Flights To Thailand For A One Year Validity...

[rribblerat]

Hi folks...

Been serching various Airline websites, trying to book a flight to Thailand leaveing at the end of October 07 and returning to the U.K on the 20 th of July 08...

But the problem is that i can only reserve return dates as far as April 08. So the question is can any one tell me of a website that i can book a flight this early for the dates i have given, i know its a good few months in the future, but just want to make sure that i get the best flight possible i.e price wise and Airline, have flown before with Emirates and gulf and royal Jordanian, i found both gulf and royal to be OK but Emirates was much better, so i have an idea of what Airline i want, i just want to book my flight and get it out the way, then i can start looking for insurance,and how to look after my banking whilst im travelling...

Many thanks to all...

P.S. Cant wait to get on that plane at the end of October, Ah a cold beer in the sun bliss....

[ovenman]

As far as I know this is impossible as described. As you indicate, the airline websites only allow for bookings a year in advance so there is no magic website that will allow you reserve a ticket for a date further than a year out.

However, you may be able to do one of two things: 1) book a ticket with a one-year open return, 2) book a one-year ticket with a changeable return date and supply a bogus initial return date simply to get the ticket booked.

[Soju]

I'll second Oveman's comments. I doubt many websites will allow you to book an open return as they typically don't seem to have that option. But if you just book the return for some arbitrary date and check to be sure the ticket is changeable, then you should have no problem in calling the airline and changing the ticket after it's issued. I've done this several times in the past.

[onebir]

But if you just book the return for some arbitrary date and check to be sure the ticket is changeable, then you should have no problem in calling the airline and changing the ticket after it's issued. I've done this several times in the past.

I contacted Air New Zealand about this question specifically. They said to book with an arbitrary date & then contact the call centre, where they'd give me a free date change. (from what I hear, Air NZ are pretty liberal with free date changes anyway...)

[ovenman]

Bottom line is that you need to be careful about whatever course of action you choose to take. You should contact the airline directly to confirm your understanding of the fare rules, fees for changing return dates, etc. You need to make sure that the ticket you purchase will allow a return date as far in the future as you desire, i.e. don't get sucked into buying a cheap three-month's return ticket only to find that you cannot change to the desired return date nine months beyond your departure. As Soju points out, web booking engines as a rule do not allow booking of an open return date although the open return option may well be allowed per the fare rules (and may be bookable directly with an airline agent).