Dec 05 2008
Possibly Burned Again By Booking Flights in Advance
At these volunteering projects there is always talk of possible extensions. The Hands On deployment to Peru in late 2007 was extended by a couple of months and the Bangladesh project in January 2008 went on for an extra month. Last night we were all informed that, if the stars align and partnerships with UNICEF and Oxfam pan out, this current project will go until late February, at least.
I would jump at the chance to stay for longer but, as things stand now, I have two flights lined up for mid January, one to Miami and then from there to Buenos Aires. I’m loving it here right now! I’m surrounded by a great group of volunteers, both local and Haitian, the work we’re doing is challenging and rewarding, and Haiti itself is a very interesting place. It sucks to think that I might have to give up on the opportunity to stay for the sake of a couple of plane tickets.
I seem to have found myself in this situation a few times since starting my travels in January and it makes me ask the question: How long should I wait before booking my onward flights? I only tend to book onward flights well in advance when my plans are set in stone or if I need one to make it through immigration for my next destination. I have since realised that no plans are set in stone and that’s how I like it. Unfortunately though, the reality is that waiting until the last possible moment to buy a plane ticket could potentially end up costing thousands.
I didn’t really want to buy my tickets out of Haiti, but it’s a very expensive place to fly from and I wasn’t too keen to get stranded here. I saw some cheap flights, bought them on the spot and, as a result, locked myself into a set leaving date. Is there a limit to the price you’re willing to pay for travel freedom? Is a super cheap flight worth giving up a bit of your flexibility? Maybe I should start having no plans whatsoever and just roam around willy nilly.
I am seriously considering staying longer here, even if I can’t change my current ticket. It’ll cost me a fortune on lost flights but, in the end, it’s only money. It would be a shame to leave a good thing early for the sake of a cheap flight.
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“it’s only money.”
I think that sums up what you should do next time, yeah? I found that the people are what makes each destination great - and you’re not going to know what kind of people you’ll run into until you get there.
So I’d rather pay a little more so I can hold onto a good thing for as long as I can rather than save and leave. Especially since it sounds like you’re making a good passive income.
Been following your site for a while, very impressed. Would like to do this once I get my act together. Keep up the good work.
- Chris
I know what you mean, I tend to book flights just days before, well one way anyway.
When you book flights Kirsty do you look for ones where you can change the dates?
You always pay more for the flexibility but it’s generally worth it in the long run as a lot of these cheap deals are locked in..
When I’m on the road I usually book either a one-way ticket to my first destination, or a round-trip with a flexible date of up to a year. I wouldn’t be able to have locked-in, sequenced flights - there’s no question I’d miss them all.
The exceptions I make are for onward travel, when visas require you to have a ticket.
I can’t count the number of times my plans have changed… I was headed up East Africa to Cairo when I got stopped in Eritrea by the closure of the border with Sudan. I had initially planned on flying out of Cairo but I’m glad I never bought the ticket - or it would have been lost. And I have a number of stories of a similar ilk.
Moral of my story? Unless I’m heading off on a short vacation or have an obligation, I buy the first leg out. Period.
kirsty-
if you do head to buenos aires, feel free to hit me up for a few tips. i’ve been here for 4m+ this year and it rules
kareem
I’ve just been thinking about buying open tickets. Hope they don’t cost too much more, but like Working Nomad said it is probably worth it in the long run.
[…] It’s official. Hands On’s deployment to Gonaives, Haiti has been extended until February 28th and I have some decisions to make. Expensive ones. I, once again, overplanned and bought plane tickets down to my supposed next destination, Buenos Aires, in advance. […]