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 timeOriginally Posted by Rob
Last edited by airportworker; 05-28-2011 at 12:44 PM.
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.
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.
Last edited by rastagirl777; 05-28-2011 at 01:59 PM. Reason: elaboration
Thank You Rob-well said.............mis-information can be a real problem........
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"YES,THAT WOULD BE MINE" I said as my leg that at first gave no pain, started dishing it out in large bunches........"
want more read our blog? our first trip.........http://negril.com/forum/entry.php?58...-The-Beginning
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.
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'.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.
Last edited by MissBlue; 05-28-2011 at 02:14 PM.
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,
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.
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