Can I make a plane reservation for my mother?
Feb 27th, 2005, 07:48 PM
#1
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Can I make a plane reservation for my mother?
Sorry, this may be a lame question but for some reason I am thinking this may not be possible. Here are the circumstances...
My husband and I are traveling to Ireland to visit with my mother (who is an American Citizen, but born in Ireland) who lives there-and has lived there for 30 years.
The thing is that she is coming back to the US with us. She has sold her house and is planning on moving back to the US and that is why we are going to get her. She is 81 and the trip might be a bit much for her on her own.
So, her ticket would be a one-way.
I plan on making our reservations on-line, can I just make her a reservation (one-way)?
Thanks for any help/information!
Shadow
My husband and I are traveling to Ireland to visit with my mother (who is an American Citizen, but born in Ireland) who lives there-and has lived there for 30 years.
The thing is that she is coming back to the US with us. She has sold her house and is planning on moving back to the US and that is why we are going to get her. She is 81 and the trip might be a bit much for her on her own.
So, her ticket would be a one-way.
I plan on making our reservations on-line, can I just make her a reservation (one-way)?
Thanks for any help/information!
Shadow
Feb 27th, 2005, 07:57 PM
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I would think you could..a travel agent could, why not you?
If there were any questions, just giving the information would satisfy anyone.
What a time of changes and excitement for you and your mom, yes?
Good luck~
If there were any questions, just giving the information would satisfy anyone.
What a time of changes and excitement for you and your mom, yes?
Good luck~
Feb 27th, 2005, 07:58 PM
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It's not a lame question at all.
Buying a one for a third party, one-way to the United States, is probably going to raise a few flags here in this age of terrorism, or, more accurately, age of crazy cowards with weapons.
I'm afraid you'll have to call the airline and speak with an actual person as opposed to doing the whole thing online. I'm sure there is a way. ^_^
Buying a one for a third party, one-way to the United States, is probably going to raise a few flags here in this age of terrorism, or, more accurately, age of crazy cowards with weapons.
I'm afraid you'll have to call the airline and speak with an actual person as opposed to doing the whole thing online. I'm sure there is a way. ^_^
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:01 PM
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Not sure that would work if Mum is only on the return leg. You can't book her for both legs and have her not be on the outbound, because that would casuse her reservation to cancel. You certainly can reserve online, though, just call the airline (or whatever service you are using) to complete the purchase. Some airlines now charge an extra fee for phone purchase, but if you explain that it is not possible to complete such a purchase online they may waive the fee.
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:03 PM
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Depends if the site requires the credit cardholder to be one of the travelers. You can't book her for both legs and have her not be on the outbound, because that would casuse her reservation to cancel.
Some airlines now charge an extra fee for phone purchase, but if you explain that it is not possible to complete such a purchase online they may waive the fee.
BTW, it may actually be cheaper than a OW fare to purchase a RT for her and just toss the return portion.
Some airlines now charge an extra fee for phone purchase, but if you explain that it is not possible to complete such a purchase online they may waive the fee.
BTW, it may actually be cheaper than a OW fare to purchase a RT for her and just toss the return portion.
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:08 PM
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The fee is only $5.00 or $10.00 for reserving by phone so in this case I think it would be money well spent. So an extra cost of say $30.00 for 3 tickets. I would not try to book online.
I too would call the airline. This would be the quickest and certainly the most assured way to get your answers and proper reservations made.
I assume your mother has an up to date passport.
A big change for all of you. My best wishes.
I too would call the airline. This would be the quickest and certainly the most assured way to get your answers and proper reservations made.
I assume your mother has an up to date passport.
A big change for all of you. My best wishes.
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:15 PM
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My parents often travel with us, and at least twice I have reserved their flights and paid for them online with my credit card, mainly because they are not computer-savvy and besides their computer crashed. There was no problem. When you book online, you just have to fill in the name/s of the passengers. They don't care who is paying for it. Since your mother is an American citizen, I don't see why there would be a problem.
That said, I agree that it will probably be cheaper to buy her a roundtrip ticket and just not use the return portion back to Ireland, as often a one-way ticket is more expensive than the roundtrip. The only time you run into the problem is if you don't use the first half of a roundtrip ticket (as noted, the return portion will automatically be cancelled).
