Buying flight tickets
In this article, we provide guidelines on how to buy airline tickets to fly to the U.S. on the Uniting for Ukraine program. This will be particularly useful if you do not have much experience buying airline tickets online.
Recommended airlines
Many airlines offer flights from Europe to the US. People have had good experiences with Lot (Polish), Lufthansa, and their partners Condor and Tarom, KLM, Delta, Norse, Turkish Airlines, and others. Your choice will depend on the ticket price, departure and arrival locations, and flight convenience.
Where to search for tickets
Services often recommended for ticket searching and comparison shopping are:
Google Flights (great for tracking price changes over time)
Other services include Kayak, kiwi.com, Momondo, Priceline, Expedia, and Travelocity. They are great for finding the most convenient routes and ticket deals.
Once you find the flight you want to buy, please go to the airline’s website and buy them there. If there are changes or issues - flights canceled or rescheduled, changes in your own travel plans, luggage lost - it is easier to deal directly with the company to change/refund the tickets or resolve issues, rather than with an intermediary.
How to find the cheapest price
There is no single piece of advice as to the cheapest airline: ticket prices may vary depending on the day of the week (more expensive on weekends), time of the year (more expensive around holidays), your departure and arrival airports, and how far ahead you are planning (the closer to departure day, the more expensive; but if there are unsold tickets on the last day the price may drop again). You should research and shop around.
Deals and discounts
Some companies offer either general sales or deals specifically for Ukrainians. Many airlines sometimes offer a 15% discount on economy tickets for Ukrainians, but you need to check through their phone service (+48 22 577 77 55) if this promotion is currently running. Don't be misled by airlines advertising "sales" - keep in mind that regular ticket prices from some companies may be lower than sale prices from others.
Hidden charges
As you compare the prices, be aware of hidden charges. Carry-on luggage is always included in ticket prices, but some companies charge to check baggage. For example, Lot and Turkish Airlines tickets include 1 checked piece up to 23kg (economy) or 32kg (business class) but other companies may charge extra. Make sure to confirm and include the extra luggage costs in your comparisons.
How to choose the best route
Consider if your route has connections or layovers. Choosing a flight with a stopover will probably be cheaper but may add stress to your trip, especially if you do not have a lot of experience traveling and do not speak English. You may get lost and miss your flight if you need to go to a different terminal and there isn't enough time. On the other hand, if you leave several hours to make the connection, suddenly your overall travel time is much longer.
If your flights are on the same airline, your checked luggage will usually go to your final destination; if the flights are on two different airlines, you might need to collect your baggage and then check it in again. Direct flights avoid these problems and are better if you can afford them.
How to pick the seat
Many airlines allow you to choose a seat on the plane. Getting an exit row seat will give you extra legroom for the same or slightly higher price, which is great on long flights; please note that children may not sit in exit rows. Most airlines allow you to choose a seat when you buy your ticket or at the gate. Choosing ahead of time will increase your chances of getting the seat you want.
If your flight is not full, it's okay to ask a flight attendant if you can move, either to sit together with your family or to get a better seat (window or exit row).
