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Planning for Xmas/NYE travel to JA and my sister will need to get 3 tickets. B/c of the large cash outlay, I suggested to her to purchase 3 one way tickets now and then 3 one way tickets later for the return. Have any of you purchased tickets this way?
No and be careful. One way tickets are a "flag" for airport security. Your sister and her party will be pulled out for a "special search" at every airport she encounters, including in MoBay on her return.
Also, it might present problems at immigration. Now, I'm sure if she is holding a return one way ticket it should be fine - but they are used to seeing round trip tix so it might at worst get confusing.
There is no problem purchasing one way tickets and then purchasing the return tickets.
It is done quite regularly & I've done it myself almost every time I've purchased tickets...as more often than not it works out cheaper for me to purchase this way.
If I'm reading your information correctly...you plan on purchasing your return tickets just before you arrive here in Jamaica...that's all you need...proof that you're returning back home with a return ticket in your hand before you arrive here.
My sister does plan to purchase the 3 one-way return tickets prior to departing. I have heard about it before and that's why I suggested it to her since 3 tickets is a lot to buy at once.
Jamerican71...more often than not my return ticket was through another airline...they never even blinked an eye.
As long as you have return tickets within the three month visa limit (can be extended to six months), then it should be no problem on entry to Jamaica. Homeland Security, on the other hand, might be curious about your travel plans.
I have entered Jamaica without a return ticket and it is just a minor hassle. We were having contract work done and I didn't know how long I'd be staying. The immigration official questioned us a bit and then let us in. We filled in the return stub info before getting to the airport for our departure. It was all good.
What was a minor hassle for you, Rastacrab...has been a major hassle for others :(. It's never a good idea to try to come in without a return ticket.Quote:
Originally Posted by RastaCrab
i purchased separately for my trip 3 weeks ago. zero issues at any airport.
It bears repeating - in the USA a one way ticket is a flag, plain and simple. Has been that way since 9/11/2001. I do believe that as long as you can produce a return ticket to the immigration agent in Jamaica you should be fine - a one way ticket might result in some extra questions...MIGHT. The hassle won't be with Jamaican immigration. It will be with the US airports. And that will all depend on the agent you get, the airport you are flying out of - the inconsistencies regarding "homeland security" are astounding. If you are choosing to fly this way leave plenty of time before your flight is scheduled to leave just in case.
Please lets not mislead/confuse anyone.
Just because someone has a one way ticket with a returning one way ticket DOES NOT mean that they will be pulled out of line for any special search. It does not mean that they will be hassled anywhere along their journey. As noted above, people travel here everyday, even from the USA, with similar tickets and receive no hassle whatsoever.
To try and convince people that this is an automatic, or near automatic flag that will cause you extra time and hassles is simply not the truth.
As long as you are able to show a ticket home or explain that you have another way of living the country (and by that i mean any country) you will not get anything more then maybe one extra question, it happens over here all the timeQuote:
Originally Posted by Rob
nowadays even when you purchase a round-trip using one of the consolidator websites (expedia, travelocity, orbitz, etc) - they now offer many flight combinations & options, with the outbound on one airline and the return on another... it's become relatively common now to fly the equivalent of two 'one-ways'.
So even when you purchase both at once as a 'round trip', when examining the paperwork, technically it's really two one-ways, and it's become common. While I understand there's a 'possibility' for this to raise a flag for some overzealous TSA employee - it's not a HUGE issue to 'worry' about.
Rob, I think you misunderstood me. As far as US Airports and security personnel goes - IT DOES raise a flag. Will you definitely be pulled aside for a special search? Can't say, but traveling with a one way ticket increases the chances that you will be. When traveling in the US, you hand over your ID to the check-in person who then ONLY sees your one way ticket to anywhere. It is then up to them to stick that little "SSSS" mark on your boarding pass which means "Special Search (SS, lol)". Not sure how this works if you check in online...might work the same without the obvious markings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
As far as getting TO and being IN a Jamaican airport with a one way ticket - I wasn't SURE if there would be a problem or additional time spent at immigration. I really can't speak from experience on that but I certainly can regarding US airports. I'm in one at least once a month (god help me). And I've had inane issues come up leaving Jamaica from "improper luggage tagging" to seat assignments - that has taken extra time at the counter in MoBay.
So just to be clear - my words of caution are regarding traveling out of a US airport as the OP will be. I travel by air all the time, once a month every month except for the months I am in Jamaica. I am very in tune with TSA, Homeland Security and their various whims to protect our skies. I'm really not speaking out of my butt here. Truly...
Go ahead and do the one-ways if its easier/cheaper. Just be aware of what the climate is at the airports in the US and leave time. You have nothing to hide, you've done nothing wrong but there's a good chance you'll get some extra questions and screening.
Thank You Rob-well said.............mis-information can be a real problem........
