a 747!) WOW! However food was kinda boring ...however I did not starve! I was impressed with timeliiness of Koren Airlines, we arrived exacty "ON the dot in New yORK. nO A MINUTE LATER!amAZING!
LOL! I recommend both, although Asiana can get pricey.

try http://www.travelsmart.net/air/

Try this one, hope this help http://www.travelph.com/

Bryan try Orbitz. com I have used it the last two times I have flown to Manila China airlines usually costs about $850 round trip so 1 way can't be much
Mark

I really suggest you do not use Orbitz. Chicago - Manila per Orbitz for Jan 07 is $1427 compared to TravelPH at $745 plus tax; BestTravelStore $904; you just have to shop around but Orbitz, Travel Velocity and Expedia are not the cheapest air fares online. Payato

A one-way ticket should suffice...she is travelling on fiancee visa and not as a regular tourist.

Hope to have been of some help.

Maria
[/quote]


Question.......
The Embassy website says Not To Quit your Job & Not to Book any Flights until Final Approval.
So how can buying a Round Trip or One way Ticket be even considered by the Embassy for Approval on the Visa in the 1st place?
Should I buy a refundable Ticket to send with my Fiance as evidence?
If so.... How long should I give for delivery of the Visa?
My Fiancee lives in the Central Visayas on the island of Negros far from Manila & I hear it could take 3 weeks for delivery from Delbros....
Her Interview is Dec 4th....

[/quote]Question.......
The Embassy website says Not To Quit your Job & Not to Book any Flights until Final Approval.
So how can buying a Round Trip or One way Ticket be even considered by the Embassy for Approval on the Visa in the 1st place?
Should I buy a refundable Ticket to send with my Fiance as evidence?
If so.... How long should I give for delivery of the Visa?
My Fiancee lives in the Central Visayas on the island of Negros far from Manila & I hear it could take 3 weeks for delivery from Delbros....
Her Interview is Dec 4th....
[/quote]

The fact that any of us purchased a return ticket for the benificiary has no bearing on the process of approal or delivery. Once apporved, delivery has taken anywhere from 4 days to two weeks depending on the delivery address. I am going to use my friends condo as the delivery address in Manila or ask if we can pick it up instead of waiting on delivery. If you are going to pick up your fiancee, i suggest arriving a day or two before the interview and plan on 10 days to two weeks after before a departure flight. That is what I plan anyway. If your fiancee is staying in a hotel in Manila, she can give the Embassy that address and delivery might be faster. Good luck on the interview. Payato

[quote name='Ken_Maria' date='Nov 20 2006, 11:06 AM' post='577682']
[/quote]Question.......
The Embassy website says Not To Quit your Job & Not to Book any Flights until Final Approval.
So how can buying a Round Trip or One way Ticket be even considered by the Embassy for Approval on the Visa in the 1st place?
Should I buy a refundable Ticket to send with my Fiance as evidence?
If so.... How long should I give for delivery of the Visa?
My Fiancee lives in the Central Visayas on the island of Negros far from Manila & I hear it could take 3 weeks for delivery from Delbros....
Her Interview is Dec 4th....
[/quote]

The fact that any of us purchased a return ticket for the benificiary has no bearing on the process of approal or delivery. Once apporved, delivery has taken anywhere from 4 days to two weeks depending on the delivery address. I am going to use my friends condo as the delivery address in Manila or ask if we can pick it up instead of waiting on delivery. If you are going to pick up your fiancee, i suggest arriving a day or two before the interview and plan on 10 days to two weeks after before a departure flight. That is what I plan anyway. If your fiancee is staying in a hotel in Manila, she can give the Embassy that address and delivery might be faster. Good luck on the interview. Payato
[/quote]



Thank You so much for the response.
Will Delbros ship the Visa to another address without my Fiance to actually signing for it when it arrives there?
If so, I think it's a great idea.
Thank You

Give a letter of authorization to whoever will receive it.

Along with the letter of authorization I think I read somewhere to leave a copy of her picture ID with the designated receiver.

Not required.

Thanks for all of the responses.......

I've been flying Northwest for a long time, usually twice a year from Tampa, Fl. to Manila and back, and have gotten good use out of the frequent flyer miles. There seems to always be award flights available. I highly recommend you sign up for NWAs Worldperks membership. It didn't cost anything and it's saved me a bunch. You also get miles credited from other airlines that are part of the Worldperks club, such as United, Delta, KLM, and others. When you're a member and sign into their websight to get flight costs, you get better results. Even though we have the visa in hand, my fiance' won't be coming until January. I just got her ticket for $558.00, one way Manila to Tampa. How can that be beat?