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Booking flight with unknown return date

Crispy_Ambulance
Posts: 3,826 Forumite

My son is going to be travelling to the US in August for a year abroad as part of his degree. He is not planning to come home for Christmas as we have family in the states that he is planning to visit, so he won't be flying home until probably June/July 2024. I was just wondering about the cheapest way to manage the flight booking - my plan is to book with a carrier like BA who will allow changes with a fee, and to book a return flight with the return date being as late (and as cheap) as possible right now. This would seem to be May 2024. Once his post study travel plans are a bit more settled, we will then pay to amend his return date which may also incur an additional cost for the difference in price.
I couldn't see a more MSE way of doing this - flexible tickets seem to cost considerably more and still have restrictions. Have I missed anything and is there another way to do it?
I couldn't see a more MSE way of doing this - flexible tickets seem to cost considerably more and still have restrictions. Have I missed anything and is there another way to do it?
"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."
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Comments
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The only other option, if you had the avios points, would be a reward flight as changes to those are free rather than £50/£80
Two separate one way flights would be much more expensive with a flag carrier like BA.1 -
If you dont mind a low cost carrier then Norse Atlantic fly to the US and sell their tickets as one-way tickets so you can simply book the ticket you need when you need it.1
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DullGreyGuy said:The only other option, if you had the avios points, would be a reward flight as changes to those are free rather than £50/£80
Two separate one way flights would be much more expensive."Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."0 -
tightauldgit said:If you dont mind a low cost carrier then Norse Atlantic fly to the US and sell their tickets as one-way tickets so you can simply book the ticket you need when you need it."Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."0
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Have you tried travel firms aimed at students?
My son once bought a round the world ticket, where he picked the flights, but the only fixed date was the first leg. How long he subsequently spent in each place was up to him.1 -
Nebulous2 said:Have you tried travel firms aimed at students?
My son once bought a round the world ticket, where he picked the flights, but the only fixed date was the first leg. How long he subsequently spent in each place was up to him."Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."0 -
Crispy_Ambulance said:tightauldgit said:If you dont mind a low cost carrier then Norse Atlantic fly to the US and sell their tickets as one-way tickets so you can simply book the ticket you need when you need it.0
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Crispy_Ambulance said:Nebulous2 said:Have you tried travel firms aimed at students?
My son once bought a round the world ticket, where he picked the flights, but the only fixed date was the first leg. How long he subsequently spent in each place was up to him.
You did try agencies specialising in students to see if they could give a price for a flexible return, or you looked at round the world fares?
I may have caused a diversion there, by linking the two.1 -
Nebulous2 said:Crispy_Ambulance said:Nebulous2 said:Have you tried travel firms aimed at students?
My son once bought a round the world ticket, where he picked the flights, but the only fixed date was the first leg. How long he subsequently spent in each place was up to him.
You did try agencies specialising in students to see if they could give a price for a flexible return, or you looked at round the world fares?
I may have caused a diversion there, by linking the two.
it seems as though the host university do a lot for the exchange students once they are there but they don’t get much info from their current Uni before they go. Still, it will be a great experience for him"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."1 -
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