Buying the plane ticket before the interview?

[uklover 1]

Hi,

So our interview is August 15th, and we are looking at flights for after he will most likely get his visa...and the longer we wait to book...the more pricey the flights become. So my question is...how many of you went ahead and booked the flights before the interview?

I know that you are supposed to wait till your visa is in hand, but....

We were thinking 6-7 days after the interview would be safe travel dates...

[Sal and Jay 2]

Hi,

So our interview is August 15th, and we are looking at flights for after he will most likely get his visa...and the longer we wait to book...the more pricey the flights become. So my question is...how many of you went ahead and booked the flights before the interview?

I know that you are supposed to wait till your visa is in hand, but....

We were thinking 6-7 days after the interview would be safe travel dates...

Hi Good luck with the interview, I would wait until visa in hand, no point adding any more stress.

[No-Where-Man 147]

I would not recommend it at all

My situation is different than your, as I wanted to get my parents (50 and 58)old for tourist with all the evidence and documents, and they got denied and im stuck with $2500.00 tickets that I was succeful and lucky to put on hold till september this year from last year, They went again and they got the visa

I understand your situation is different but unless you buy a refundable tickets, be careful

Good luck and hope he be with you soon

Edited July 21, 2011 by no_where_man

[Anh map 2,098]

Always a risk. Any number of reasons for a delay. We've heard here on VJ where the actual visa printer was broken at one embassy/consulate.

If the change fee is cheaper than the fare difference buy it now.

[nane1104 146]

I'd look into the Airlines policy in case you have to change the date on the ticket or even have to cancel it..., fees,...

Also, I'd book with the airline directly and not via an online broker like Orbitz, Travelocity,...they are a nightmare to deal with if you have to make any changes.

6-7 days sounds a little risky to me though, 10 days sound a little safer.

THe safest way to do it is of course to wait until at least you got approved.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

There's always a risk that you might have to reschedule the flight if you get put into AP (unlikely but possible at the UK Embassy) or as someone else said something major goes wrong with the printer etc.

I think 6-7 days is cutting it very fine. Better to go for a safe 2 weeks with the option to change the flight just in case. That way you will be able to book the cheaper deal and only have to deal with the penalty for changing your flight in an emergency.

I had my interview on the 5th December and a flight booked for the 15th December - the visa arrived 2 days before the flight and I was very stressed about it's arrival - nice not to have that worry.

Edited July 21, 2011 by LSMA

[canadian_wife 1,795]

I wouldn't book anything until the visa is in hand. A case in Montreal recently where the applicant had to fly back to Montreal, from the west coast, to have fingerprints re-done because their machine couldn't read them...delayed their case about a month.

So much can happen that has nothing to do with the visa itself. Best to wait and not cause any unnecessary stress for your or the beneficiary

Good luck

[Sal and Jay 2]

Just thinking about this and I remember that I bought my ticket from British Airways two days before and it was so cheap, like 200 pounds return.