Moving back to USA on the cheap

Moving to Singapore? Ask our regular expats in Singapore questions on relocation and their experience here. Ask about banking, employment pass, insurance, visa, work permit, citizenship or immigration issues.
Post Reply
redforeva
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:21 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Moving back to USA on the cheap

Post by redforeva » Wed, 14 Apr 2010 3:57 pm

Broke-ass grad student moving back to California in June 2010.

Yes, I have looked around on Google. Too much noise so I figured I'd ask people in the know.

1) What are your recommendations for cheap shipping? I have about 100lbs of 'stuff' to ship back. Nothing extremely fragile. Long transit OK. Ever used any terminal-to-terminal service?

2) Cheap source to buy one-way ticket back: online or local travel agent? Any tips appreciated.

User avatar
Splatted
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 919
Joined: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 2:59 am

Post by Splatted » Wed, 14 Apr 2010 4:01 pm

LOL, this has to be the laziest method of organizing one's return back home.

redforeva
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:21 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Post by redforeva » Wed, 14 Apr 2010 5:14 pm

Splatted wrote:LOL, this has to be the laziest method of organizing one's return back home.
You say lazy, I say efficient. :D

What's an overworked, underpaid gal to do? I just want OUT!

User avatar
Strong Eagle
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11504
Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
Location: Off The Red Dot
Contact:

Post by Strong Eagle » Wed, 14 Apr 2010 5:32 pm

It is the worst time of the year to pay for airline flights... June = high season and you will pay a significant premium. Play around on United Airline website with different dates... probably the cheapest airline and cheapest dates should be end of August onwards.

You could try zuji.com.sg for travel but I've found airline websites to be as cheap or cheaper. I can tell you that a round trip flight on June 8 will cost you US$ 1432 or more, depending on airline, and about 70 percent of that one way. Fly off season for US$ 1000 or less.

For one hundred pounds of stuff, the cheapest way is to pack one suitcase for you and pay the airlines for a second and third. You'll find that freight forwarders, no matter what the transport method, will be more expensive.
Last edited by Strong Eagle on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 5:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 39853
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 14 Apr 2010 5:39 pm

SE, I'd say probably would be better mid-September as the school year starts in the first week of September so late vacationers would be trying to get back for school. Course with the current economy, there might not be that many school aged kids traveling with parents on overseas destinations anyway, so, yeah, play with dates.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

irvine
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 312
Joined: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 2:53 pm

Post by irvine » Thu, 15 Apr 2010 9:35 pm

What's the price difference between the flight ticket in June and in Sept?

Is it worth more than 3 months of rent + food and most importantly your sanity?

For airlines, you may also try Northwest or Eva, or even China Airlines.

User avatar
Splatted
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 919
Joined: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 2:59 am

Post by Splatted » Fri, 16 Apr 2010 1:12 am

irvine wrote:What's the price difference between the flight ticket in June and in Sept?

Is it worth more than 3 months of rent + food and most importantly your sanity?

For airlines, you may also try Northwest or Eva, or even China Airlines.
I had the same/similar dilemma just prior to moving to Singapore the first time.

Do I wait week/month on end for the 'best price' selling my 2 year old car, with all the ongoing costs of rent , food etc whittling away at my savings..

or do I cut my losses and just accept any 'reasonable' offer in a saturated used car market....

I chose to sell my car $1500 below what it was worth

wcs
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 181
Joined: Tue, 26 May 2009 1:11 am
Location: Singapore

Post by wcs » Fri, 16 Apr 2010 3:16 am

Offer someone cash to buy you a one way ticket with their frequent flier points. Just realise that there will be no flexibility, so if you need to change you would lose out a lot! You would still have to pay the taxes though.

But at least you can negotiate. You would have to show some familiarity with the person buying you the ticket for some airlines though.

Good Luck!

redforeva
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:21 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Post by redforeva » Fri, 16 Apr 2010 1:17 pm

[quote="irvine"]Is it worth more than 3 months of rent + food and most importantly your sanity?

Thanks for all the tips here.

For shipment, I actually have 100 lbs above my alloted 2 suitcases. Sorry if that was unclear. I'd still check that option.

Good cheap flights tips. Will follow up.

Thanks. I knew y'all come through!

AngMohForeignTalent
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 7:39 pm

Re: Moving back to USA on the cheap

Post by AngMohForeignTalent » Mon, 19 Apr 2010 1:15 pm

redforeva wrote:. Ever used any terminal-to-terminal service?
Yes, much cheaper than the door-to-door option.
True, when I got a notice from the shipping company which among other things said "please have your customs broker prepare an entry immediatelly" I started panicking (what is a customs broker?? what entry??), but it turned out the whole process of picking up your stuff and doing the paper work is quite simple.
redforeva wrote: 2) Cheap source to buy one-way ticket back: online or local travel agent? Any tips appreciated.
kayak.com
momondo.com

User avatar
imrankassim
Regular
Regular
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:47 am
Location: Novo Logistics Pte Ltd
Contact:

Post by imrankassim » Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:33 am

Splatted wrote:LOL, this has to be the laziest method of organizing one's return back home.
Hahaha ;)
INT'L RELOCATION. imran@novo-logistics.com

User avatar
imrankassim
Regular
Regular
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:47 am
Location: Novo Logistics Pte Ltd
Contact:

Post by imrankassim » Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:36 am

redforeva wrote:
irvine wrote:Is it worth more than 3 months of rent + food and most importantly your sanity?

Thanks for all the tips here.

For shipment, I actually have 100 lbs above my alloted 2 suitcases. Sorry if that was unclear. I'd still check that option.

Good cheap flights tips. Will follow up.

Thanks. I knew y'all come through!
Try checking excess baggage rates for your suitcases with the airlines first. I remember being able to purchase excess baggage rates off BA's website, but I dont think theyll be the best option from SIN to LA lol.

If all fails and your suitcases weigh more than 45kg in combined weight, then get an agent to ship door to door by airfreight. Don't ever opt for the seafreight option unless you want you bags to arrive in a month.
INT'L RELOCATION. imran@novo-logistics.com

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Relocating, Moving to Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests