How to Plan a Trip Without Costs

Creating a simple trip schedule is not difficult, and this article will provide information on the basic elements of a standard trip schedule. However, things get more complicated when you need to submit flight schedules to apply for a visa – especially since each country has different requirements. You may find it difficult to figure out if you have to pay for the full ticket, just make a reservation, or make another request. Before providing information on domestic trip schedules, this article will answer questions related to flight schedule requirements for international visa applications.

Table of Contents

What can I do to get a flight schedule without payment?

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You can’t have a completely free flight schedule. Unless you qualify for a special, free visa (such as volunteering, or you are a diplomat), you will have to pay a fee to apply for a visa. Each country will have a different visa fee, usually in the range of 15-300 USD (from 340,000 VND to nearly 7 million VND). ^{[1] X Research Resources} In addition, you will also need to provide airline tickets or booking information. In both of these cases, you need to pay. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Many countries require airline tickets for two reasons. Firstly, the return ticket “proves” you will not stay in their country past the visa deadline. Second, buying a plane ticket forces you to accept payment to ensure you’ll make the trip after applying for a visa.
For some countries, the booking information is enough to prove you’re serious. In this case, you only need to provide booking information. If the visa application only requires “reservation”, things will be less complicated. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

How do I know if I need to buy a plane ticket in advance?

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Read the visa application requirements to see if you need to purchase a flight ticket in advance. Visa application requirements can be found online, and you can also apply for a visa online. If you are required to submit a return air ticket (not reservation information) for your visa application, you will need to purchase an airline ticket before submitting your application. Buy a return ticket and include your invoice, flight number and copy of your flight ticket with your visa application. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You must understand that if an airline ticket is requested, your application will be denied if you do not do so. There is no way to save money if you have to pay for a plane ticket.

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You can just make a reservation if allowed. If you just need booking information, contact your favorite airline and ask if they have a flight reservation process. Most international airlines have a reservation process. If the airline of your choice supports reservations, pay a small fee to book a return ticket for your trip and include a booking confirmation with your visa application. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The booking fee will depend on the destination, the time of departure and the reservation period before the departure date. Costs can range from less than a regular airline ticket to several thousand US dollars.
Note, this only works if you are allowed to submit your reservation information in your visa application.
The cost will depend on the destination and the airline. Unfortunately you still have to pay the fee.

What can I do to save money on my flight schedule?

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Buy a refundable ticket so you can get your money back. Many airlines sell both refundable and non-refundable tickets. If you purchased a refundable ticket, you can cancel your ticket and get a refund in case your visa application is not approved. ^{[6] X Research Source}

These tickets are slightly more expensive than non-refundable tickets, but you can get a refund if you don’t use them, and non-refundable tickets vice versa.

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Choose an airline that allows you to transfer tickets. Many airlines allow you to transfer tickets that cannot be used on the flight you have booked. If you’re planning to go somewhere in the near future after completing a trip requiring a visa, choose an airline that allows you to transfer tickets. Thus, if your visa is denied, you can simply transfer the ticket of the canceled trip to the next flight. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

This rarely costs money, but often has a time limit. Therefore, you should choose an airline with an appropriate deadline to transfer tickets for another trip.
For example, Spirit Airlines only gives you 60 days to use the converted ticket, while Virgin Airlines will give you one year.

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Buy travel insurance for your ticket to get a refund when needed. If you have to buy a plane ticket when you’re not sure if your visa application will be approved, buy travel insurance that offers a refund when you have to cancel your flight. You have to pay a hefty premium for insurance up front, but if you need to cancel your ticket, you’ll get more than that back! ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You don’t need to buy “all-in” travel insurance. Contact your travel insurance agent and explain that you only want to cover the plane ticket.

What do I need for my flight schedule?

