Flight arrangements and travel logistics

[pamawemo 78]

We are getting closer to being together as my fiance's interview is on Valentine's Day. We won't buy an airline ticket until she has the visa in hand (thanks to advice here on VJ) but I have started looking at flights, logistics, etc. and have a couple questions.

 

Has anyone flown their fiance - or themselves - from MNL to MSP? Recommendations on airlines, connections, things to avoid, etc.? I flew Delta when I went over to the Philippines so that has been my starting point but thought I'd see if anyone here has advice.

 

What about baggage? How did your fiance get all of their belongings to the US? Did everything come on the flight over? She said she doesn't have that much but I want her to bring whatever she feels is needed to make the transition easier. 

 

Thanks for any insight. We are getting pretty excited!

[Chris Duffy 1,256]

1 hour ago, pamawemo said:

We are getting closer to being together as my fiance's interview is on Valentine's Day. We won't buy an airline ticket until she has the visa in hand (thanks to advice here on VJ) but I have started looking at flights, logistics, etc. and have a couple questions.

 

Has anyone flown their fiance - or themselves - from MNL to MSP? Recommendations on airlines, connections, things to avoid, etc.? I flew Delta when I went over to the Philippines so that has been my starting point but thought I'd see if anyone here has advice.

 

What about baggage? How did your fiance get all of their belongings to the US? Did everything come on the flight over? She said she doesn't have that much but I want her to bring whatever she feels is needed to make the transition easier. 

 

Thanks for any insight. We are getting pretty excited!

Delta is probably going to be best for you, I come from Dallas and have changed planes in MSP many a times. 

 

Tell her to pack all she needs in 2 to 4 suitcases.  I always travel to PI with carry on only,  You will get 2 Check on bags each per person,  I suspect she will not be able to fill up 4 suitcases.  

[Mike E 11,723]

2 hours ago, pamawemo said:

Has anyone flown their fiance - or themselves - from MNL to MSP? 

 

What about baggage? How did your fiance get all of their belongings to the US? Did everything come on the flight over? She said she doesn't have that much but I want her to bring whatever she feels is needed to make the transition easier. 

Only Philippine Air flies between MNL and the USA. You would fly to SFO or LAX and then take a United flight out of SFO or LAX to MSP or a Delta or American flight out of LAX to MSP. 

 

Yes Delta flies to Tokyo. Connections for a K1 from a country with a weak passport suck.  We spent lots of time in Bangkok and Taipei while the airline decided whether they were going to let her board.  I would have paid anything for a nonstop from RGN to the USA. 

 

I’ve taken Philippine Air between SFO and MNL in business class (which is often inexpensive) and the experience was fine. 

 

I strongly advise SFO as POE.

 

I brought two empty suit cases to Myanmar for my fiancée, in addition to my bag.   Due to my status on oneworld I could check all three for free. On the return, I used United miles, and again due to my status and her status (she gets her status through me because she is a million miler companion), we checked 5 bags between us on Thai Airways, connecting to Eva and then United.  

 

If you are flying coach and have no status, most likely you will get at most one free checked bag each at 50 pounds.  Some airlines might give you two free each. Checking a third bag per passenger can start to get really expensive on most airlines if one has no status and is flying coach.  

 

Most clothing is actually cheaper in the USA, so you might find paying $300 to check bags to not be worth it, when Zara in Minneapolis is selling $200 dresses for $20 on clearance.

 

And 240 volt high wattage devices like curling irons, hair dryers, etc are just useless scrap metal in the USA. You can buy these things for $10 each at Target.  

Edited February 2, 2019 by Mike E

[Hank_ 9,173]

Each person get two checked bags (even in coach) on international flights.

 

My wife has zero issues flying to the U.S. with a stop in Japan.

 

At POE allow adequate time to clear immigration & customs for additional flight.

[Mike E 11,723]

16 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Each person get two checked bags (even in coach) on international flights.

 

My wife has zero issues flying to the U.S. with a stop in Japan.

 

At POE allow adequate time to clear immigration & customs for additional flight.

Out of hundreds of airlines you are certain that for all fare classes and every international flight gives each passenger  two free checked bags.  Amazing.  

 

As for for your wife flying with zero issues to the USA with a stop in Japan, given most people are issued just one K1 visa in their lives, I’d certainly be interested to know how she became a serial K1 visa holder or how she scored a multi entry K1 visa. Truly amazing.  

Edited February 2, 2019 by Mike E

[Hank_ 9,173]

HUH??    Serial K-1 ... ??  What are you smoking?     

 

My wife flew from Manila, with a stop-over in Japan (Narita)  and had zero issues ... where does that indicate multiple K-1 ?     

 

 

[Chris Duffy 1,256]

20 hours ago, Mike E said:

Only Philippine Air flies between MNL and the USA. You would fly to SFO or LAX and then take a United flight out of SFO or LAX to MSP or a Delta or American flight out of LAX to MSP. 

 

 

Doing that then OP would have to pay extra baggage fee, since Delta allows 2 checked free on International Flights.  The getting on United or Delta out of LAX (LAX is a ghetto dump airport) wouldn't make sense.

