getting us on same flight pattern

We're hoping to book Lee's flight for his move this week. I just have a couple of questions though. I want to get us on the same flight pattern so if we're booking a trip between the US/UK I can just book for both of us together. I think I read someone's post where s/he said that it's cheaper to book flights that start in the US? Is that true? If so is it because of taxes?

I'm thinking that by the time I would hopefully move to the UK with him next summer, I could have enough frequent flier miles for a free flight or part miles/part cash. Would it be best to save up miles for a free one-way flight and get us on the same pattern next year or should we get him a one-way flight here and the do round-trips "originating" in the US? Do airlines usually let you use miles for one-way flights?

What have those of you who did LDR and got together handle it? I don't really mind one way or the other, but if one will save us more money I'd rather do it that way!

flight pattern?
I dont really understand what you mean...

So they both end up on UK-US returns or US-UK returns, rather than Lee having a UK-US return and Scarlett having US-Uk returns, I think.

Flights that start in the US will be cheaper now I think, because oif the exchange rate.  BUt what about the visa situation.  If Lee is coming to the US permanently then it iwll be fine for him to have a one way ticket, but if you are going to be coming to the UK just as a visitor then you must have a return flight.

Have I got this right, or am I totally barking up the wrong tree?

Vicky

He's moving to the US for a year, right?  So if he gets a one way flight to the US (or even a return trip if it's cheaper and just not use the return) then you'll be based in the same area and should be able to book all your flights together (they'd need to be US-UK roundtrip because as Vicky said you will need a return flight if you're coming to the UK as a visitor.)

I'm not understanding the problem, really...?

Vicky, you have it right, that's what I mean.

It's not really a problem, I just thought I read it's cheaper to have US-UK round trip and was wondering if it was enough of a difference that it would matter. I would make sure that I had round trip US-UK flights if I was going on a visitor's visa. I was more thinking ahead since we really hope to be able to afford for me to move there next summer.

Tickets bought in the US are much cheaper, regardless of where the flight originates.

It's possible to buy a UK-US roundtrip on a US site in US dollars (not *all* sites, but some of them- I've done it myself with American Airlines.)

So we could still get US prices even if we're originating in the UK?

So we could still get US prices even if we're originating in the UK?

depends on who you buy the ticket from, but yes, it's possible with some sites/airlines.

So we could still get US prices even if we're originating in the UK?

United will do it. I just bought a ticket in USD originating from the UK.

BA unfortunately has UK and US websites.

We would usually go with either BA or Virgin, occasionally American. We both like Virgin the best. We'd usually fly LHR-Boston

When I looked at a one way ticket to the UK it was quite a bit more expensive than a return ticket. Leaving the same day on the same flight. Now this was for January that I was checking prices. The one way ticket was half as much more than the round trip ticket.  Go figure.

I would say find the Cheapest way to get him to the States, and then worry about your other flights together.

Here's a thought, probably can't do this based on "sometimes" needing proof of a return ticket, but, what if you bought a return ticket for him originating in the states and didn't use the first leg, just the second, UK to US, leg?

Here's a thought, probably can't do this based on "sometimes" needing proof of a return ticket, but, what if you bought a return ticket for him originating in the states and didn't use the first leg, just the second, UK to US, leg?

Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure that if you don't show up for the first flight (and you're not rescheduled onto another flight or otherwise accounted for), the airline will cancel your second flight.  I tried to "change" a BOS-ATL-MCO flight by dropping the ATL-MCO leg once and found out that if I left the plane in Atlanta and didn't continue on to Orlando, I'd have a nasty surprise in store when I tried to check in for the ATL-BOS return flight.  This was before 9/11, too, so I can't even imagine how much stricter the airlines must be these days....

Meg, from what I heard, I think you're right.

I do plan to just get him here and worry about it later. He is going back to England for Christmas so we have time. Plus, we're talking about moving via cruise as well.