That said, I agree that it will probably be cheaper to buy her a roundtrip ticket and just not use the return portion back to Ireland, as often a one-way ticket is more expensive than the roundtrip. The only time you run into the problem is if you don't use the first half of a roundtrip ticket (as noted, the return portion will automatically be cancelled).
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:25 PM
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Mimosa, usually a one way ticket cost way more then a round trip ticket.
However, what is the name of the Irish airline??? Someone?
I ask because it seems to me that I read some months ago that the Irish airline (wish I could remember the name of the airline) now had one way tickets for half the cost of round trip tickets, which most airlines don't.
I don't know where you live Shadow. It seems like one airport they fly in and out of was LAX.
I hope someone here post the name of the airline, it would be a good airline to check out.
However, what is the name of the Irish airline??? Someone?
I ask because it seems to me that I read some months ago that the Irish airline (wish I could remember the name of the airline) now had one way tickets for half the cost of round trip tickets, which most airlines don't.
I don't know where you live Shadow. It seems like one airport they fly in and out of was LAX.
I hope someone here post the name of the airline, it would be a good airline to check out.
Feb 27th, 2005, 08:54 PM
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Shadow, the Irish airline is AerLingus.
Go to the website, they do fly in and out of a lot of US airports.
I would not reserve online but play around with the flights to get an idea of the cost. Hope this helps.
Go to the website, they do fly in and out of a lot of US airports.
I would not reserve online but play around with the flights to get an idea of the cost. Hope this helps.
Feb 27th, 2005, 09:23 PM
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Everyone:thanks! Good advice. We have not made OUR reservations yet but were thinking of Continental...we like flying LAX to Newark (gives you a break) than on to Shannon-and, actually, my mom does not want to fly non-stop for that reason.
I will call the airline and ask some questions and then decide what to do for sure.
And,yes, bringing here here will be a hugh change for us....we are praying it will all work out...much more to this story than I can tell here...
I really appreciate all your help...
I will let you know what happens.
Shadow
I will call the airline and ask some questions and then decide what to do for sure.
And,yes, bringing here here will be a hugh change for us....we are praying it will all work out...much more to this story than I can tell here...
I really appreciate all your help...
I will let you know what happens.
Shadow
Feb 28th, 2005, 05:19 AM
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Hi shadow,
This might be a time when a TA is useful.
Tell your TA that you want to Fly RT US/Ireland and Mom is flying RT Ireland/US.
You want her to be on the same plane with you on the Ireland to US leg(s).
The TA should be able to place you all close together, even in 3 across if you want that.
Mom doesn't have to return.
This might be a time when a TA is useful.
Tell your TA that you want to Fly RT US/Ireland and Mom is flying RT Ireland/US.
You want her to be on the same plane with you on the Ireland to US leg(s).
The TA should be able to place you all close together, even in 3 across if you want that.
Mom doesn't have to return.
Feb 28th, 2005, 05:45 AM
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On CO online this would be quite easy, in steps -
1. check out and reserve (but don't purchase just yet) the desired itinerary for you & DH.
2. Set up an itinerary for Mum with the same SNN_EWR_LAX leg and if seats are available, go ahead and purchase.
3. Go back and purchase the reservation you made in step 1
Note that you may ned to jockey around a bit to find the exact itinerary that gives the best price (thus the reserve first, purchase later scheme). And it may or may not be necessary to purchase a RT for Mum - I just checked CO and they indeed have a $398 OW fare for 3/14/05.
1. check out and reserve (but don't purchase just yet) the desired itinerary for you & DH.
2. Set up an itinerary for Mum with the same SNN_EWR_LAX leg and if seats are available, go ahead and purchase.
3. Go back and purchase the reservation you made in step 1
Note that you may ned to jockey around a bit to find the exact itinerary that gives the best price (thus the reserve first, purchase later scheme). And it may or may not be necessary to purchase a RT for Mum - I just checked CO and they indeed have a $398 OW fare for 3/14/05.
Feb 28th, 2005, 05:52 AM
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U.S. re-entry is likely to be challenging for your mom -- or anyone else who's been an expatriate for decades. Since no need goes unmet in America, I suspect books have been written about just that. Does anyone know of one?
Feb 28th, 2005, 10:11 AM
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Hello Dave, that was something I wondered about. But people do stay out of the country for a long time and then return so it must not be a big problem, but since 911 I would sure want to get accurate details.
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