One way tickets

[BuffaloPaul]

I read the other thread about airline tickets but it didn't really answer my question

 

When you travel to China and then return with your SO (and maybe a child) do you:

 

Book RT tickets for yourself and hope you can get seats for the others by booking in China?

 

Book RT for yourself and one-ways for the others from US?

 

Book one way for yourself and then 2 (or 3) one-ways in China to return?

 

I've read that it is cheaper to buy tickets in China but not sure if you have to be super flexible on dates.

My SO and her daughter all want us to sit together returning to the US.

Some discount internet sites don't seem to allow origination outside US.

 

Any experiences?

[vibes1313]

I came RT with a 5 month layover. One way from the US is almost always more expensive. Plus you are suppose to have an exit plan before entry. But we bought a oneway in China on the same UA flight for $200 less than what I paid. Not seated together, but if you've ever been to a show or play or anything with reserved seating in China, when the lights go out, or at some magically pre-arranged moment.......everyone gets up and changes seats.

[LeeFisher3]

Not sure how others have done it but I'll book one way to GZ. My desire is to go back to FuShun, about 2000km, to spend a few days with her family before we come to the US. The best fares for us will be to change airlines being that far north.

 

Figure we will book our return based on when we are done in GZ, with no desire to leave until we have that pretty little stamp in her passport and then we will travel home together.

[cosmiclobster]

I booked a R/T ticket on China Eastern because it was a lot cheaper. Gave my S.O. the airline and flight flight number and she had no problem getting a ticket on the same flight. This works best with a Chinese airline. She waited until a week before we left to buy her ticket. If she had booked it right after I booked mine (which is what I told her to do and thought she had done!!), it would have been $30 more. Yes, she saved me $30 but I freaked out thinking what if a seat is not available if she waits until the last minute!! But the travel agent said to do it this way and it worked out. They brought the tickets to our hotel room and we paid cash. I was a little apprehensive but that is how they do it over there . . .

[Feathers268]

As someone right in the middle of this, I booked a RT ticket because I was told that was the only way I could travel. The plan is to book one way for the both of us here after Jen passes the interview. I'll let you know how it goes. We did get a flier near the embassy yesterday showing some very good deals booked right out of GZ and others have said the same.

[C4Racer]

I took a chance and it worked for me. I know others who it did not work out the same for, so take what I did with the knowledge that it is a gamble.

 

She wanted me to escort her to the US. The only way this would happen is for her to be on my return flight. So I booked my R/T through www.flychina.com on Northwest Airlines, at the same time I booked her one-way on the same flight as my return leg. It was booked far enough out that if she received blue slip from GUZ we would have one shot at overcome. Luckily we did not need it.

 

We hit one snag at the airport. She would have not known what to do if she had traveled alone.They told us she could not board because she did not have a return ticket. "I don't think you understand. She is immigrating to the US on a K1 visa. You cannot make us buy a return ticket. Get your superior or whoever, but we are getting on that plane!!!" It took a surpervisor (who also had no clue), then they finally called over the big supervisor. He carefully looked at her passport, ask to view the DOS Packet. and then said, "I see no problem."

[Guest Gene]

I bought two round tripers for my son and I and two onewayers for my wife and new son. All through a travel agent in Chinatown and on NWA. I was able to go online and pick seats for all tickets and printed out boarding passes. The e-tickets worked great. I took a chance, if there had been problems at the interview I would have had to pay penalties to rebook the flights, but we made it. All told, just shy of $2000 for all.

[CR1togo]

Just a few days ago my wife cruised the Chinese airline ticketing web sites found on 37021.com. Nearly ALL (1 way) tickets were RMB 2,880 BEFORE July 1 (one was 2,690). After June, 30th about 4,800 was a good price and the vary a lot more. One site did show 12-15 airlines prices and all reflected increases for summer EXCEPT Korean Air whose prices are higher than the others NOW but will be lower in the summer period and supposedly good until 10-31-05. Sorry, I forgot the KA fare. This is for Shanghai to LAX or SFO. Shopping agents locally *MAY* produce better fares. acw

[Feathers268]

Just a few days ago my wife cruised the Chinese airline ticketing web sites found on 37021.com. Nearly ALL (1 way) tickets were RMB 2,880 BEFORE July 1 (one was 2,690). After June, 30th about 4,800 was a good price and the vary a lot more. One site did show 12-15 airlines prices and all reflected increases for summer EXCEPT Korean Air whose prices are higher than the others NOW but will be lower in the summer period and supposedly good until 10-31-05. Sorry, I forgot the KA fare. This is for Shanghai to LAX or SFO. Shopping agents locally *MAY* produce better fares. acw

That will be huge. If that is out of Shanghai, the addition of a flight from GZ would still make that one heck of a deal. I'm going to get Jen on it and will let you know how it works short notice.

[frank1538]

Book RT for yourself and one-ways for the others from US?

This is what I did. Since our return to the US was about 10 days after the interview, I was comfortable that we would make the flight. Also, I wanted absolute certainty that we could sit together on the flight to the US. Yep, it cost more, but I wasn't worried about that.

[MikeXiao]

Do not buy RTs here for them. If they do not fly on the first leg, you lose the reservation. Try to buy OWs there, they can be cheaper, but you can find good deals on flychina.com, also. I am planning on buying my RT and their OWs on flychina, here, before I leave.

[johnxiaoying]

I purchased a round trip for myself and a one way for my wife from FlyChina.com. It was the best deal I could find at the time with the least potential headaches.

 

I booked the return flight eleven days after the interview date just in case of problems in GZ, the plan being we'd have time to deal with GZ or go visit family. Luckily the interview was a 3 minute breeze.

[vibes1313]

If it helps anyone making future plans, our travel agent in Shenzhen told us the rates go down after 9/12 as the summer season ends.

[CR1togo]

I'm also a big fan of flychina BUT IF you are on this side of the pond (China) consider the two items below BEFORE BUYING them statessides (this could apply to many other booking agents also):

 

1) They want you to fax your credit card info to them in the US to pay for it.

Finding someone in Shanghai to fax to the US is a PAIN!

 

2) They have ALWAYS mailed me PAPER tickets (to my US address). In other words, you will have to send them to someone in the States and THEN they will have to Fedex them here. acw

[cosmiclobster]

We have flown in China on both of my trips and the tickets we bought in China were a lot cheaper than anything I could have bought on this side of the pond!

The ticket prices are fixed by the airline and the "agents" make their money on delivery fees. Tell them you will only pay 1 fee even if you are buying 2 tickets. Some will say no but there are some that will want the money and will deliver the tickets to you.