Korean Job Discussion Forums

[basque]

Last year I bought a round-trip ticket to China, found a job, and got a working visa. The only problem that I had was losing my return ticket because I couldn�t extend it beyond a year. I ended up buying a new one-way ticket home.

I now plan on coming to Korea to look and will need to buy another round-trip ticket� does anyone know how/where to find a ticket that I can extend beyond a year (I�m under the impression that all airlines have similar policies)?

Thanks.

[waterbaby]

I flew with Qantas from Australia to Sth K - a one year open return ticket. I decided to stay on a bit longer and called them even though I was under the impression that I couldn't extend it. To my surprise, I could! Perhaps I was just lucky... or that "you can't get tickets beyond a year" is a myth. Who knows. Which country will you be flying from?

[basque]

I'm flying from the states. Last year I flew Air China and purchased the tickets through a travel agent... maybe I�ll call Quantis and see if they fly from SFO. I don�t mind paying the fee to change the ticket dates, I just don�t want to get stuck again and have to buy a new flight when I�ve already paid for one.

[waterbaby]

I doubt that Qantas flies direct from the states to Korea. When I flew to Korea "on QANTAS", it was actually Asiana... a Qantas partner airline. I'd just ring a few of the airlines and ask them directly.

[crazykiwi]

hey

I am flying with singapore airlines, my travel agent in nz was able to extend my "1 year ticket" by two weeks ONLY. I wanted a little extra due to summer camp time demands but alas, two weeks was the max. so if you really want to extend it beyond that timeframe, i think you will s### outa luck. then again maybe your airline is different. worth a try though.

laterz

crazy

[richardIII]

In New Zealand, I believe that STA travel will allow you to bail on unused portions of tickets and get money in an account with them.

So, you could buy a return ticket, bail on the home leg and use the refund money (not real money, stays with travel agent) to partially fund a one way ticket wherever else you're going.

Might be worth looking into student travel agents, they tend to be most understanding towards the "I just gotta stay longer" crowd. Otherwise, yeah, you're SOL.

[basque]

The airlines really have a good raquet going don't they? They want to fill their flights so they offer great deals online if you can 'bid' for their magic numbers (that they don't post), if you show-up and try to buy a ticket they rape you (god help you if you ever have an emergency!), and if you can't use the ticket you purchased they charge you extra rather than give you a voucher for another flight sometime... or you just lose the money. Whew, that felt good.

Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll try STA and see what they say.

[JackSarang]

I flew to Korea by Air Canada and wanted to stay a couple extra weeks. They wouldn't/couldn't extend my ticket. It was valid for one year. Exactly. Period.

[richardIII]

I've just finished reading a book about long term travel that partially explained airline pricing strategies and stuff. The author was a travel agent and I've totally flaked on the title.

Something like "The practical Nomad, a guide for long term travellers". I'll get the title for next time I'm online.

The other thing you might be able to try is buying an open jaw ticket

Home --> Seoul (for whatever the max stay on a tourist visa is) ---> Tokyo (assuming Korea requires an onwards ticket but Japan doesn't)

If you get a job, then you try to get the school to reinburse you for the first half of your visa run.

****ing Airlines not letting you buy tickets for more than a year in advance. But if you find a good travel agent (one who specialises in cheap airfares for difficult people like us) then you're well advised to discuss your cunning plans with them. They will come up with something you hadn't thought of.

[Zyzyfer]

I declined a potentially awesome job because of this crap. Well, that, plus the director's inability to solve the problem whatsoever.

Me: "Just buy a one-way ticket."

Big D: "But that's more expensive."

Me: "I'll cover the extra charge."

Big D: "...........my brain hurts."

[rapier]

Went to extend my ticket today...my return leg to Thailand..turns out that I have to spend the night in Hanoi, because there are no same day day connections.
For the priveledge of this, and probably of spending a night in one of their recommended hotels nearby, I have to get a whole vietnam visa for the night.
Now thats what I call a racket.

[chi-chi]

Well, you can also get a refund on the return portion of your ticket if you can't use it.