How do we get tickets for a year?
October 23, 2010 1:41 AM Subscribe
What is the best way to buy a ticket on a one year return?
My wife and I just got our one year Youth Mobility Visas to visit Germany from Canada. The problem is, it is impossible to buy a return ticket on a one year trip. I am looking for advice on whether we should buy a shorter return and change, or if there are any other options out there. One-way fares aren't really an option as they are usually at least twice what the return fare is.
My wife and I just got our one year Youth Mobility Visas to visit Germany from Canada. The problem is, it is impossible to buy a return ticket on a one year trip. I am looking for advice on whether we should buy a shorter return and change, or if there are any other options out there. One-way fares aren't really an option as they are usually at least twice what the return fare is.
Best answer: Buy a ticket and make the return date within the 330 days (limit for making bookings). Then once you are in 330 days of your desired return date, change your ticket. You will need to make sure that the ticket allows changes and that it has a validity of a year - this may make it more expensive than the cheapest return ticket you can find, but hopefully cheaper than the one-way fares.
You need to read through the conditions of the ticket you are buying very carefully if you do it yourself to make sure you can do this, otherwise, ring an airline or a travel agent and tell them that this is what you want.
If you buy a properly flexible fare, it shouldn't cost you anything to change the date later. Alternatively, if it is less flexible, it may cost you less upfront, but have a fee for the change.
posted by AnnaRat at 2:27 AM on October 23, 2010
You need to read through the conditions of the ticket you are buying very carefully if you do it yourself to make sure you can do this, otherwise, ring an airline or a travel agent and tell them that this is what you want.
If you buy a properly flexible fare, it shouldn't cost you anything to change the date later. Alternatively, if it is less flexible, it may cost you less upfront, but have a fee for the change.
posted by AnnaRat at 2:27 AM on October 23, 2010
Two one-ways? Probably a bit more expensive but often a lot more flexible.
posted by mdonley at 2:53 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by mdonley at 2:53 AM on October 23, 2010
What about buying bargain round-trip tickets, then calling the airline to cancel the second halves a week or so before the return? When you're ready to come back from Germany, buy another pair of round trip tickets to get home and call the airline to cancel those second halves after you get back. This gives the airlines the opportunity to sell the return tickets twice. I've know a few people who've done this, though not recently. Keep in mind that won't get your money back on those return legs.
posted by Elsie at 4:28 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by Elsie at 4:28 AM on October 23, 2010
Pull a return date out of your ass when booking the flight, but buy a ticket class that allows you to reschedule the return leg for a small fee (typically $50-100) + any difference in ticket cost on the new return leg. Check that you are allowed to reschedule later than a year after your outbound flight. Reschedule as necessary once you know your plans. I did this with an Australian trip.
posted by caek at 6:02 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by caek at 6:02 AM on October 23, 2010
Best answer: Generally there is a pretty big price increase for round trips spanning more than three months. Not quite up to the price of two one way tickets, though.
Do not count on being to reschedule for more than a year from the outbound flight. I have had problems with that on Iberia and Air France. Definitely check with the airline if you want to go that route.
The cheapest option, in my experience, is to buy two discount round trip tickets and take a week visit back to North America at some point. Doesn't have to be your departure point, either. One open-jaw Canada->Germany->NYC, and then NYC->Germany->Canada on the next one with a few days to hang out in the city is probably cheapest. It's much cheaper than two one-ways, and usually cheaper than a single full-fare (changable) round trip ticket.
An example, going to France from DC I did this and got two RT tickets for $380 and $450 respectively. One-ways were around $700 each, and a full fare RT was around $1200.
posted by Nothing at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Do not count on being to reschedule for more than a year from the outbound flight. I have had problems with that on Iberia and Air France. Definitely check with the airline if you want to go that route.
The cheapest option, in my experience, is to buy two discount round trip tickets and take a week visit back to North America at some point. Doesn't have to be your departure point, either. One open-jaw Canada->Germany->NYC, and then NYC->Germany->Canada on the next one with a few days to hang out in the city is probably cheapest. It's much cheaper than two one-ways, and usually cheaper than a single full-fare (changable) round trip ticket.
An example, going to France from DC I did this and got two RT tickets for $380 and $450 respectively. One-ways were around $700 each, and a full fare RT was around $1200.
posted by Nothing at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It's worth going to a travel agent, to see what they can do.
They have.. knowings.
When I wanted a one-year-return-ticket to, hah, go from NZ to Canada; my friendly local travel agent got me a ticket which had an initial return date of six-months later or thereabouts, with the flexibility to change the date to up to one year after my departure date.
I wasn't able to change the return date beyond one year, though, so if you end up staying longer than a year you might end up forfeiting the return flight.
posted by ambilevous at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010
They have.. knowings.
When I wanted a one-year-return-ticket to, hah, go from NZ to Canada; my friendly local travel agent got me a ticket which had an initial return date of six-months later or thereabouts, with the flexibility to change the date to up to one year after my departure date.
I wasn't able to change the return date beyond one year, though, so if you end up staying longer than a year you might end up forfeiting the return flight.
posted by ambilevous at 7:46 AM on October 23, 2010
Response by poster: We ended up going to a travel agent, who provided us with information that we hadn't found. We booked a ticket with a twelve month validity and a return date as far in the future as possible. The agent even suggested that we may be able to negate any change fees by stating that we weren't able to book the full validity of our ticket.
posted by vansly at 2:10 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by vansly at 2:10 PM on October 23, 2010
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posted by vansly at 1:47 AM on October 23, 2010