Flights

[LukeU 413]

7 minutes ago, ConnorS said:

Ohh not too long in the grand scheme of things considering the length of time we spend waiting 😆

 

Yeah I done an internal transfer in Philly once and ended up spending the night in the airport due to weather screwing up flights in and out and requiring another 2 additional flights, never again, I have since always transferred this side of the pond and had done previously before that traumatic experience 🤪

When you think most couples book their wedding a year or plus in advance. So in this scale, we're above average  

 

Yeah I'm not fancying an internal transfer after my POE, I want to come through and jump in our car to drive home. No rentals or any of that stuff! 

[MaryDave1992 196]

3 minutes ago, LukeU said:

When you think most couples book their wedding a year or plus in advance. So in this scale, we're above average  

 

Yeah I'm not fancying an internal transfer after my POE, I want to come through and jump in our car to drive home. No rentals or any of that stuff! 

Are you planning on having a big wedding?  We want to do the big traditional wedding in a year or so and go to a courthouse for now.  Starting to wedding plan whilst finishing up the visa process is a bit stressful though 😅

[LukeU 413]

Just now, MaryDave1992 said:

Are you planning on having a big wedding?  We want to do the big traditional wedding in a year or so and go to a courthouse for now.  Starting to wedding plan whilst finishing up the visa process is a bit stressful though 😅

It's not a big wedding as such, dress and suit and all of that. It's in Vegas (but not a courthouse or anything like that) at a smaller venue, around 10-15 of our friends/family are flying in to attend it. We already know years down the line we'll end up renewing our vowes back in England

 

It most definitely is, but Vegas offers so many prebuilt packages it's amazing 

[MaryDave1992 196]

Just now, LukeU said:

It's not a big wedding as such, dress and suit and all of that. It's in Vegas (but not a courthouse or anything like that) at a smaller venue, around 10-15 of our friends/family are flying in to attend it. We already know years down the line we'll end up renewing our vowes back in England

 

It most definitely is, but Vegas offers so many prebuilt packages it's amazing 

Oh that's awesome Vegas will be so fun and waaarm! So happy for you guys!

[coltr 92]

For what it's worth, during one of my long stints in the US on ESTA, about a week before I was due to fly back from an 86 day trip, I noticed that an exit date suddenly appeared on my electronic I-94 despite me not having actually left the country yet. I'd check my I-94 occasionally (for no reason in particular, just habit!), so I know that it hadn't shown prior to a week before my flight. Assuming the airline had anything to do with it, this only happened when flying with Air NZ, and I haven't observed this with Virgin Atlantic or Norwegian. The only other difference with my other trips is that they were shorter (around 60 days).

 

I could speculate that they do this based on airline reservation data for stays which are close to the 90 day VWP limit to make sure they don't inadvertently treat someone as an overstay for someone quickly wanting return to the US after leaving, since there's often a small delay in submitting exit data, but who knows.

 

By the way, I also got married in Vegas. It was a blast!

Edited March 18, 2019 by coltr

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

3 hours ago, ConnorS said:

Good too see things moving forward so quickly for you Like, exciting times ahead.  On the subject of flights I'm curious to what people use to find there's and if there is certain sights they find more affluent in deals/better prices flights.

 

I for some reason keep seeming winging my way back to cheapflights.co.uk, which I know is an aggregator like most, but that's not to say one isn't better than the other  

I’m a firm fan of Skyscanner for flights only - I really like their layout, to help you find the cheapest day to travel. 

 

2 hours ago, LukeU said:

When you think most couples book their wedding a year or plus in advance. So in this scale, we're above average  

 

Yeah I'm not fancying an internal transfer after my POE, I want to come through and jump in our car to drive home. No rentals or any of that stuff! 

 

Ha! Me and Herschell are going to jump a car to go home after my POE...and then drive for a week to get there!!! 😫😫😫

 

It’s a good job I love that old dog (my actual dog, not Herschell 😆😆), cause he hasn’t half made the emigration lengthy/expensive!

 

 

[LukeU 413]

14 hours ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

Ha! Me and Herschell are going to jump a car to go home after my POE...and then drive for a week to get there!!! 😫😫😫

 

It’s a good job I love that old dog (my actual dog, not Herschell 😆😆), cause he hasn’t half made the emigration lengthy/expensive!

Oh geez what will your POE be? 

 

That's a pretty awesome road trip though for sure. I'd love to do that 

[LukeU 413]

15 hours ago, coltr said:

For what it's worth, during one of my long stints in the US on ESTA, about a week before I was due to fly back from an 86 day trip, I noticed that an exit date suddenly appeared on my electronic I-94 despite me not having actually left the country yet. I'd check my I-94 occasionally (for no reason in particular, just habit!), so I know that it hadn't shown prior to a week before my flight. Assuming the airline had anything to do with it, this only happened when flying with Air NZ, and I haven't observed this with Virgin Atlantic or Norwegian. The only other difference with my other trips is that they were shorter (around 60 days).

 

I could speculate that they do this based on airline reservation data for stays which are close to the 90 day VWP limit to make sure they don't inadvertently treat someone as an overstay for someone quickly wanting return to the US after leaving, since there's often a small delay in submitting exit data, but who knows.

