Booking flight that may need to be amended?

Scougar · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:38

I've got my US Immigration Interview in mid October, and they of course advise you not to book any travel until the Visa has (or has not!) been issued. Now I don't want to really waste any time between hopefully getting the visa issued and me getting a flight.

I'm concerned however over the cost of a flight that may only be say two or three weeks after the Interview (Which would normally be expensive). Are there are flights that can be cheaply amended to another date if I booked a flight now? For reference, costs are coming out now at £450 to £500 for a return on the 31st of October.

(Normally getting a return ticket is also cheaper... and having just looked its about have the cost for a return vs one way *mental*)

(As an aside, it would be nice to have a travel section on here!)

8t10 · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:43

You can get open-ended tickets which allow the return to be changed with X days notice for £X (depending on airline) with the latest being XX days from the date of outward journey. They usually cost a bit more too.

(Typically 7 days, £50 and 90 days.)

Sho · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:44

8t10 said:
You can get open-ended tickets which allow the return to be changed with X days notice for £X (depending on airline) with the latest being XX days from the date of outward journey. They usually cost a bit more too.

(Typically 7 days, £50 and 90 days.)

Ain't the first attempt changing the dates free? After that you start paying fees.

Scougar · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:47

Return date doesn't matter (although that may be a way to a cheaper ticket) as the return ticket will never be used. I just need to get to the US as I'll be living there (perhaps I didn't make that clear?)

My concern will be booking a flight so close (two or three weeks) in advance, as it may be very costly.

8t10 · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:53

Scougar said:
Return date doesn't matter (although that may be a way to a cheaper ticket) as the return ticket will never be used. I just need to get to the US as I'll be living there (perhaps I didn't make that clear?)

My concern will be booking a flight so close (two or three weeks) in advance, as it may be very costly.

Yes you made it clear, but the only ticket I know which allows changes is one that allows the return to be changed.

Rich_L · 6 Sep 2013 at 19:56

The issue with changing flights is that unless you get a flexible fare which are exorbitantly expensive you sometimes have to pay a change fee plus the difference between the fare you paid and the current price of booking a flight on the changed date so you end up paying more anyway.

Is it for a green card? I would look at a minimum of 6 weeks, preferably 8 weeks if you're going to book ahead. I had to submit further documents after my interview - I had booked my flight 6 weeks after the interview and only got my passport back a week before I was due to leave.