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Re One Way or Return Ticket
Submitted by arlington on Wed, 2007/09/12 - 11:01.
I know it's here somewhere but, I can't find it . . . . do I have to show up at Sandino with a return ticket? Am I in for grief if all I have is a one way ticket and a passport?
Any recent experiences with this?
I am flying in september on a one way ticket from nyc to managua with spirit air. Does anyone have experience with this airline? I am freaking out a little and worried that I need to secure a return ticket, but I am trying to stay for a year and I can't even book flights that far in advance now. I have an american passport, credit cards, relatively standard look. Alternatively, does anyone know if a bus ticket (to honduras or costa rica, say) would satisfy? And if so, does anyone have any experience buying nicaraguan bus tickets from abroad?
i would love some input.
thanks.
don't bother
Compare the prices of one-way versus return, and you'll see the differnce is nominal and barely worth the risk of a border hassle. I tried two weeks ago on buying a flight from Atlanta to Liberia. It actually cost more as a one-way. And I can promise you there's no problem not showing up for the return flight. I do it all the time. Incidentally, if you're travelling to southern Nica, and you're a cheapskate like me, look at flights to Liberia, they can cost about half of going to MGA due to the amount of competition.
Using half of a round-trip ticket
Just make sure you're using the first half of the round-trip ticket and skipping the second half, not the other way around. Apparently if you're a no-show for the outgoing flight, some (or maybe all) airlines cancel your return segment, too.
we did save considerably
we did save considerably. over 400 ea with the one way out of Miami. When we do return it wlll be a proper round trip now as well. We're driving to Miami because of the dog. When we return periodically, it'll be without him.
airline due dilligence
Thus the departure airport staff need to be reasonably sure the arrival immigration authorities will be happy.
Given some 150+ nation states and that the agents prime duties are (passenger safety, protecting corporate assets or whatever) and this due diligence stuff changes every week, you may or may not be asked questions that may or may not be relevant. Your job is to convince them that the arrival immigration people will be delighted with you
Standard unasked questions: Does it appear this passport belongs to this person? Is it valid for at least another 6 months? Is it defaced, corner chopped off, hole punched through? Any stamps like 'denied entry'? Is the name in the passport the same as the one on the ticket? Is this the outbound half of a return ticket back to here? Does this ticket take you into AND OUT OF the country that I am shipping you to? All of which goes on inside the agents head.
Now it gets complicated: Is the final destination of this ticket the country that issued the passport but not the country I am shipping you to? NO! Oh dear, to bad, the verbal questions start.
Is the destination of this part of the ticket a country in which this person has a residency permit? (show me your cedula is a verbal expression of this question)
Basically, once they are wherever I am sending you can you live there indefinitely legally OR is it obvious you will leave.
As you can see, a USA or European citizen (who doesn't need a visa for most places) who has a return ticket or is going home isn't going to get asked anything. Thats the gold standard. Anyone else and the agent could get slammed for letting a rejectee onto a flight.
Be kind (s)he could lose their job real easy.
Tony X Robins, Jinotega
last year I had purchased a
last year I had purchased a one-way ticket online thinking it would be no problem as I never had any trouble at the airport in Managua at all. but a problem arose when checking in at Taca in Toronto. They literally demanded that I have a return/forward ticket. This perplexed me as they were just an airline, nothing to do with customs & immigration as far as I could see. However, they held all the cards, as I was on my way to Nica permanently the time - I just had my cash and luggage and no where else to go. So i did as someone above suggested, I bought a refundable ticket from Managua to Costa Rica from Taca in the Toronto airport. I still have it, and am waiting so see if want to use it for something or just get it refunded locally (which will take a few weeks and a cheque will be mailed to me). And of course, arriving in Managua nobody asked me for anything.
Why they care
The airline cares I have been told because, until you pass immigration, you are their problem. That is, if immigration decided you couldn't enter without a return ticket or whatever, the airline would have to take you "back home".
that's good to know thanks
that's good to know thanks. makes we wonder why an airline would sell a one-way and then give you grief over it. crazy.
Depends
In most countries if you have a western passport and look "o.k." they will never ask. Beyond that or if they do it would matter whats passport you have ands what stamps and for what times are in it in the past, and where you are going and if you intend to come back (and if so, if you admit it there). Out of 1000's of flights in 20 years I maybe know 5 people who were even asked or hassled about it. If you can talk yours way in and out of other things in Central America you can do so here to. If you are paranoid about it, then have the ticket. If merely concerned, then print off an itenirary from Cheaptickets or Expedia. Crop out or cut off anything that states or implies you have anything other than the ticket (likes say a hold or reservation only). Combine it with some fake letter you print off for ten centavos at some internet cafe and show your credit cards if asked. No problem.
Arlingtons excitement
What a good pal you are Carina. You should be the Caring Cisneros. advices to the Canuck Gringo aside. Too bad I couldn't meet up with him when I go in November.I am also a cerified Passport holder from Canada with a credit card. Looking forward to my trip.
I travel on a british passport with no visa...
... so I get asked both ends for proof of onward travel. I always have at least 1/2 a ticket so its just a formality.
You can always pull your itinerary from the airline web site - I did that once and they were quite happy with a fecha and vuelo#
Tony X Robins, Jinotega
Theory or practice
The official theory is that you do need to show you have " a way back". In practice, I don't know anyone that has ever been asked for it.
As I like to say, "in the US you are governed by fear, in Latin America by long lines". Just don't panic.
you wont be asked... but if you are
If you are the first person ever to be asked for proof of onward travel just ask permission to walk over to the nearest airline desk and buy a refundable ticket to San Jose or San Salvador or wherever.
gracias jimmy
gracias jimmy
great question!
I often would rather just buy a one way ticket. How do you buy just a one way? I hope an answer to you question is posted.
The government here doesnt
The government here doesnt care if you have one way ticket. Some airlines seem to require a round trip ticket...dont ask me why.
Canta no LLores
we'll I just bought two from AA online ; )
we'll I just bought two from AA online ; ) I found a comment from "ourman" here on NL - and he was told he'd have no problems at Sandino
One-way option
When I moved to Latin America (Costa Rica) I could have bought a one-way ticket for about $750. A round trip cost $500. Easy choice.
But, if you are flying here from Guatemala, Panama, ... or lots of other regional destinations (and/or on a regional airline such as COPA or TACA) you generally can find fair-priced one-way tickets.