You are absolutely right Miss Blue but your documentation shows that you've booked with a consolidator - when the agent pulls up your record that is reflected and treated as a round trip ticket. And it might not be a "huge issue" to worry about - but it is something you need to be aware of, just like the liquids rule, the removal of shoes, and those new scanner thingies and the fact that you have the option to not be radiated. Air travel is getting more and more complex and bizarre - and inconsistent. One airport one bat an eye at your one way ticket, the other might question you for a half-hour. Its just something to be prepared for.Quote:
Originally Posted by airportworker
Hub just reminded me and wanted me to pass this on...the perpetrators of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center all bought one way tickets and paid for them in cash. Before shoe guy, before underwear guy, before the liquid guys in London - this was the very first measure of security at the airports implemented after the attacks - scrutinize those with one way tickets, really scrutinize those who have paid for their ticket in cash.
nobody is saying they do not HAVE a return ticket, they are not starting their journey without a return flight in hand. The question asked is regarding purchasing it separately; so the traveler has two one-way flights as opposed to one 'round-trip'.Quote:
hand over your ID to the check-in person who then ONLY sees your one way ticket to anywhere.
So when the ID is handed over, and they put it into the computer, they will see that there is another flight scheduled, returning to the US. Even if it's not purchased thru a consolidator, and was bought as a totally separate individual purchase, it will still show up .... just not on the same airline purchased specifically as a "round trip".
Buying tickets this way is not an issue - especially since there are three of them, and the computer will show all three traveling together, on the same flights, both outbound and inbound ---
--- that's what the OP wanted to know.
Buying tickets, no...you can buy tix any way you want. Traveling on them is what I'm talking about. Also, when you check in at the counter your itinerary comes up. What the agent sees on your departing itinerary with a round trip ticket is the WHOLE itinerary, including the return. It's all under one record locator. Since the one-ways are one-ways and in essence purchased separately under separate itineraries, they each have their own record locator. So when you produce your ID and they pull up your record locator they only see the outbound, one-way ticket. Thus the possible flag.
I hope I'm not confusing anyone, I'm starting to confuse myself. More coffee?
i understand what you're saying.
However, all international airline purchases these days require you to give your passport number and TSA information at the time of purchase. So, regardless if they are separate records & locators/itineraries, all scheduled flights will still show up in the computers associated with the traveler's passport number, even if they are separate records
Can't say for the TSA but over here on leaving we don't check if a person has a one way ticket or return ticket or not, the only time someone will get any extra searches is if something flags up on normal things that you go through on way to departures, However if you are a non EU and arrive with a one way ticket you will have a few extra questions to answer,Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBlue
You're correct, Rob. I've traveled this way before, particularly when I only have enough mileage points for a one-way ticket, and it's always been smooth. Then again, with my sunburn, pro sports hat and fanny pack, i just spell T-O-U-R-I-S-T.
oh - good point airportworker - i should have said i was talking about the USA -- i can't speak about what's done in Europe or the UK. but here, travelers are required to provide TSA security info - passport number, full legal name & DOB, etc., for international airline tickets. - thus, any/all upcoming flights a traveler is scheduled on, will also show up on the TSA computers when the airport security ppl scan the traveler's passport.... so it will be seen that the passenger has booked a return flight. It will just have it's own separate itinerary and 'record locator', & may be on a different airline than the outbound flight --
but in any case, the TSA can see that the person isn't leaving the country without any return travel plans, so it won't necessarily raise any flags for TSA/security to question the passengers, or tag their luggage for special search - of course it might - but it's just a possibility.
for me personally, saving significant amounts of money, and/or - getting significantly better scheduling/routing by buying two one-way flights, is totally worth the small chance of being 'flagged' or questioned; I always have printed copies of all flights & itineraries on my person anyway.
Good point...but...Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBlue
I have never had to give my passport number when I have purchased any international ticket anywhere. I always book through the airline directly, do you think that is why?
could be -- since you're a frequent flyer, your TSA info is probably already stored in your FF profile.Quote:
never had to give my passport number when I have purchased any international ticket anywhere. I always book through the airline directly, do you think that is why?
True true!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
We were lucky. The minor hassle was extra questioning and after stating our reasons, all was cool.
No, they don't. I've never been asked to enter my passport number anywhere but on an immigration form. I've never signed up with that Clear Skies (or whatever it was called before it went belly up) - the only information that anyone would have would be the required information for traveling anywhere these days - name, birth date and gender. TSA doesn't have access to my American Airlines frequent flyer account to my knowledge. These days who knows who has access to what though but again, my passport number is not recorded anywhere in my AA frequent flyer or profile accounts.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBlue
You MUST present a valid US passport to the gate/ticket agent before boarding. The passport is then scanned. Various computer readable information is on your picture page (and maybe inside the jacket for newer ones, thin RF tags), including your passport number. So I'd be pretty sure your passport number is known by the airlines at time of check in.
