Buying flights to USA from US website

bobby9205

Has anyone bought flights to USA using a US website therefore avoiding our outrageous taxes and getting cheaper flights?
We have friends in the US that can buy flights for us using a (and we reimburse them we we arrive) and due to many of the Airlines now using "e" tickets etc would we get away with this? Speaking to a friend who used to work for Quantas, he states they may need to see the credit card it was booked on - which maybe a problem.

Would it be possible for our US friends to ring the airline stating they are buying the flights for us as a present?


Any advice welcome.

Many thanks.

Teahfc

I had relatives book internal flights and also to Costa rica from Stateside and was never asked about any Credit cards.

cundall

Yes booked 4 flights this year... Not had a problems though Expedia now have a warning about doing this.

Last flight was from MAN to LAX in Sept for my mother... no issues.

Note tax issues are now about the same as it works on the departure place.

nico26

Ive had to show my credit card for flights been booked online a few times now.Think it all depends on the airline.An anti fraud precaution I assume. Jet Airways and iberia being two of them. I was abroad at the time of booking and was going to book Expedia usa but noticed the warning and didnt do it.

nickcollett

I'm off to America in under 2 weeks time and booked my flights through a US site and as far as I know it has all been paid for, have my ticket confirmation numbers & I have picked my seat(s) on the plane(s) already so all is good.

Voyager2002

Note: you do NOT avoid taxes by doing this. The governments involved receive exactly the same amount, no matter where the tickets are bought.

Airlines and travel agents may offer different fares in different markets, and may use the term "taxes and charges" to make the higher cost of buying in one market appear to be the government's fault. It is not. They also use the billing address of the credit card used for payment to make it harder for people based in one country to buy tickets at fares offered in another one.

The simple way round this is to contact your card company and ask them to change your billing address. This takes a few minutes; once you have bought the tickets you change it back.

Most airline web sites warn that the credit card used to pay for the tickets may be needed at check in. I know of people who were unable to fly (and did not get a refund either) because they could not produce the appropriate card. However, there is always provision to use your card to pay for someone else. On the BA site you tick a box to say that this is what you are doing: other airlines have different ways of handling this issue, but all are keen to sell tickets and do not want to discourage generosity.