Buying Tickets - One Way, Round Trip..??

[DeeZee 0]

I paid about $900 for my wife and $700 for anak one way business [Mabuhay] after getting first time immigrant discount with PAL.

Don't know if they still give the first time immigrant discount tho! It was about 20% at that time. 1 year ago!

I asked my travel agency about that and they do still give first time immigrant discounts - both PAL and Cathay Pacific.

[dj1206 0]

I paid about $900 for my wife and $700 for anak one way business [Mabuhay] after getting first time immigrant discount with PAL.

Don't know if they still give the first time immigrant discount tho! It was about 20% at that time. 1 year ago!

I asked my travel agency about that and they do still give first time immigrant discounts - both PAL and Cathay Pacific.

Thanks for the new and good answers to this concern. New question: do you have to go through a travel agency to get those discounts or can you do that over the phone with the ticketing department? I'd imagine the former, but just in case, that's why I'm asking...I don't like to assume with these types of things.

Another question..."business" class was mentioned. Does this reduced rate only apply to business and first class accomodations, or will it also work for Economy/Coach? I'd love to do "business" class...but can't afford something like that...but then again, $900 per person sounds like economy class to me. Maybe PAL is cheaper.

Does PAL or CP give any sort of first time immigrant luggage allowances/discounts, as well?

D

Edited September 23, 2007 by dj1206

[Dakine 26]

I paid about $900 for my wife and $700 for anak one way business [Mabuhay] after getting first time immigrant discount with PAL.

Don't know if they still give the first time immigrant discount tho! It was about 20% at that time. 1 year ago!

I asked my travel agency about that and they do still give first time immigrant discounts - both PAL and Cathay Pacific.

Thanks for the new and good answers to this concern. New question: do you have to go through a travel agency to get those discounts or can you do that over the phone with the ticketing department? I'd imagine the former, but just in case, that's why I'm asking...I don't like to assume with these types of things.

Another question..."business" class was mentioned. Does this reduced rate only apply to business and first class accomodations, or will it also work for Economy/Coach? I'd love to do "business" class...but can't afford something like that...but then again, $900 per person sounds like economy class to me. Maybe PAL is cheaper.

Does PAL or CP give any sort of first time immigrant luggage allowances/discounts, as well?

D

First off i got the tickets thru a travel agent here in Hawaii that deal almost strickly with Flipinos.

Second if the person is flying business you get the discount without having the visa yet.

Economy still gets the discount but must have visa in hand to get it.

That's the way it was just over a year ago with PAL.

They started their lives in a nipa in the jungles of Mindanao.

They left the Philippines like the queens they both are.

They were escorted right by the long lines to the Mabuhay Lounge to wait and then onto the plane.

The little extra was worth every centavo and then some!

[EricC 0]

I didn't really see an answer to the original question. I too am in the same boat. I have just been preparing for the road ahead even though I just sent in my I-129F a couple weeks ago. It is cheaper to book 2 round trip tickets from the USA to Manila than it is to book a round trip for me and one way for her. I was too wondering if it was ok to do that. I would use a round trip ticket for myself and just give her the return flight of the other round trip ticket. Would it work that way. Main reason is that I want to be seated together and also its cheaper.

[Jasman0717 8]

Buy whatever is cheapest

[EricC 0]

Buy whatever is cheapest

Of course, but is it ok to buy round trip if I don't intend to use the first leg of the trip and only the return flight?

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

If you do not use the first leg of a round trip, the second leg is automatically void. Also, I have read that airlines are now charging a fee for not using the return leg of a ticket.

[DeeZee 0]

New question: do you have to go through a travel agency to get those discounts or can you do that over the phone with the ticketing department?

Another question..."business" class was mentioned. Does this reduced rate only apply to business and first class accomodations, or will it also work for Economy/Coach?

Does PAL or CP give any sort of first time immigrant luggage allowances/discounts, as well?

D

I believe travel agents can give you better rates and you can hold your booking longer before you pay too. I don't know if you book with the airline directly though.

I only asked for the rates for economy, but surely business and first class have discounts too.

Lastly, I don't think there are luggage allowances. If there was, it would be awesome!

[Wes and Shiela 2]

Buy whatever is cheapest

Of course, but is it ok to buy round trip if I don't intend to use the first leg of the trip and only the return flight?

If you buy a round trip ticket and do not use the first leg, the airlines cancel the reservation and do not allow you to use the second leg.

If you want to pursue this option, better to buy a roundtrip ticket from MNL -> USA -> MNL, for your honeyko and then not use the SECOND leg of the ticket. Better yet, save the second leg, until your honeyko wants to return to the PI (if it is within one year of the original flight), and pay the airline change fee.

[KansasDragon 1]

Some great advice here, thank you all.

We ended up getting a round trip for me, and a one way for her. United Airlines hung on the phone with me for almost two hours working out details, and getting me the best pricing I'd received from anyone (For the Christmas Season).

Her one way ticket ended up being about $500 less than my round trip, so was good savings to stick with the one way ticket in our case.

[prettyfacenbody 0]

weekdays flight are usually cheaper than weekend flights.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Always go with the best deal, round trip or one way. Use the tickets you really need. I've always flown this way.