Flight tips..

[Amiss5572 2]

Wondering what the cheapest way to fly in is. Does anyone have secrets they want to share? I've found that booking one way is cheaper, but then you have to have a stop and he hates that. 

 

Also I am so glad it's all over. It was such an easy process and I was freaking out the entire time. So worried and scared about little details. London seems to be fairly easy. They asked him maybe 4 questions at the interview and it took only an hour. Just seems crazy to me because I was so worried. Well, glad it's over anyways and thanks to everyone that has helped. 

[MXcompadre 75]

Amiss5572 we use these two website for low-cost flight searches =  https://www.google.com/flights/, and http://matrix.itasoftware.com/.  On the google flights you can recieve emails whenever there's a price change in on the flights you are tracking.  Hope this will work for you!

[yuna628 9,528]

Booking one way is not always cheaper, unless you have a lot of air miles to cash in like we did. British Airways had a sale going a few weeks ago, not sure if it is still going on. There's certainly quite a few direct flights available from LHR to ORD though, iirc BA, UA, AA, and Lufthansa offers them. My only tip is if you do have a lot of air miles, considering cashing in either lowering the ticket cost and or upgrading to first - BA allows 1st class to bring a lot more luggage than basic economy and riding in style is fun.

Edited February 16, 2017 by yuna628

[prenouveau 46]

If you have a smartphone check out the app Hopper, it does flight price comparisons and predictions of whether prices will drop if you wait to book.

[yunnipie 6]

Where you're going depends on number of stops and such.

We use Skyscanner for booking flights.  Book on a Tuesday, and don't do it from a device you keep checking prices on.  Also, try kiwi.com.  It's one of the sites that Skyscanner searches.  That's what we booked my husbands through this time and it cost $340 for one way to Seattle.  It was also less than $25 CA$ to add additional checked bags ($19US, £15).  Other airlines are normally in the ballpark of $100US for an additional bag.  You can prebuy meals for the flight, but he doesn't like airplane food anyway.  If you prebuy they are really cheap, or do like he is and grab something at the airport after security and put it in the carry on.  I also looked into it, and this cheaper flight has the same sized seats.  I checked on the website seatguru for this info. 

Basically, I'm saying that the cheaper flights may not be so bad.  Just look at your options

[JFH 12,189]

I flew here with Norwegian to Las Vegas because my fare (just over £200 one way) included 2 checked bags. There was a K-1 person on the same flight (spotted the big white envelope in his hand and saw him in secondary also). In secondary we got talking and commented what a goddesses send it was to be able to bring 2 large bags each. Officially the limit per bag is 20 kg with Norwegian and I'd read all sorts of horror stories online about them charging a King's ransom if you're an ounce over the limit. But when I checked in - and to my horror my bags were both 22 kg - the agent saw my visa and said "emigrating? How exciting!" And didn't charge me a penny extra for the overweight bags. 

 

I've worked in air travel for 17 years and usually fly on employee tickets but this trip was too risky and too close to Christmas for an employee ticket and the possibility of being off-loaded. 

Edited February 18, 2017 by JFH

[bcking 3,157]

If you are going for cheapest then it will likely involve changing planes. Aer Lingus is usually a bit cheaper, but you fly through Ireland. I forget the exact name but Iceland Air (?) is usually cheaper, but you fly through Reykjavik.

 

Also agree with an earlier recommendation of skyscanner. That is a good general website that searches a lot of other ones. Sometimes the price it shows you can't actually get once you click through it, but not that common.

[Absolutely 34]

I'm not sure if you've already sorted flights, but thought i'd add my two cents.

 

I flew out on January 31st from Manchester to Omaha with a stop in Atlanta (there are no direct flights to Omaha). I return was £450 and a single was over £1,000, so I opted for the return as I was saving £500+ so a no brainer.

 

I rang Expedia two days ago to cancel the return leg, and my only ask was that they did not charge a cancellation fee. I received an email yesterday saying I can expect a refund of £80 (this may be taxed) in the next week or so, which was a nice surprise. Returns definitely appear cheaper, and as long as you cancel the flight, there is no problem in doing that.

[Amiss5572 2]

Thanks for all the help! 

[CanidaeLycaon 0]

16 hours ago, Absolutely said:

I'm not sure if you've already sorted flights, but thought i'd add my two cents.

 

I flew out on January 31st from Manchester to Omaha with a stop in Atlanta (there are no direct flights to Omaha). I return was £450 and a single was over £1,000, so I opted for the return as I was saving £500+ so a no brainer.

 

I rang Expedia two days ago to cancel the return leg, and my only ask was that they did not charge a cancellation fee. I received an email yesterday saying I can expect a refund of £80 (this may be taxed) in the next week or so, which was a nice surprise. Returns definitely appear cheaper, and as long as you cancel the flight, there is no problem in doing that.

If you book a return flight (with the intention not to use it), do/could they get funny at border control and question why you've booked to return when you have a K1 visa? I am also planning on booking return flights but this was my only worry.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

2 hours ago, CanidaeLycaon said:

If you book a return flight (with the intention not to use it), do/could they get funny at border control and question why you've booked to return when you have a K1 visa? I am also planning on booking return flights but this was my only worry.

I guess they could.  I haven't ever heard of that happening so far and it really wouldn't make sense.  There is nothing within the K1 visa that demands you must stay in the USA and marry.  The option to return home is open.  The requirement is only to marry or return home within 90 days.

[Zoe_Doodah 4]

I booked a return flight because it was approximately $1000 cheaper than a single. I didn't cancel the return as there was no way of doing it online (codeshare) so I just didn't show up for the flight. POE neither know nor care about whether you have a single or return if you're entering on an immigration visa. They can ask you, of course, but they'd have to confirm it with the airline (if they were really bothered), they don't have this information to hand or anything (source: previous interaction in Secondary once upon a time). They didn't ask me anything in Secondary, I just waited for a few minutes and then they handed my passport back and said I was all done. 

 

Just get the cheapest flight. And if you have to have a connection within the US, give yourself plenty of time between flights. You probably won't need it but it would be nice not to worry about missing your next flight. 

 

Good of luck and enjoy the journey. It's a little nervewracking but at the same time very exciting