 

Philippines Air only flies into the California and maybe still Las Vegas, You then have to take a connecting flight on another airline to get to your final destination if it outside the West Coast.

 

 

[pamawemo 78]

I did find a flight from MNL to Tokyo on Philippines Airlines and then a Delta flight from Tokyo to MSP. It's on a site called justfly and listed as one itinerary. I don't know anything about them so have a little research to do. I usually prefer booking direct with a specific airline but we like the idea of MSP as her POE. 

 

Anyone ever use justfly?

 

Was hoping some fellow MSP folks might add their experiences on travel from MNL. I think I've seen some posting in this forum.

 

By the way, she is making the flight alone so I'm trying to make it as easy as possible. I will encourage her to get everything into 2 suitcases!

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

14 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

I did find a flight from MNL to Tokyo on Philippines Airlines and then a Delta flight from Tokyo to MSP. It's on a site called justfly and listed as one itinerary. I don't know anything about them so have a little research to do. I usually prefer booking direct with a specific airline but we like the idea of MSP as her POE. 

 

Anyone ever use justfly?

 

Was hoping some fellow MSP folks might add their experiences on travel from MNL. I think I've seen some posting in this forum.

 

By the way, she is making the flight alone so I'm trying to make it as easy as possible. I will encourage her to get everything into 2 suitcases!

Be very careful when booking through Justfly.  I booked a flight through Tokyo via Justfly, and the connecting flight was in another airport 50 miles away........unfortunately, I didn't notice that until the night before departing Taipei, and it cost me several hundred dollars to get the arriving and connecting flight in NRT.  I will never use Justfly again...ever....

Edited February 3, 2019 by missileman

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

One more thing:  I really, really like NRT.  I have flown through and visited Japan several times.

[suss6052 32]

2 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

Doing that then OP would have to pay extra baggage fee, since Delta allows 2 checked free on International Flights.  The getting on United or Delta out of LAX (LAX is a ghetto dump airport) wouldn't make sense.

 

Philippines Air only flies into the California and maybe still Las Vegas, You then have to take a connecting flight on another airline to get to your final destination if it outside the West Coast.

 

 

Philippines Air also flies to JFK with their AIrbus A350, but it's still not the best option because of the need to pay baggage fees to ship the bags from JFK on a different airline to MSP.
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/philipphine-airlines-a350-economy/

[Just Paul 4,591]

Use google flights for finding cheap fares.   But make sure there is plenty of time for immigration at the POE.  2 hours can be too short.  4 hours is better.  Once you find the fare call the airline to book for a later connection if needed.   They will usually waive the ticket fee.   Technically 24 hours or less is a valid connection time. Most international flights will have a checked baggage allowance of 1 plus a carry on and a personal item.

 

When my wife came I brought back her hot pink suitcase a few days earlier.  She came with a little overhead case and her backpack.   I had dozen polo shorts and some shoes for her at home. She gave away all of her 220v stuff.  I already gave her a google fi phone and made sure she had HK and Chinese Money since she connected both places.

[pamawemo 78]

22 hours ago, missileman said:

Be very careful when booking through Justfly.  I booked a flight through Tokyo via Justfly, and the connecting flight was in another airport 50 miles away........unfortunately, I didn't notice that until the night before departing Taipei, and it cost me several hundred dollars to get the arriving and connecting flight in NRT.  I will never use Justfly again...ever....

Thanks. Upon further review, I'm not going to risk using justfly. Too many bad reviews.

 

8 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Use google flights for finding cheap fares.   But make sure there is plenty of time for immigration at the POE.  2 hours can be too short.  4 hours is better.  Once you find the fare call the airline to book for a later connection if needed.   They will usually waive the ticket fee.   Technically 24 hours or less is a valid connection time. Most international flights will have a checked baggage allowance of 1 plus a carry on and a personal item.

 

When my wife came I brought back her hot pink suitcase a few days earlier.  She came with a little overhead case and her backpack.   I had dozen polo shorts and some shoes for her at home. She gave away all of her 220v stuff.  I already gave her a google fi phone and made sure she had HK and Chinese Money since she connected both places.

I think I will book directly with Delta. She can fly MNL to Tokyo, then to Seattle as her POE. Good reviews here on VJ for Seattle POE. There is a flight with a 4-hour layover in Seattle, then on to MSP. Thanks for the heads-up about the styling tools and such. Oh, and Delta does allow 2 50-pound checked bags, a carry-on with specific dimensions and a personal item so I hope we are good to go. Thanks, all!

[Crazy Cat 39,218]

On 2/2/2019 at 6:12 AM, pamawemo said:

What about baggage? How did your fiance get all of their belongings to the US? Did everything come on the flight over?

My wife first shipped 8 small boxes to me over the course of a few months.  The photo below is her as she arrived at DFW:

Edited February 4, 2019 by missileman

[pamawemo 78]

16 minutes ago, missileman said:

My wife first shipped 8 small boxes to me over the course of a few months.  The photo below is her as she arrived at DFW:

That's a great photo! So she checked those boxes? Were they opened up at her POE and how did she secure them after that? Not sure my fiance even has two suitcases so the boxes is an idea.