Flight Arrangements for return trip to USA

[Greenbaum 12,258]

8 minutes ago, morry & ren said:

Thank you Sir!

Have you tried this concept yourself? Has anyone else ever tried this concept to evaluate its validity?

I have no experience with it but I have practiced with it and I have sometimes come across a better price. If my recollection is correct, I believe some in the article have commented that's worked for them. Again, I can only stress your mileage may vary. I know of no laws that you would be breaking.

[morry & ren 124]

3 hours ago, missileman said:

Actually, it isn't complicated......Don't schedule return flight until visa is in hand and has been checked for accuracy.

 Correct! It's not complicated at all! But as that is quite simply Common Sense, (Rare for this day and time😅), hopefully no one with half a brain would think that booking a flight Prior to having Visa in hand is a "Good" idea! Murphy plays too big a role in that!😉

Edited July 9, 2019 by morry & ren

[Crazy Cat 39,256]

2 minutes ago, morry & ren said:

 Insakto Ka! (your correct) It's not complicated at all! But as that is quite simply Common Sense, (Rare for this day and time😅), hopefully no one with half a brain would think that booking a flight Prior to having Visa in hand is a "Good" idea! Murphy plays too big a role in that!

I meant no disrespect.  You might surprised at the number of people who don't follow advice given here.....

 

Oh, by the way, I have sometimes seen significant price differences in airfare depending on whether I used a phone app or laptop browser (Expedia, for example)......weird, but true.

[morry & ren 124]

21 hours ago, SJordanS said:

This is exactly what I’m doing now. I booked myself a one-way ticket. Booking from the states is much easier and cheaper. When I’m ready to book the return I will book 2 tickets and have my sister book it from the states  technically we don’t know anything about our approval, how long the issuance of the visa or even administrative processing. The way things are going at my embassy - anything goes! Thats why i booked one way and will wait. 

Yes that is probably what I will end up doing but as Greenbaum stated earlier, the Philippine immigration requires you to have an onward or return flight, a cheap toss away flight would be in order.

Edited July 9, 2019 by morry & ren

[Loren Y 2,732]

I've said many times, use a VPN to get yourself some cheap airline tickets. Here is a link to give you a idea on how it works. I got 2 round trip from LAX to Bangkok in the next few months for 678.00. that's 2 tickets I booked while I was " in" Vietnam I think. Norway is cheap too, and I've had lots of luck from the Netherlands.

 

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2018/07/how-to-get-cheaper-flights-by-using-a-vpn/

[morry & ren 124]

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

I meant no disrespect.  You might surprised at the number of people who don't follow advice given here.....

 

Oh, by the way, I have sometimes seen significant price differences in airfare depending on whether I used a phone app or laptop browser (Expedia, for example)......weird, .but true.

No Sir! Absolutely no disrespect taken! I just want to help this entire community just in case anyone else might need this same info.

Oh really? I have never checked that, I usually use a larger device Ipad or PC so I can see it better...🤣 Thanks I will give that a try

[morry & ren 124]

2 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I've said many times, use a VPN to get yourself some cheap airline tickets. Here is a link to give you a idea on how it works. I got 2 round trip from LAX to Bangkok in the next few months for 678.00. that's 2 tickets I booked while I was " in" Vietnam I think. Norway is cheap too, and I've had lots of luck from the Netherlands.

 

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2018/07/how-to-get-cheaper-flights-by-using-a-vpn/

Geeees thats cheap! Thanks!

[Crazy Cat 39,256]

10 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I've said many times, use a VPN to get yourself some cheap airline tickets. Here is a link to give you a idea on how it works. I got 2 round trip from LAX to Bangkok in the next few months for 678.00. that's 2 tickets I booked while I was " in" Vietnam I think. Norway is cheap too, and I've had lots of luck from the Netherlands.

 

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2018/07/how-to-get-cheaper-flights-by-using-a-vpn/

Good read.......The airfare game is the greatest mystery known to man......

