Fly out seperately, fly back together?

alexalexalex

Hi,

My girlfriend and i are planning to go to Thailand in May. She will be going out at the very start of May, I will be going out to meet her around the 17th-18th and we will be coming home together at the end of May.

She wants to fly direct, especially as she will be flying alone on the way there, i don't mind - i would rather the cheapest way and on the way home i think i could convince her to get a flight with a stop if its cheaper as she will be with me.

What do you all think would be the best (cheapest) way of doing all this bearing in mind we want to come home together? would we need to go to a travel agent to make sure all the details are correct? i would prefer to book online as there seems to be some cheaper deals about and maybe cashback but i dont think my girlfriend would be too happy at travelling seperately just to save a few pounds!

Thanks

alanrowell

I'd start playing with a search engine like https://www.kayak.co.uk and book it as two trips - one for you, one for her

alexalexalex

alanrowell wrote: »

I'd start playing with a search engine like www.kayak.co.uk and book it as two trips - one for you, one for her

that's pretty much what i've been doing so far but how will we be able to make sure we will be together on the way back?

also, as it seems to be cheaper getting a flight thats stops off somewjere, would it possible to find her a flight that is direct on the way there and stops off on the way back or do companies generally not offer this kind of thing?

omelette451

alexalexalex wrote: »

that's pretty much what i've been doing so far but how will we be able to make sure we will be together on the way back?

also, as it seems to be cheaper getting a flight thats stops off somewjere, would it possible to find her a flight that is direct on the way there and stops off on the way back or do companies generally not offer this kind of thing?

Even if it's two different bookings if you check in together you'll be given seats together (assuming they're available, that is!)

Airlines do offer varying direct/indirect routings, but generally only if it's the same company or alliance. For example, you will be able to go Thai Airways direct one way and Singapore Airlines or Lufthansa indirect the other as they are both members of the Star Alliance network. However, the cheap deals to Asia nowadays are mostly via the Middle East (Ethiad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air), which are not members of alliances and do not offer shared through-ticketing except on a very small number of codeshare routes (usually to/from the US/Canada). If you want to make use of the cheap tickets you'll both have to book return fares via the Gulf. This really isn't anything to worry about, and she'll be perfectly fine on her own. If she still isn't interested I'm afraid it's likely to cost you quite a bit more.

alexalexalex

omelette451 wrote: »

Even if it's two different bookings if you check in together you'll be given seats together (assuming they're available, that is!)

thats what i thought but my girlfriend is under the impression that we will get assigned seats when we book the tickets.

I we were to book one journey for her going out on the 1st and returning on the 30th and a seperate journey for me going out on the 18th and coming back on the 30th, as long as we are on the same flight home on the 30th will we be able to sit together (as long as there is space?)

I take it the same rules would apply if its a direct flight or if it stops off somewhere too?

alanrowell

alexalexalex wrote: »

thats what i thought but my girlfriend is under the impression that we will get assigned seats when we book the tickets.

Some airlines - generally American - allow you to select seats when you book but you aren't guaranteed those seats.

Some airlines - eg BA - don't allow you to select seats in steerage until 24 hours before departure

In any case just turn up to the airport together and check-in together. There shouldn't be a problem getting seats together

Amys

Most airlines will allow you to link the bookings

omelette451

Even if you can select your seats when booking, just make sure you choose ones next to each other! If you make your booking around the same time it's highly unlikely someone else will choose the one you want. It would help to pick ones with no other ones booked around them (generally the front gets chosen first, so select ones near the back), as people are unlikely to select seats next to someone else when there are plenty of empty rows nearby. I've not heard of anyone getting allocated seats (rather than choosing them) when booking. In any case it won't be a problem doing it at check-in: very few (if any) airlines assign all seats before check-in.