Flights to US - specials and any restrictions

[davenjanet 22]

So now that things are getting closer I started to look at flights. Since it will happen during the summer first thing I noticed is higher fares. Then I discovered that there are travel agencies that sell 1st time immigrant visa one way discounts. Does anyone have any experience with any of these companies?

Then someone said Janet had to fly out of Manila. Is this true? We were thinking to fly out of Cebu.

But this got me to thinking of other restrictions. I live in the NW and sometimes flights go in and out of Vancouver, BC. Am I correct in assuming Janet could not take a flight with a connection though Vancouver? Any other restrictions?

Thanks - getting excited and want to make sure all is perfect on my end.

[Caryh 5,206]

If you can find a flight that leaves the Philippines from Cebu, then she can leave from there. But if she flies to Manila, she's probably going to come into the domestic terminal, then change to the international terminal.

Planes land and people transfer international flights in countries all the time. If it happens in Canada, it should be no big issue.

http://www.santraphael.com/home.php Is an outfit I've heard about for years, but never used.

I just booked my wife's flight directly with Delta, and they have the shortest route from the Philippines to my city in the USA. It had a one stop and plane change in Japan. I wanted to keep her first international flight as simple as possible, even if I could have saved a few bucks on a longer route.

Edited June 12, 2013 by Caryh

[Doug&Winnie 0]

Only restriction I found was that I could make the reservation online, but had to call up a Philippines based agent to purchase it (some law about having to purchase the ticket in the Philippines if the travel originates in the Philippines).

[Chris&Maureen 1]

Shouldn't have to leave from Manila, so if you can find one from Cebu should be fine like Caryh said.

Will be making the flight ourselves next month, using Korean Air a bit more compared to the others but that is where my miles were.

To comment on Vancouver, BC connection though, shouldn't be a problem just like going through Japan/Korea, but anytime I have gone through Vancouver even as a USC they ask a lot of questions, the line is slow, and I find it not as pleasant. It is nothing like just driving across the border. So I try to come back via Seattle being from Portland.

[Caryh 5,206]

Only restriction I found was that I could make the reservation online, but had to call up a Philippines based agent to purchase it (some law about having to purchase the ticket in the Philippines if the travel originates in the Philippines).

I've heard of people mentioning that before, but never had any problem purchasing from the USA when I bought through the airline. Maybe its because they have offices there and accept payments directly. What airlines were you trying to book through?

[Chris&Maureen 1]

I've heard of people mentioning that before, but never had any problem purchasing from the USA when I bought through the airline. Maybe its because they have offices there and accept payments directly. What airlines were you trying to book through?

Forgot to mention, I had to do this with Korean Air... even calling them at the Manila office they said they could not unless we went through a travel agent so that is what we ended up doing for the one way ticket.

[Doug&Winnie 0]

I've heard of people mentioning that before, but never had any problem purchasing from the USA when I bought through the airline. Maybe its because they have offices there and accept payments directly. What airlines were you trying to book through?

I bought it with miles through AA - they could make the reservation but I had to call their ticket agent in Manila to pay the fees and get it ticketed.

[davenjanet 22]

Shouldn't have to leave from Manila, so if you can find one from Cebu should be fine like Caryh said.

Will be making the flight ourselves next month, using Korean Air a bit more compared to the others but that is where my miles were.

To comment on Vancouver, BC connection though, shouldn't be a problem just like going through Japan/Korea, but anytime I have gone through Vancouver even as a USC they ask a lot of questions, the line is slow, and I find it not as pleasant. It is nothing like just driving across the border. So I try to come back via Seattle being from Portland.

I am from Portland also - and soon Janet will be. Yes I have often flown though Seattle, San Francisco, but sometimes Vancouver as well. So I was just wondering.

I will come and pick up Janet, so wanted to coordinate the RT flight with the one way flight, try to get a reasonable price, and of course not do anything that will screw things up:)

Thanks!

[Artisan 138]

Buying a ticket that includes the first time immigrant discount will require her to have her visa on hand for them to verify before the ticket can be issued. Airlines themselves do not offer the discount and I've only seen the discount offered by travel agencies. We used St. Raphael Travel and Tours located in Manila (http://www.santraphael.com/home.php) and their service was excellent. We were able to get a one way ticket for almost $100 less than the closest competing discount website or airline and we even had specific requirements for them to fulfill. If you are not so picky about the airline or when the flight needs to leave you can score a great price with them.

I am not sure of any US companies that fly directly out of Cebu without stopping in Manila. If she does fly into Manila she will have to switch to the international terminal. If you planning on having her leave the Philippines soon after her visa is issued she may be better off staying in Manila for a week or two after the interview and just pick up her visa at the 2Go office at the Mall of Asia instead of waiting for it to be sent to her home province.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

I use a company owned by Google that will give you some pretty good flight deals. Insert your information and you will see all the results from various airlines with different travel times, prices and stops. Once you find the flight your interested in using then print off the fare codes on the bottom of the page and send them to any ticket agent for booking. The sight is very flexible and you are able to see graphs for the best travel times and prices. I highly recommend using the site for comparison shopping.

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/