Hi all.. I know this topic has been covered, but I think it's been a while!!

My family is planning a trip to Ghana to meet my hubby's family this summer, and we're just looking into logistics right now. I'm checking out the prices on tickets, and I'm blown away! Last time I went payed around 1200, but now the cheapest tickets I see are double that!! I know gas prices have risen.. but....

It's particularly frustrating, because I know that the same tickets, physically purchased in Ghana, are about half the price! But no one's willing to wire money and go that route. However, there are going to be 9 of us, so I don't know if we would qualify for some kind of group rate either? Any one know of a good travel agent, website, or other that can get us a deal? Thanks!!!

When I flew to Accra, this past June, I flew with Martinair. I left from Orlando. I don't know which cities they leave from, I thought, I asked them before and they said only Orlando, but then again things can always change. I am not suprised the tickets are almost double the price you paid last time, but I just called Martinair and got a quote for May 25 to June 14 (I'm not leaving at that time of course, but just to see the price they'll give), he said 1289.36, I asked him if I were to change the date to April would it go up, he said it all depends on if the plane is getting close to having a flight of passengers, if it is, the price will go up.
I really had a good experience flying with them. Even if they don't leave from the city you live, maybe you can fly to where ever they leave, it still may be cheaper. 1-800MARTINAIR, press 1 and then the next will be 2. They'll refund your money up to 30 days before your flight, if you change your mind. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Do a lot more search on the flights. Delta is cheaper but the time also counts a lot.

Try North American Airlines. I haven't used them. A friend of ours going to Togo left yesterday out of BWI to Accra. (Accra isn't that far from Lome) I think she paid about $1000. Another friend is leaving this week to Lome through Accra via Amesterdam from Atlanta on Air France/KLM for $1000.

I haven't researched flights to Ghana-only to Nigeria. But www.bt-store.com seems to have competitive rates and you can choose from several different airlines. Good luck!!!!!!!

Long time AubreyJ!

Well it seems that the seasonal pricings are really playing out as far as ticket prices go right now. If you were traveling before May, costs to Accra from the east coast are running between 1100-1300. But once May hits, the price goes up exponentially...We (my family and I) flew on the new Delta direct flights in December and it was fine. I would recommend it. JFK to ACC in 9 1/2 hours. They are still working out the kinks and you probably won't depart on time.But it was so great getting on the plane in America and getting off and being there! Tickets were running around $1400-1500 on KLM, Lufthansa and BA and we got Delta for about $1150. Give them a check. Also try www.flycheapabroad.com, www.airfareplanet.com, www.farepath.com. Those, plus BT store are my primary sources for flight information. I am on the hunt for a ticket too since I will be going back to Ghana in May to spend time with the Ghana family...Finally got tired of waiting and got married in January. I thought I would regret it, but I can't complain. Going to try and follow up on a few leads. I might be relocating!! The embassy can't hold me back!!!! Let us know how the ticket search goes....

I am most likely going to go with North American Airlines the next time I go as they have direct flights to Nigeria from New York (of course I am transfering another location to go to New York). I think is a little better as it saves me from Going through Europe or London.

Thanks everyone! I will check into all those sources! I think part of the expensive ticket is that we're on the West Coast, not East, and also, I think I figured out today why so many of the flights are already full when we're planning on going- Panafest starts just days later.. good timing right!! Arrgh.. We actually wouldn't mind spending a few days layover in Europe anyway.. so that wouldn't be too bad. Anyways, I'll let you know if I strike gold- thanks everyone!!

My husband just bought a ticket from Accra to USA and it cost him $1200. If he had come back in October, they quoted him $1000. As was said, depends on the time of year and the airlines. I heard United Arab Emirates is nice to fly on and usually cheaper than KLM or British Airways. My Ghanaian friends do not like flying through London because they said they are always hassled when changing plans there.

You could try US Airways, they have direct flights to Accra from New York, but last time I checked they were expensive.

Good luck!

I don't know too much about plane ticket prices, but I would guess that it would be around $1300. Try NAA and Delta as others mentioned for the direct flight. Also beware of all the celebrations going on in Accra this year!

All4Kweku - It's good to hear from you! I'm sorry the visa process is still not working out. If you do end up moving to Ghana, you'll love it! Let us know how everything works out for you!

oh sorry I missed that part about you still waiting for your visas as well! Chin up, you are next, I KNOW it! I thought once Peggylibr's fiance got her visa that we had to be next. It took some time, but we got it! Email them every day I am totally serious! They get tired of having to research and respond! Best wishes!

I also use BT Store and have had great service with them.

check out Royal Air Maroc--i was a bit skeptical but i flew them from cameroon and thought it was fine. didn't have all the amenities of the european or american airlines (less movies and such), but i didn't think it was a problem. i also used flights.com to get tickets once and that was reasonable.

During my trip to Liberia, I flew on the nonstop Delta flight from JFK to Accra. It was fine going there even though we left late, but coming back was a different story. The Delta airlines people in Ghana cancelled a flight the day before ours and decided to transfer those people onto ours and kick us off. There were about 30-40 Americans who had paid for their seat, including myself, and were kicked off because of "lack of space". People were screaming and crying and arguing with the staff. They were so rude to us and refused to even acknowledge our stories. We were told the next flight was leaving in 2 days but was full already. They insisted that WE pay $200 to get a seat, confirmed or standby, on any of the upcoming flights. To make a long story short, my mother had to call Delta on the American side and get my seat confirmed through our customer service. They told her they had never heard of a $200 fee and were going to be investigating it since they had been getting alot of complaints about the Delta on the Ghanaian side. Sorry to deviate from the topic, but I'm still a little bitter about the fact that they tried to bribe me, made my transit through Ghana into a 6 day nightmare, I got in trouble for overstaying my 48 hour visa, etc, etc. Overall, I had fun in Ghana with my friends, but I vowed to never fly on Delta through there again. Of course, this might not always happen...it could have been an isolated incident. Good luck on your ticket search!