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Asking for a plane ticket is all you need, but it depends. Search online for information on the visa requirements of the country you are visiting or contact the consulate of that country directly for details. Read through the requirements to determine what you need to do to get a visa. Some countries have strict regulations, and others the opposite. Once you get used to the steps, the process will be a lot easier as it involves the trip schedule. ^{[9] X Research Source}

As for visa regulations, you absolutely should not trust non-governmental websites. There are many shady websites that promise to get you a visa cheaply, but all of them are not completely trustworthy.
Make sure to comply with the requirements of the type of visa you need, as there are many types of visas. For example, you usually need a student visa to study abroad, while doing business requires a corporate visa. If you want to go on vacation, you need a tourist visa. ^{[10] X Research Source}

How do I make sure my flight schedule is approved?

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Seek assistance from a travel agent to make sure you can get a visa. If your main goal is to get a visa, find a reputable travel agent that specializes in international travel for advice. Explain that you need help with the flight schedule requirements for your visa application. They will guide and prepare everything you need to submit for your application to be accepted. This is a simple yet effective way to ensure you can successfully apply for a visa. ^{[11] X Research Source}

The fee for a full flight schedule can be up to 500 USD (about more than 11 million VND), but you can ask for a real application for a lower fee if you want to book your own flight and board. plan for the trip. ^{[12] X Research Source}

What is the confirmed flight schedule?

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A confirmed flight schedule is one that has been verified by the airline. If you have a text from the airline with a confirmation code or information confirming that you have actually booked or booked, that is a confirmed flight schedule. “Confirmed flight schedule” is not a special designation or legal term — it simply means that your flight schedule is real and airline staff will confirm it. ^{[13] X Research Source}

If the visa request says “confirmed flight schedule”, it means that you cannot just say it, you need to provide proof that you have an airline ticket.

What is a “fake” airline ticket?

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It is an in-flight reservation and is not considered an airline ticket, but still meets the requirements of the visa application. You can find on the internet many airfare agents that assist with booking and provide the necessary booking information to complete your visa application. The fee is usually in the range of 15-20 USD (340 – 460 thousand VND) depending on where you are going. In some cases, this will work, but it’s still risky. Not all agents are reputable, and your success will depend on the agency’s requirements. ^{[14] X Research Source}

In most cases, this is the riskier option. You can go this route if you really want to save money, but it won’t satisfy the visa requirements depending on where you’re going.

Are “fake” airline tickets legal?

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They’re perfectly legal if done in the mainstream, but don’t always work. A “fake” flight ticket is only effective when you actually pay the booking fee on the flight and require a visa that allows you to submit the booking information. Overall, there’s no difference between a “fake” airline ticket and booking information – it’s just whether you pay an agent or book directly with the airline yourself. ^{[15] X Research Source}

The reason many people often use “fake” airline tickets instead of booking their own is that a ticket agent can offer better fares than if you book directly with the airline. However, the risk of fraud is quite high if you contact an unknown airline ticket agent. Take note of this!
It’s not legal to lie about airline tickets or make your own ticket templates to look like the real thing. Many people have tried and failed to get good results.

How do I get a refund when my ticket is refundable?

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You can cancel your flight once the status has been updated. Nowadays, you can usually cancel your ticket for free within 24 hours of booking. ^{[16] X Research Source} However, visa application processing time is usually more than 24 hours. If your application is denied, wait for the status of your flight to be “updated” or change your flight information and cancel within 24 hours from that point! ^{[17] X Research Source}

Depending on the airline, you may be able to get a portion of your ticket back as long as you pay the cancellation fee.

Are there any other visa requirements besides the flight schedule?

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Yes, requirements are usually specified. The flight schedule is the “hardest” part. Once you’ve figured out how to handle the flight, the rest of the request is pretty straightforward. ^{[18] X Research Resources} Basically, you need to fill out a visa application form with your personal information, submit a copy of your passport, and specify where you are going. You’ll even be asked to submit payroll or bank statements to prove you can pay for the trip. You may need to submit a doctor’s note to show that you have received the necessary vaccines. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Aside from the visa application fee and airfare, there are no other costs involved in the rest of the process. It may take you a little while to complete everything on your to-do list, but it’s not too complicated.
After you have prepared the necessary documents, you will send your application to the online application portal of the country you want to apply for a visa to. ^{[20] X Research Resources} You can always contact the consulate of that country where you live if you have questions or concerns that need to be answered.
You need to attend a face-to-face interview with a consular officer to answer questions related to your visa application.