 

By the way, I also got married in Vegas. It was a blast!

Hmm that's a funky thing for sure that an exit date appeared. 

 

Ohhh you did?! How long was it until you received your marriage certificate? I'm aware you go and provide ID but I wasn't sure on the turn around time of certificates. 

[coltr 92]

3 hours ago, LukeU said:

Hmm that's a funky thing for sure that an exit date appeared. 

 

Ohhh you did?! How long was it until you received your marriage certificate? I'm aware you go and provide ID but I wasn't sure on the turn around time of certificates. 

I got my certificate overnighted to me next day by the minister for an extra fee. They said had it been a weekday, I could have had my certificate the same day if I was willing to hang around. It looks like most chapels in Vegas will offer this service if you ask, as the certificates are available to them immediately after filing your completed license with the clerk. In the clerk's office, I noticed they had kiosks you can even use to print them out yourself. Vegas really lives up to its reputation when it comes to quick weddings!

[LukeU 413]

Just now, coltr said:

I got my certificate overnighted to me next day by the minister for an extra fee. They said had it been a weekday, I could have had my certificate the same day if I was willing to hang around. It looks like most chapels in Vegas will offer this service if you ask, as the certificates are available to them immediately after filing your completed license with the clerk. In the clerk's office, I noticed they had kiosks you can even use to print them out yourself. Vegas really lives up to its reputation when it comes to quick weddings!

That was sort of our basis, one place in the world that'll do it swiftly is Vegas. I mean we're getting married on a Saturday, but we'll be there until the Tuesday afterwards I imagine so that's not an issue. Thank you so much

 

[coltr 92]

Hope you guys have a great time!

 

I can recommend a couple of lesser-known spots. The patio bar at the Vdara (facing the Aria, behind the Bellagio) is beautiful for some evening drinks, as well as the rooftop bar in the Mandarin Oriental. They have a champagne vending machine up there too, which I thought was quite novel!

 

You can also get some fabulous pictures in the entrance to Catch in the Aria; you don't even have to eat there to take photos, since it's before you actually get to the host desk.

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

4 hours ago, LukeU said:

Oh geez what will your POE be? 

 

That's a pretty awesome road trip though for sure. I'd love to do that 

Leaving Southampton on Tuesday 19th November...POE will be Monday 25th November, in New York...then drive to LA, getting there in the evening on Sunday 1st December (then Herschell will be back at work on Monday morning! 😫).

 

It will be interesting - and we love road tripping together...but the season will make it less fun (ice, snow and rain do not make for ideal road trips 😫)...and we will be limited because we’ll have the beagle-bear (going in places, stopping for dinner, etc) - I think we’ll make the most of it, but we’ll also be relieved to finally get back to LA 🙃.

[LukeU 413]

10 minutes ago, coltr said:

Hope you guys have a great time!

 

I can recommend a couple of lesser-known spots. The patio bar at the Vdara (facing the Aria, behind the Bellagio) is beautiful for some evening drinks, as well as the rooftop bar in the Mandarin Oriental. They have a champagne vending machine up there too, which I thought was quite novel!

 

You can also get some fabulous pictures in the entrance to Catch in the Aria; you don't even have to eat there to take photos, since it's before you actually get to the host desk.

Thank you! Definitely going to take a look at those. We have the place to go for a meal after our wedding set so we're looking forward to that (Aureole at Mandalay Bay)

 

Just looking at that place now and it looks amazing! 

[LukeU 413]

22 minutes ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

Leaving Southampton on Tuesday 19th November...POE will be Monday 25th November, in New York...then drive to LA, getting there in the evening on Sunday 1st December (then Herschell will be back at work on Monday morning! 😫).

 

It will be interesting - and we love road tripping together...but the season will make it less fun (ice, snow and rain do not make for ideal road trips 😫)...and we will be limited because we’ll have the beagle-bear (going in places, stopping for dinner, etc) - I think we’ll make the most of it, but we’ll also be relieved to finally get back to LA 🙃.

Wow so wait are you taking the ferry over with the pooch also? That'll be a hell of a trip for sure but I have to say it'll be amazing. Eventually just keep driving West and you'll get out of the snow

 

I'm sure you'll be able to find some dog friendly places along the way though. I am envious as that's a truly amazing road trip that not many get to do. Not so sure Herschell will think the same come the monday ! 

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

22 minutes ago, LukeU said:

Wow so wait are you taking the ferry over with the pooch also? That'll be a hell of a trip for sure but I have to say it'll be amazing. Eventually just keep driving West and you'll get out of the snow

 

I'm sure you'll be able to find some dog friendly places along the way though. I am envious as that's a truly amazing road trip that not many get to do. Not so sure Herschell will think the same come the monday ! 

Yep - the only reason for the cruise is so the pooch can come (I’m afraid of being out in the sea, I’ve seen Titanic! 😳😳😳)...get me on a plane any day of the week! 

 

Gunner was diagnosed with a heart murmur last year (he’s 14, so not too surprising), so flying isn’t an option for him anymore - so the Queen Mary 2 is the only other way to take a dog to the US from here 😫.

 

If I forget that we’re at sea, it should be fun though - looks really nice and they treat the pets on there like little maharajahs 🙃.

 

This is our planned drive: