Monday, July 1, 2013

Visa Check, Ticket to Ouagadougou Check....I Am Outta Here! (Southern Illinois)


Pre Leaving Stuff

So while I was at the Lake House I finally got around to booking my ticket back to Africa.  Decided to fly into Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (pronounced Wagadoogoo).  I want my frequent flyer points and I need a month layover in Europe so me thinks it is best to call United and pay the extra 25 bucks to work this one out with a real human.  Every time I go online and try to do this one myself I end up with wicked high prices…I’m talking over 3,000 bucks at best.

So finally get in touch with a United rep and off we go.  I have yet to have anyone; even in the travel business know how to say Ouagadougou so I just gave her the airport code.   I had to look up the pronunciation the first time too don’t get me wrong it’s a wonderful little mouthful and has to be the best capital name ever.

United earned their extra 25 bucks on this one.  My rep worked hard to find me a reasonable deal.  Luckily I was flexible by more than a few days of when my flights were and even what airports I came and went from.  I was cool to enter or leave from Frankfurt, Paris or Brussels.  I assume it will be Brussels, which has two flights a week to Waga.  I was right.  Managed to get the ticket for about $1900.  Sounds like a lot but a great deal on this especially in the summer.    Most of the tickets I looked at in the region without the long stopover where like 2400.  The change fee is $300; which is pretty standard anymore.  Oh how sad to not be using frequent flyer points on this one and I have to fly economy….yikes!

A Couple weeks later

Checking in online and given the option to buy double or triple miles for my flight for a mere $230 US.  Hell yes I am.  I use my flyer point and I use them well so on a long haul like this triple miles for 230 is huge man.  I should be able to do a one way business class on my next international just by doing this and with the points I still have.  So basically I just spent 230 and will be able to fly in style next time.  I will be buying on the way back too. 

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