Buying a ticket before interview?

[superzoe 0]

My fiance has his interview scheduled for 16th October in London. We were browsing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando where I live and found this amazing holy grail flight, 211£, one way no stops on 30th October. It is the last of this flight from the airline until like April and all other flights are like at least double the price and much longer travel time. Is it too big of a risk to book this flight without knowing exactly when we will have visa in hand?

[canadian_wife 1,831]

Yes, do not book until visa is in hand

good luck

[heo luoi 206]

Assume not transferrable or sellable? Certainly a risk as to when visa will be in hand / issued. If you cant eat (i think $300USD) or worse the ($600+300), I wouldn't do it quite simply.

Edited September 29, 2015 by heo luoi

[Shauneg 763]

No one is going to tell you to buy it, but that's a nice price. Can you cancel and rebook if you don't get it in time? If not, are you willing to eat that 211 if you don't have the visa in hand on that date?

Orbitz lets you cancel a flight up to the day before and you can rebook as long as it's the same person and airline....only 30 dollar charge. I did what you are doing because the price difference was 900 dollars. We didn't end up having to switch but it would have cost us only 30 bucks and the ticket difference.

All depends on you.

[trublubu2 62]

My fiance has his interview scheduled for 16th October in London. We were browsing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando where I live and found this amazing holy grail flight, 211£, one way no stops on 30th October. It is the last of this flight from the airline until like April and all other flights are like at least double the price and much longer travel time. Is it too big of a risk to book this flight without knowing exactly when we will have visa in hand?

what you have to do is go to the website & look at the airline fare code rules and change fees and/or call them up to ask if the flight can be rescheduled, cancelled or re-booked without losing your money.

in other words, do not book if you are unwilling to accept that something might happen to prolong the issuance of your visa which will prevent you taking that specific flight on that exact day/time (i.e., October 30th) and losing the money you paid or incurring fees/fare change that you don't want to afford.

good luck!

[Pennycat 880]

Check the airline's rules. Usually, you can re-book to a different day but you need to pay a fare difference plus a penalty. However, the fare difference it sounds like you'd be paying anyway, and if the penalty is $30 or $50, basically.... do you want to gamble $50 that you'll have the visa in hand by then, enough to save hundreds more? Personally, I would, (as long as the airline has a stated policy about this. Please check first), but everyone is different.

Good luck and great job finding that price!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My fiance has his interview scheduled for 16th October in London. We were browsing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando where I live and found this amazing holy grail flight, 211£, one way no stops on 30th October. It is the last of this flight from the airline until like April and all other flights are like at least double the price and much longer travel time. Is it too big of a risk to book this flight without knowing exactly when we will have visa in hand?

If you want some data to help you calculate your odds, see this in the UK forum http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/550974-interview-date-to-visa-in-hand-how-long-2015-data/?p=7832759

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

My fiance has his interview scheduled for 16th October in London. We were browsing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando where I live and found this amazing holy grail flight, 211£, one way no stops on 30th October. It is the last of this flight from the airline until like April and all other flights are like at least double the price and much longer travel time. Is it too big of a risk to book this flight without knowing exactly when we will have visa in hand?

That is an awesome price for airfare....but, I would err on the side of caution. There is no guarantee that your fiance would have his visa in hand by that date. I would wait until after the interview just to be safe.

[Holdingon 16]

My fiance has his interview scheduled for 16th October in London. We were browsing flights from Edinburgh to Orlando where I live and found this amazing holy grail flight, 211£, one way no stops on 30th October. It is the last of this flight from the airline until like April and all other flights are like at least double the price and much longer travel time. Is it too big of a risk to book this flight without knowing exactly when we will have visa in hand?

The only way I would recommend to purchase this flight early is if you are prepared to pay again. You are taking a gamble. Maybe maybe not