How to Buy a Plane Ticket in Another Country

Buying a plane ticket in a country you are not familiar with can prove frustrating, but it gets easier once you know the system. If you plan to fly out of Europe or North America, you can easily compare fares and book tickets online. In many countries, e-tickets are not yet in use, so you will need to purchase and travel with paper tickets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Passport
Passport

Step 1

Decide on your country of departure. Travel agents in that country can only sell tickets for flights that originate there. For example, if you are in Pakistan and you want to fly from Pakistan to the U.S., you can buy tickets at an agent, directly through airline offices or online. On the other hand, if you plan to cross the border to India by land, then fly from India to the U.S., you will not be able to buy these tickets in Pakistan. You must contact a travel agent in India, your country of departure.

Step 2

Visit travel agents to see what fares they can get you if you reside in the country where your flight will originate. Call or visit airline offices to compare fares, and check to see if you can book fares online. In many countries you can get significant discounts by booking through an agent, but you alsomight be able to get special discounts by booking through the airline in person or online. If you resude in the country where your flight will originate, you will be limited to buying e-tickets unless you can visit that country before your flight to pick up the tickets. Paper tickets usually cannot be mailed internationally. For e-tickets, your best bet is to book online through local carriers, but you should call to confirm that e-tickets are issued if it is not explicitly stated.

Step 3

Ask the travel agent or airline agent about extra taxes or fees you will incur on top of the fare. Sometimes prices quoted might be without tax. Ask about fees and procedures for changing travel dates. Keep in mind that if you pull off an elaborate scheme to get a paper ticket, such as taking a trip to your departure country to pick it up, you will have to pull of that same elaborate scheme to change anything on your ticket. For example, if you are in Pakistan but plan to fly out of India, you can travel across the border to Amritsar and buy your plane ticket from an Indian agent. If you need to change anything on your ticket, you will have to go back to India again to do it.

Step 4

Purchase and book your plane ticket. In some countries you might be able to put a down payment on the ticket to hold your seat, then pay for the ticket in full later. In some countries you might need to pay the full amount in cash if credit and debit card facilities are not available. You will need to provide your passport information, and the person booking your ticket might require one or more photocopies of your passport. Usually you will need six months validity on your passport from your planned departure date. If your onward travel requires a visa, the agent might also need to see your visa. Bring all of your travel documents and photocopies of them to the travel agent or airline office when you book your ticket. If you book online, watch your email for your e-ticket to arrive. Double-check all information on the e-ticket.

Tips & Warnings

Ask locals how they usually buy plane tickets. You might find out right away that it's better to buy from agents or that you can get cheaper prices by booking directly. If you are eligible for student of youth travel discounts, see if there is an STA Travel agent (www.statravel.com) in your country of departure.

Beware of fraud. The more official anairline office or agency appears to be, the better. If you can get a recommendation from a resident expatriate or local friend, you can avoid getting duped by faux travel agents.

Resources

Article Written By Heather Carreiro

Heather Carreiro is a certified English teacher who has been writing since 2008. The editor of Matador Abroad, her work has appeared online at BootsnAll, Matador Network, GoNOMAD, Journey Beyond Travel and Expat Women. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Bridgewater State University.

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