What information does the standard trip schedule contain?

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Determine when and where you want to go. The first step in creating a trip schedule is determining where you want to go. Next to the country or state, you need to specify the city name. Do you visit many places in your itinerary? Let’s start with the overview and provide more details. ^{[21] X Research Source}

When choosing a time, make sure you don’t make the trip during important holidays to avoid crowds or emptying. Coming to New York on New Year’s Eve you will see a crowd of people, and at Christmas there is not much activity because everything is closed.

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Find out popular places and activities. Read online reviews of all the popular attractions, exhibitions and attractions in the place you want to visit. Don’t forget the wishes of the person traveling with you. Do you like visiting museums or do you enjoy exploring the local cuisine? Compile a list of activities or events that interest you and your travel companions. ^{[22] X Research Source}

No one is forcing you to visit the most popular sights, but your travel companions may regret traveling the long way to London without seeing Big Ben. Even if you are tasked with planning a trip, find out what the wishes of the people on the team are.

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Map out a reasonable route for activities during the trip. Really is so. You can use paper maps or online maps. Determine the time it takes to travel between the two locations and add a bit of travel time. Plan your route so that you can spend less time traveling between locations. That way, you’ll have more time to explore each location. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

For example, you have two weeks touring Europe. Travel time will be shorter if you go from Paris to Berlin and then to Warsaw instead of going from Paris to Warsaw and then Berlin. Apply the same arrangement to sights and activities in each city you visit.

How many events should I add to my trip schedule?

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The less the better because you need time to rest, eat and relax. Plan your trip realistically. If it takes two hours to travel from a popular tourist spot to a popular climbing spot, are you in the mood to continue activities there? When in Paris, can you visit the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre Dame in one day? ^{[24] X Research Source}

Remember that you need time to relax and rest. Ideally, you should choose 1-3 activities for each day. It will be a bit unrealistic when you plan to visit 10 tourist attractions in 2 days if the places are not really close to each other.

What do I have to do to share the trip schedule with my companion?

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First, outline your schedule so that it’s easy to read and follow. Once you know where you want to go and how long it takes to get between locations, make a realistic schedule. Set aside a certain amount of time for each activity, specify a start and end time, and add any important information you need (such as a phone number or address). Don’t forget to spend time sleeping, exploring and eating! ^{[25] X Research Sources}

There are many free trip schedule templates and apps that you can use to plan in an easy-to-read format.
A trip schedule is really just a timetable. However, you do not need to follow exactly what is outlined. If you and your companions want to explore an unplanned place, don’t hesitate to give it a try!

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Share a paper or electronic copy of your schedule with your travel companion. If you print out a paper schedule, hand it out to everyone once the group has boarded the plane. Or, you can share an electronic copy for everyone to download and save on your phone. If people understand where they’re going and at what time, you’ve done a good job of planning the trip. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

It is important to provide a copy for each companion when the group intends to separate and meet again at another location.

Advice

Read the articles on the online forum to somewhat know if the consulate of the country you want to go to has “imitation” for the types of documents in your application.
If you know someone who has been to the country you are going to, ask about their visa experience.
Difficulty in obtaining a visa will depend on your nationality and point of departure. For example, it will be difficult for Americans to get visas issued by Russia. If you move from Turkmenistan to Russia then things will be easier.
If you want to succeed in applying for an EU Schengen visa, apply at the consulate of Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Iceland or Latvia. These are places that accept about 98% of visa applications, and the waiting time is not too long. From here, you can visit any EU country. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Steps