Air Travel

[CSL&LCY]

I am about to make another trip to China at the end of December. This hopefully will be the trip where she comes back with me. Right now we are not certain of exactly when we want/need to return. I would like to buy a one-way ticket over, and then finalize the return tickets after I get there and we see how things go with packing/family good-byes, etc. I was told today by an airline ticket agent that I must have a return trip ticket. Can any one share their experiences with this? Can I get a one-way to China and then make arrangements from there? What did others do to get their SO from China to here when the time came?

Thanks,

[lele]

I am about to make another trip to China at the end of December. This hopefully will be the trip where she comes back with me. Right now we are not certain of exactly when we want/need to return. I would like to buy a one-way ticket over, and then finalize the return tickets after I get there and we see how things go with packing/family good-byes, etc. I was told today by an airline ticket agent that I must have a return trip ticket. Can any one share their experiences with this? Can I get a one-way to China and then make arrangements from there? What did others do to get their SO from China to here when the time came?

Thanks,

It is a Chinese visa requirement that you have a ticket to LEAVE the country, if you are getting an L-class visa.

 

The first time I went to china, I did not have a roundtrip ticket. I did however have a ticket out of the country, just to a different destination from the one I arrived on. This was absolutely fine and easily done. You could purchase an air ticket to a neighboring nation. You could purchase a boat ticket to a neighboring country (S. Korea, Vietnam, Japan). You could also purchase a rail ticket to a neighboring country (the high gauge rail line to Hanoi in Vietnam is spectacular).

 

You could fly through Hong Kong, which does not have this restriction. However, if you go this way, you will have to cross by land to shenzhen and then fly from there, which although sounding complex, really is not.

 

Or you could do what I did the second time I went, and just use Air China. They are quite inexpensive (never has cost me more than US$800 RT from NYC, and usually less), and they let you switch your return date, free of charge, so long as the flights on that day are not booked.

 

Good Luck!!!

[keelec]

Often One RT ticket is less expensive than a One-Way ticket. Perhaps even less expensive if you have to eat expensive change fees.

 

Typically you should be able to book your return flight anytime within a year (or so) of the original "cancelled" flight. Thus, I believe that if you book a flight now with a return flight for 6 months or a year from now, you could potentially keep that ticket for 18 mo - 2 years.

 

When I was expecting Irina to return to the USA with me... I could only find reasonably priced RT tickets from Russia to the USA. I pointed out to the airline that she was supposed to be getting a 3-month "non-immigrant" visa, and because of that, we needed to book a RT ticket for her.

 

---- CK ----

[owhite47]

Hi:

Well when I traveled to vist HuaQing , I went United Air. They were nice but all my flights were delayed, right from the first one that left my hometown..

When I borded the flight to china at the Chicago hub, they escorted me to the bording area , cause of the shortness of time.....I told them no to leave my luggage , everything I had was there,,,,Well sure enough when I got to china my luggage wasn't there,,,,,two days later travel back to shenzhen airport to pick them up,,,,but still had to buy clothes , personel items ,,,etc,,,,,,,

But of course it was worth it..

 

This time I am doing business with Air China,,cheaper fares and nice people to deal with,,,,,,,dont' know yet my return date so I am debating on a one way deal,,,,,,,I sure want to fly back the same time with HuaQing,,,after her inteview..............My SO, loves me so much,,,I feel so lucky to have found her.......

 

Oscar & HuaQing

[mike_m]

My last trip (Nov 2, 2004) was on United Airlines and was fine. Everything

was on time and there were no difficulties at all. I guess it's a 'luck of the draw' thing about on time performance and weather delays.

 

Anyway, to get to your question, there is an an 'open return' ticket that allows you to select the return date after beginning travel.

 

Another option if you don't know the exact day of return when buying the ticket is to make sure your ticket is changable. I think most tickets can have the return date changed, but there is a fee with United Airlines. The last time I did this the fee was US $100. If you check before buying the ticket you may find that the 'no fee for change' ticket costs US $100 more anyway.

 

Such is life...

[Guest trvldog]

I have three suggestions

1) Fly to Hong Kong - no restrictions. I did this a few months ago

2) Buy a one way fully refundable ReTURN ticket. Then when you are ready to return refund it and buy the cheapest ticket you can find.This ties up money

3) Buy a roundtrip fare and pay the penalty to change it

Good luck