MilesBuzz! - Exchange student looking for way home

We have a foriegn exchange student from Berlin area at our high school that is very home sick. I would love to get her
a ticket home for the holidays. I have accounts with MR, Delta, Contenental, United, Alaska, SPG. I was wondering if anyone here could advise me on the best way to get a ticket this late in the year for something like that? I need to go from Oregon (any airport) to Berlin. I have never flown internationally, so I have no idea the best way to secure tickets.

You don't say how many miles you have in each program. Check the website for each of the airlines you mentioned and look up how many miles you need for a ticket from the US to Europe. If you have enough, then call the inernational award desk for that airline, give them the approximate dates of travel, and ask them if they have space available for an award ticket. You can also search for available space through the airline website. If you book it through the website, there will be no booking fee. If you book over the phone, there will likely be a booking fee, typically $25.

Assuming she has enough miles for the ticket, she is probably better off calling the airline to check availability. For example, on the UA web site you can not check flight availability on any of the partner airlines like LH.

Also, if she gets a good agent, they will know what routings to check as it can get very complicated in that I assume the student would be willing to make 2 or 3 connections.

If you don't have enough miles for a ticket to Europe, you could at least get the student to Newark (EWR) using miles for the student to fly on Continental's nonstop to Berlin (TXL), or to New York (JFK) for the student to fly on Delta's nonstop or on numerous connecting flights. The Continental flight might be cheapest, but of course it depends on the date. There's also Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) which offers connecting flights from JFK to Berlin via Dusseldorf for a good fare.

Its going to be tough depending on how close to xmas it is. I'm having a tough time getting some award travel domestic, nevermind international.

DMH

Why not try and fly in one of the parents/good friend? - it would make the next 6 months much more bearable for the exchange student. I'd think she'd dread flying back to the US after going home for the holidays.

AFAIK Lufthansa flies nonstop Portland OR - Frankfurt, and there from its just a one hour flight to Berlin! Lufthansa is in the Star Alliance, as with CO and UA!

OT:
Btw. I have been in that position as your exchange student, however I was recommended not to go home for the holiday, (and didn't), as it would most likely ruin the rest of the schoolyear! I lived in WA at that time...

Award tickets during the holidays can be difficult, assuming you are using the ones for lower mileage. I have only recent experience with AA, but you can pay double the miles get seats. Additionally, in my opionion, economy awards generally go before the other classes. When AA had economy "saaver" tickets not available for 25K domestically, they would still have 45K first class seats. This was quite beneficial, as the choice was often do I spend 50K for economy or 45K for first class :). Of course, it is now 50K for first class, but still a no brainer if you have to be somewhere.

>>. back to the OP's issue.
You need to check with the carriers to determine if they have ability.
As noted by someone else, you might be able to check what the carrier has online, but not what one of there partners have. There are many ways to get to Germany. Additionally, with excellent rail transport in many parts of Europe, and student discounts, flying to Berlin shouldn't be a requirement.

If actually purchasing a ticket, there are student travel agencies that specialize in this sort of thing. Also, you can use a search engine like kayak.com to search many sites at once. If might also easier/cheaper out of Seattle.

You're a great exchange student mom! Very kind of you to send your visitor home for the holidays! One thing to check for before buying a ticket is that your student's visa allows multiple entries.

You'll likely need 50-60k miles for a coach ticket to Europe. Do you have that amount in any one account? Is so, why don't you post the airline(s) and dates, so we can help you find available seats.

Delta just reduced some of its rates to Berlin. If you are thinking of going with them, you might check again.

Romelle

You're a great exchange student mom! Very kind of you to send your visitor home for the holidays! ies.



Sorry, a bit OT.

Not necessarily. Part of the exchange student experience is being in the host country to participate in the culture which includes the holidays. I think most of those involved in student exchange programs would agree.

Sorry, a bit OT.

Not necessarily. Part of the exchange student experience is being in the host country to participate in the culture which includes the holidays. I think most of those involved in student exchange programs would agree.

I agree with this statement, having hosted exchange students myself and placing them here in the US. I would highly recommend talking to your area representative for advise or asking how other host families in the area have dealt with this situation. I could give you some advise- you can always send me a PM but do try talking with your area representative first.

My best guess is that she wont return to the US if she is so homesick.

I am not the host family, just a mom of a friend of the student. She has decided to stay here and not go home for the holidays. We will be taking her skiing and keeping her busy doing all kinds of other things here for the season.

I am not the host family, just a mom of a friend of the student. She has decided to stay here and not go home for the holidays. We will be taking her skiing and keeping her busy doing all kinds of other things here for the season.
Much better idea. Having been a student in Europe, one of the best things I did was to overcome the homesick urge and stay for the holidays.