Getting my Dad to Oz
October 21, 2010 4:41 AM Subscribe
My father's birthday is coming up and he's always dreamed of going to Australia (he lives in the US). I'd like to make that happen. The catch: I don't know when him and my mother will actually be free in order to take the trip. What's the best way to give him this gift?
I'd like to get my father tickets from the U.S. to Australia with flexible travel dates and a long expiration period. Any ideas on what kind of voucher or gift certificate I could give him? An I.O.U. to be cashed in by him at a later time won't work because he generally dislikes anyone spending any money on him and would never cash it in. If he had a ticket or gift certificate in hand, he would protest, but eventually submit to the fact that the money had already been spent and he should take advantage of it. Thoughts on the best way to make this happen?
I'd like to get my father tickets from the U.S. to Australia with flexible travel dates and a long expiration period. Any ideas on what kind of voucher or gift certificate I could give him? An I.O.U. to be cashed in by him at a later time won't work because he generally dislikes anyone spending any money on him and would never cash it in. If he had a ticket or gift certificate in hand, he would protest, but eventually submit to the fact that the money had already been spent and he should take advantage of it. Thoughts on the best way to make this happen?
Best answer: I've given my parents several RtW trips (mainly with points) and I always insisted that they participate in the planning. I also tried to give them enough time to do research and arrange any side trips and/or tours they find on their own. After all, it will be your father's present and a large part of the fun of a big trip is the planning and exploration.
One thought is that you could purchase a "Circle Pacific" or "Round the World" ticket through one of the alliances and present that as the gift. These are normally relatively good bargains and won't lock you into a specific itinerary. It also gives the option to explore a few additional countries if there's an interest.
Btw, I think this is a wonderful gift. Knowing the experiences my parents had on their world tours was as important and enjoyable for me as I know it was for them.
posted by michswiss at 5:24 AM on October 21, 2010
One thought is that you could purchase a "Circle Pacific" or "Round the World" ticket through one of the alliances and present that as the gift. These are normally relatively good bargains and won't lock you into a specific itinerary. It also gives the option to explore a few additional countries if there's an interest.
Btw, I think this is a wonderful gift. Knowing the experiences my parents had on their world tours was as important and enjoyable for me as I know it was for them.
posted by michswiss at 5:24 AM on October 21, 2010
airline gift cards??? i know southwest does them, but i don't know about other airlines. Amex gift card? I don't know if they come in amounts big enough to fly to austraila.
posted by domino at 7:26 AM on October 21, 2010
posted by domino at 7:26 AM on October 21, 2010
Qantas does gift vouchers valid for 12 months. I don't know for sure that you can buy them outside Australia, but I'd guess you'd be able to. Maybe try contacting them online, or via your closest office.
posted by Ahab at 8:39 AM on October 21, 2010
posted by Ahab at 8:39 AM on October 21, 2010
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Conspiracy is the way this sort of thing has always been done in my family. Saves you the expense of buying open-ended tickets.
posted by 256 at 5:12 AM on October 21, 2010