Tips for purchasing tickets in Nepal for your visiting relatives

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May 7,2009

An increasing number of Nepali relatives visit the US each year, and Zen Travels has made ticketing arrangements for many relatives through our Thamel office. We realize that the safety and comfort of your relatives are as important to you as the price of the plane tickets.  While shopping for an inexpensive ticket is an always an important consideration, we also provide here a few tips to help you avoid paying exorbitant fees later if you have to extend their trip or change travel dates.

Questions about the plane ticket pricing

• What is the validity of the tickets? Some tickets have a very short validity, which means that you  cannot extend the ticket beyond 2 to 4 months. If the return dates are certain, this might not be a concern at all.   If you are not sure when your relatives want to return look for tickets that have either six or twelve month validity so you have the option of extending the trip.
• What is the cost to change the return dates? This should be factored in because the costs to change the dates range from zero to USD 400 plus any airline surcharges.
• Open return tickets? Having an open return ticket does not confirm your return.  Even though you have a ticket, airlines may be overbooked during peak times - especially Christmas, summer holidays, and Dashain.
• Are these tickets refundable? Some tickets are non-refundable after the outbound portion has been used, and those tickets that are refundable lose almost tickets lose about 70% for a return refund.
• What is the cancellation charge? This is always good to know in case something unexpected arises.

Tips for selecting routes and airlines

• Take a highly reputable airline to minimize the chance of delays and cancelations along the way, which would further complicate the journey.
• Take flights with fewer transit points and no more than 4 hours of layover in transit if possible.
• Arrange the flight so that someone is there to meet your relatives at the port of entry, or be there yourself.
• If your relatives need a travel companion, fly through one of the more popular routes so your relatives are able to find other Nepali passengers.
• Each airline has its own routes and schedules.  Request the travel agency to explain the routes in both directions as some airlines have very indirect long layovers or complicated routes in the return.
• Make sure that you have the appropriate visas for transit, mainly, if your travel occurs through London and Hong Kong

Flight service

• Some airlines have meet and greet options which would provide an escort-like service along the journey.
• For elderly and disabled passengers, wheelchair service can be requested.
• Request any special meal needs in advance such as vegetarian, Hindu, or low cholesterol.

At the port of entry (first stop in the US)

• Allow a minimum of three hours before a connecting flight in case there are any complications with immigrations or customs. Even if your relatives do not have a problem themselves, other passengers may have issues that create delays for everyone else.

Prior to flight

• Ensure that the passenger has all contact information in the US and Nepal in case the airline or immigration staff need contact you.
• Have travel agency reconfirm flights 2-3 days before departure just in case the flight schedules have changed.
• For passengers unable to speak English, download and complete a copy of Memo for Nepali travelers unable to speak English from fly2nepal.com/downloads and attach it with tickets and other traveling documents.