Does anyone have airline questions? Ask me!

Is it possible to donate your frequent flyer miles to someone in particular?  (I know you can donate them to organizations.)

Yes, you can donate miles.

I'm looking at flights to go to the US for Christmas, and my old standby StarAlliance flights are now $100 or £60 more expensive than anything else (SkyTeam/OneWorld companies), when they used to be that much cheaper!  Has anyone else noticed this, or have the prices just not dropped yet?  Do the different groups alter their prices at different times? I've never really noticed this before.

Normally I wait about 4-6 weeks before departure to book, so maybe the fact that I'm looking a bit earlier than I usually would has something to do with it?? I know travel around the holidays is always a bit more pricey than usual, but with impending visa application fees, I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible this time around...

This is a great thread I appreciate your effort and time in maintaining.

I have a couple of things to add to previous posts:

Upgrades: many airlines don't give upgrades to everybody.  There is the official company policy, and then there is the human policy. Being nice to check-in and gate agents is key, but how you are dressed can make a difference. Yeah, not fair but airlines are sensitive to customers who actually paid full fare for seats in Biz or 1st. Unless you are a celebrity (and even they get denied), talking with an agent about getting an upgrade while dressed like an extra from Walking Dead, could mean someone else gets your upgrade.  If you want that comfy seat, it's worth the little effort to dress in comfortable (not necessarily expensive) clothes you'd wear to a casual dinner with the boss.

One thing I started doing after a mid air bump caused me to arrive with a massive shirt stain smack in the center of my boobs, is to carry a change of tops. I started this when flying with my kids when they were young. I'd stick one of my tshirts in their little carry ons. After we took off, I'd put the tshirts on over the clothes they wore. Because it was long on them, it caught spills better than a bib or a napkin. Before we touched down, t-shirts off, kids picture ready for hugs from grandma with outfits ready for duty another day. So now I do the same for myself. It can be any top I don't care about getting stained and if I already got the upgrade, who cares how it looks!

My cousin is going over with us to help me and my husband get settled. She is willing and able to spend that time on us and I couldn't do it without her.

I am assuming that UK husband and I (ILE) won't need to buy return tickets. My cousin will need one but isn't really sure when she will return as that depends on our situation. She said she can go ahead and buy it and then change the return date for a fee of about 150.00 dollars. Is this how she would do it?

Thanks.

Yes, that's fine.

I don't think that's OK....it says on the UKBA website one of the major requirements to enter on a tourist visa is:

"is genuinely seeking entry as a general visitor for a limited period as stated by him"

I'm not a pro, but I take this to mean that you're only allowed to stay in the U.K. based on how long you tell the IO. I've heard of stories of people getting into problems later on because they say they're staying for 2 weeks, but then change their plane tickets and stay for 4 months.

I'm looking at flights to go to the US for Christmas, and my old standby StarAlliance flights are now $100 or £60 more expensive than anything else (SkyTeam/OneWorld companies), when they used to be that much cheaper!  Has anyone else noticed this, or have the prices just not dropped yet?  Do the different groups alter their prices at different times? I've never really noticed this before.

Normally I wait about 4-6 weeks before departure to book, so maybe the fact that I'm looking a bit earlier than I usually would has something to do with it?? I know travel around the holidays is always a bit more pricey than usual, but with impending visa application fees, I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible this time around...

I'm wondering about this as well...

I don't think that's OK....it says on the UKBA website one of the major requirements to enter on a tourist visa is:

"is genuinely seeking entry as a general visitor for a limited period as stated by him"

I'm not a pro, but I take this to mean that you're only allowed to stay in the U.K. based on how long you tell the IO. I've heard of stories of people getting into problems later on because they say they're staying for 2 weeks, but then change their plane tickets and stay for 4 months.

Well, there's a difference between lying to the immigration officer and telling them you are staying for 2 weeks when you really plan to change your ticket and stay for 6 months, and genuinely intending to stay for 2 weeks and then finding that your plans change unexpectedly and you end up deciding to stay a bit longer.

There's nothing wrong with changing your return ticket if you have a genuine reason to do so, but the problems come when you use deception (by buying a return ticket for a different date than when you intend to leave) and then lie to immigration about how long you intend to stay in the UK.

I don't think that's OK....it says on the UKBA website one of the major requirements to enter on a tourist visa is:

"is genuinely seeking entry as a general visitor for a limited period as stated by him"

I'm not a pro, but I take this to mean that you're only allowed to stay in the U.K. based on how long you tell the IO. I've heard of stories of people getting into problems later on because they say they're staying for 2 weeks, but then change their plane tickets and stay for 4 months.

A visitor visa is valid for six months, full stop.

However, should there later be some reason to compare the landing card and officer's notes with the travel history, for example as part of a settlement visa application, my understanding is that the person may be asked to explain the discrepancy.  As previously stated, it is perfectly reasonable to change one's itinerary whilst in the country but unreasonable and illegal to enter the country already intending to do so.  So one must keep that in mind when forming a response should UKBA should ask about it at some future time.

I'm wondering about [when to buy airline tickets] as well...

Well, for most of the year, there's a sweet spot about a month prior to the flight where most of the fare sales are in effect but there are still seats left to sell at those fares.

For the holidays, I'm seeing that the flights are filling up already, so it's probably wise to book ASAP.

Keep in mind that most airlines and travel agents will refund the difference if a lower fare should become available after you book, so check with your airline or travel site for their policy.  If they offer a low-fare guarantee, then go ahead and book.

A visitor visa is valid for six months, full stop.

I've heard of some cases where the IO writes in a curtailed period of stay on the stamp, is that true? Even though you get the six month stamp they might only grant you several weeks entry because they have doubt of your intentions.

As for explaining it down the road, the stories I heard that got people into trouble were people who were deceitful in their intent--most usually internet hook-ups who buy plane tickets for 2 week visits, with the intent of changing them to 6 months.

Then come (if it gets to that point) spouse/fiance visa time...uh oh....

It is possible to get a visitor's visa for a particular period of time, but that would be very clearly specified on the stamp. I don't believe you would get a six month stamp at all.

I've heard of some cases where the IO writes in a curtailed period of stay on the stamp, is that true? Even though you get the six month stamp they might only grant you several weeks entry because they have doubt of your intentions.

Well, they don't have to let you in for 6 months, but in general 6 months is the standard visitor visa length, so if a visitor is let in with no issues and immigration believes them to be a geniune visitor, then they will get a 6-month stamp (or if they apply for a visitor visa before flying, then it should be valid for 6 months).

However, if they are suspicious of the visitor's intentions, or don't believe they will leave when they say they will, then they may only stamp them for a few days or weeks... for example, just until the date on their return ticket.

I am traveling from Philadelphia to London in August 2012 (after Olympics), and at the moment tickets are expensive.  Is it worth waiting until much closer, e.g. May, in hope of seeing cheaper August tickets on sale?  Or, because end of Aug is peak travel time for US to UK, cheaper tickets are not likely and I might as well book them now.....?

H

I am traveling from Philadelphia to London in August 2012 (after Olympics), and at the moment tickets are expensive.  Is it worth waiting until much closer, e.g. May, in hope of seeing cheaper August tickets on sale?  Or, because end of Aug is peak travel time for US to UK, cheaper tickets are not likely and I might as well book them now.....?

H

"B": Late July and August are suuuper high - either coming or going to UK - due to summer holiday. I wouldn't forsee it going down at all.