When we check in online, one of the input fields is the passport number.
More information can be found here: http://www.faasafety.gov/hottopics.aspx?id=47
They key phrase is "to my knowledge". With all the cross referenced databases that the TSA has access to, I think it is harder to believe for them not to have access to your passport number. And please remember that while your passport number is not shown anywhere in your AA Frequent Flyer profile that you have access to see, they do have additional information in your FF profile that you cannot see...Quote:
Originally Posted by rastagirl777
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBlue
Ironically on a return trip to US after the question of how long I had been gone was asked and answered, and seeing the Permanent Resident Stamp, the Immagration Officer asked if I had a return ticket to Jamaica, how I was sustaining myself in Jamaica, how long I would be in the US, where I would be staying in the US, who resided at the address I had given and the nature of my visit. Mind you I am still a US citizen, residing abroad.
This was the first time traveling in over a year and since approval of PR status, and before travel I stressed over the attitude of US Immagration regarding such. Other than the additional questions, this officer put an A on my Custom form which caused a scan of my luggage in the Agricultural Search room. Where I was asked the usual food questions. I was not scanned in Jamaica.
On a side note, and this is to anyone who does the long term, after paying twice to change the return date on my original roundtrip ticket, I finally let it expire and purchased the one way ticket, but turns out this was one of my most expensive roundtrips ever considering the costs of the changes to the original ticket plus purchase of the one way. Never again.
i had 2 separate tickets on my last reach and had not printed up my return. i figured they had the info in their computer as i was flying the same airline. the ticket agent at my home airport was in a tizzy cause they could not find my return and she insisted i had to have one. she told me i would have to show the return flight before leaving the usa. i was prepared to do so but noone else asked. i will make sure i print up that return from now on.
i fly delta and jetblue and on both i had to input my passport number when i checked in online along with contact person on all international flights. @ rastagirl777, you would be surprised at the info tsa has on you.
If you complete the online check-in for international flights with American Airlines you are required to enter your passport number before you can print your ticket (the same goes for the airlines that I've flown). When you check-in in person....you are required to give the airline reps your passport and it is entered into the computer system there.
From England to Jamaica you HAVE to have a valid return ticket or I hear you are not getting into the country.Never tested this but we are told by all travel agents that we HAVE to have return tickets for that country.
Some airlines for SOME countries make you file your passport numbers before travelling.Not all do but they probably will do in Time.I do not recall ever filing my passport numbers for Jamaica so far but I have once for spain and once for Turkey
When the person at check in scans your passport it also records on the immigration system that you have left/about to leave the country, by inputing the right words on the system a list of all the times a person has left and entered the country can be shown,
and of course all persons leaving EU for USA must given 72 hrs written notice of their plans,
omg babalew.... that is an absolute MUST -- it bears repeating here that you must always print, and carry, hard copies of EVERYTHING when you travel.Quote:
had not printed up my return.
one of my gf's that i traveled with, was nearly denied entry to JA because she had not printed out her hotel reservation info and the dummy at immigration had never heard of the hotel she was staying in, (although it is a big well known resort apparently this never made it into his knoweldge SMDH) - and he almost refused her entry.
in this era of no actual 'plane tickets', printouts are our only proof -- so for anyone who doesn't already do so, always make sure you have hard copies of ALL your 'E-Tickets' for both outbound & return flights - showing the dates; and the receipts showing you've paid for them, and your hotel reservations ... never forget Murphy is always on your shoulder!!!!
And the FBI and Interpol. I am certainly not naive about that. But not by my hand...the only time the passport number gets entered on anything, in all my years of traveling internationally, has been on immigration and customs declaration forms.Quote:
Originally Posted by Babalew
whether you physically write it down to give it to them, or not -- your passport number is known to TSA and C & I ..... as soon as the passport is scanned, it's in their system.
and the spot for the coldest Red Stripe on the Beach is????????
my vote is for Tony's Hut.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo
We book one-way trips all the time - just make sure you have a copy of your return flight with you and there won't be any issues.
One thing to keep in mind with the one-way trips, though, is that each is treated as a separate reservation. If for any reason you end needing to change your itinery, each of the flights would be subject to the change fee. As an example - if you had to postpone your trip for 6 months and the change fee for you airline was $150, you'd lose $300 in value to be applied for later flight instead of the $150 fee for a round-trip reservation.
I don't know about the beach but Easy Rock always had the coldest R/S Light that I've found on the West End.
But what do I know. I only drink beer in Jamaica.
In the US, any ticket I've purchased less than 48 hours prior to departure has earned me a "special" screening, complete with trick questions! Verbal judo my ass! Happened to me at CDG as well, and when I couldn't show them a receipt for where I had been staying in Switzerland....well let's just say that intensive screening by the French is a real PITA. YMMV