[morry & ren 124]

20 hours ago, Falcon Cara said:

I rolled the bones and got a myself a round trip to PI, and gave enough time so my fiancé could do her interview, get issued visa and wait for it to arrive in her province.  Once she had it I seems as if we had about 2 weeks to burn, I was flying Delta and I called them and had them put her on a flight with me and get us seats next to each other

 

 

Goodness! You really did roll the dice but if I had a lot of time off work, believe me when I say that I would do the very same thing. But with only a couple weeks vacation time to utilize.....Its a Vegas game. But I am going to be there with her at the Interview as much for me as her, I miss her😍

Edited July 9, 2019 by morry & ren

[Falcon Cara 378]

1 hour ago, morry & ren said:

Goodness! You really did roll the dice but if I had a lot of time off work, believe me when I say that I would do the very same thing. But with only a couple weeks vacation time to utilize.....Its a Vegas game. But I am going to be there with her at the Interview as much for me as her, I miss her😍

Two weeks is gonna be cutting it close but doable. Are you flying in a day or so before the interview and meeting her in Manila?

[morry & ren 124]

1 hour ago, Falcon Cara said:

Two weeks is gonna be cutting it close but doable. Are you flying in a day or so before the interview and meeting her in Manila?

That is correct, gonna find out when she has her medical and book a ticket to get there in Manila 1-2 days before her interview. and if necessary, I can stay a little longer

Edited July 9, 2019 by morry & ren

[Mike V 56]

I would not buy her plane tickets until she completed all the obstacles -- medical, visa, CFO certificate.

 

Due to the high rate of tuberculosis cases originating in the Philippines, the U.S. has really ramped up the number being diverted to sputum (TB) testing.  When we were there for the physicals it appeared to me that about half were getting sent over to the TB line after the physicals were started.  That ends up taking 1-2 days for the physical & 3 days for the sputum sampling.  Then you have wait 2 months for the results.  Then you can finally do the embassy interview.

 

Once you get to your interview, there's a chance that they will ask for additional info or documentation.  That can easily add 1-3 weeks. 

 

Then once she has the visa in her passport, she can finish up the CFO counseling & get her CFO certificate.  They won't let her leave the Philippines without it.  It's not like the U.S. where anyone with a passport can come & go as they please.

 

My wife started the physical at the end March 2017, had to cancel her interview appt. for that trip, finally completed the physical & had her interview the first week of June 2017, got to fly here 26 July 2017.

 

When/if you return to visit the Philippines with her, be sure to bring the CFO certificate & a copy of your marriage certificate with you.  Otherwise she probably won't be leaving as scheduled.

 

Be sure to have 2-3K pesos on hand to pay your way out of the country.  Departure taxes (~P750) are included in ticket prices ex-MNL but not ex-CEB (planned for CEB but not done as of my last departure there 14 April).  Most Filipinos (including your fiance) have to pay a ransom of P1620 (known euphemistically as the "Philippine Travel Tax") every time they fly out of the country; this ransom is not included in air fares..

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Mike V
spel it rite

[twoworldsonelove 28]

No one has mentioned trip insurance. Doesn't that allow you to cancel/make changes for any reason without a charge? 

[Mike V 56]

4 minutes ago, twoworldsonelove said:

No one has mentioned trip insurance. Doesn't that allow you to cancel/make changes for any reason without a charge? 

No.

 

It reimburses you for costs in limited circumstances as specified by the policy.  A change necessitated by poor planning would not be covered.

[Zach2015 211]

On ‎7‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 11:58 PM, Mike V said:

Be sure to have 2-3K pesos on hand to pay your way out of the country.  Departure taxes (~P750) are included in ticket prices ex-MNL but not ex-CEB (planned for CEB but not done as of my last departure there 14 April).  Most Filipinos (including your fiance) have to pay a ransom of P1620 (known euphemistically as the "Philippine Travel Tax") every time they fly out of the country; this ransom is not included in air fares..

 

Delta has the Philippine Travel Tax as part of their airfare now. It is listed on my receipt for the flight I just paid for my fiancé.