Hi Folks
This is my first post in this forum and I would appreciate some help. I’m sorry for not being a regular member but my lack of knowledge would not add to this site anyhow. I do post regularly on sites that I know something about and always help people whenever I can and hope you would please be willing to do the same for me here. I have read through many postings and determined that the best I can do is just ask for help.
My Son will need to travel from the east coast of the US to Ghana (ACC) to spend his fall term (Jr. year) as an exchange student at the University of Ghana, Legon (not far from Accra).
He has commitments in Ithica NY until the morning of Aug 7, 2011 and then get to ACC as soon as possible (I guess NYC). He should return to Wilmington NC (ILM) or as close to there as possible (Raleigh/RDU, Myrtle Beach/MYR, Charlotte/CLT or if needed as far away as Washington DC), leaving ACC on or after Dec 17, 2011
I’m very proud of my Son and he is doing some very interesting stuff, we have done the best I can to prepare for some of unusual expenses, like travel TO Ghana and I have been saving mileage for years and applied to some of the good credit card offers. In addition to all the loans at least we have some miles available. Here is what I have to work with. British airways 104,000 USAirways 110,000
The taxes and fuel surcharges are a big consideration.
Any advice about how to best do this would be very gratefully received.
Thank You

OUTBOUND business class

MON AUG 8 CO 8706 ITH EWR
MON AUG 8 CO 050 EWR FRA
TUE AUG 9 LH 566 FRA ACC

or

MON AUG 8 CO 8706 ITH EWR
MON AUG 8 TP 104 EWR LIS
TUE AUG 9 TP 261 LIS ACC

RETURN in coach only

SAT DEC 17 TP262 ACC LIS
SUN DEC 18 LH1173 LIS FRA
SUN DEC 18 LH426 FRA PHL
SUN DEC 18 US3371 PHL ILM

or in business class

SUN DEC 18 LH567 ACC FRA
MON DEC 19 LH426 FRA PHL
MON DEC 19 US3371 PHL ILM


call US Air to book. Should cost 90,000 miles for the business/coach mix - 110,000 for the all business itienrary

Run a search on Aeroplan.com or Continental.com and call in with any saver booking to book with US

NO FUEL SURCHARGES

I ll let others come up with a BA option, I have no clue about BA miles.

Legon is actually part of Accra. You can see the planes on approach to runway 21 from the campus.

On United in Coach there is the following availability -

8/7 Dulles-Accra

12/19 Accra-Dulles

If US has connecting service which might be helpful, they will include it in the 70000 miles required. It is very possible that the service will require connecting from Reagan to Dulles, but if your son is handy, he can make that work.

Oh, if booking using your BA miles, be prepared for some ugly taxes, surcharges, or whatever platitude they currently use for their ridiculous charges.

And, my folks would have concluded when I was in college that 40000 extra miles for business class is an extravagance. This is your business, but please do note that business class will allow for free bags, subject to limitations, in most circumstances

Sannu de zuwa FlyerTalk! (Welcome to FlyerTalk!)

My Son should be finding out about his final travel dates Tomorrow or Tuesday. Is it important to book flights like these 60 days in advance? Thanks for the advice and feel free to keep it coming. Anything important that a first timer to Ghana should know? Should not miss?... Thanks so much.

It really depends on your status with the airline. Elite members get change/redeposit fees waived while non-elites will usually have to pay for these changes. That being said, award seats are limited to you protect yourself by booking as soon as the travel dates are set.

If he is a US citizen, make sure he gets his visa for Ghana in advance. When I flew from NY-Accra a few years ago the Delta agents were carefully checking that everyone had a Ghana visa. I have an American friend who tried to fly to Accra from London without a visa (telling the BA folks he could get a visa on arrival), but BA would not let him on the plane.

As a student, he will probably need a special student visa,I don't know for sure.

LOL... I'm about as non-elite as they come... at least when it comes to travel rewards. Years ago I traveled alot, but now I tend to work long hours so others can travel... But I'm happy, just not elite. Can't tell you how much I appreciate everyones help.

Saanu Ka dee. lol.

If the OP's son needs some help getting around Accra you can pm me.

I recently tried using BA miles to book to Ghana and the taxes and fees were over $900 for coach so I decided to stick with the Star alliance instead. We booked using UA and taxes were only $120. I would try as much as possible to stick with US air.
I have spent a significant amount of time in Ghana so feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the country or Accra.

You can print the visa forms from http://ghanaembassy.org/
Make sure he sends them in ahead of time.

Maraba!

The U.S. State Department states that "Documentation of Yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival from all countries." http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...4.html#medical

Oh, tell him that if he gets a long weekend free, he should go to Lome, Togo for a few nights. Buses leave early in the morning from Accra to Aflao on the Togo border. 4 hour bus ride. He can get a Togo visa at the border, walk across the border, hop on a motorbike taxi, and he's basically in the middle of Lome in 2 minutes.

Lome is very different from Accra. Crumbling colonial atmosphere, beautiful women, very nice.