One way tickets OK?

[Louise2016]

We are planning to walk the Camino in September 2020. We aren't sure about our return date from Europe to the United States. Do you think we would be okay to buy a one-way ticket there and then get a return one way ticket home when we decide when we want to return? Has anyone done that? Is it very expensive to do it that way? Thank you.

 

[SYates]

I think cost would be the most important factor. Just try it out and research how much a ticket now would cost for a plane that leaves in a few days ... BC SY

 

[Stephan the Painter]

There is a possibility that you may be refused entry. I don't know how common it is, but It did happen to a friend of mine once flying from NYC to London. He was a young man, then, with limited resources, so they suspected he was going to overstay (And they were right). They sent him back. I think if you can prove you have means, it's less of an issue. Maybe you can find a ticket that it doesn't cost to much to change....

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I responded to a similar query earlier today with a cut and paste from a much earlier post. Have a look at post #10 at this thread:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/are-pre-purchased-onward-flights-out-of-spain-are-they-mandatory.65410/#post-801972

 

[trecile]

I have found one way ticket from the US to be much more expensive than round trip tickets. In fact, last year I had enough air miles for a one way ticket, so I checked how much it would be to purchase a one way - it was more than the cost of a round trip ticket.
You can get deals on one way tickets on some of the low cost carriers like Norwegian and Level, but fares usually go up the closer to the travel date.
I just add in a week or two to the tie that I think that I will need. I can always find somewhere else to visit or walk in Spain.

 

[Donjek]

We are planning to walk the Camino in September 2020. We aren't sure about our return date from Europe to the United States. Do you think we would be okay to buy a one-way ticket there and then get a return one way ticket home when we decide when we want to return? Has anyone done that? Is it very expensive to do it that way? Thank you.

Usually its more expensive to get one way tickets. Some airlines such as Transat work out cheaper buying one way tickets. Certainly the discount airlines in Europe such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet make it easy. Try pricing it out and see what happens.

My strategy was to stay longer than it would take to walk the camino, allowing the purchase of a return ticket. Spain has much more to offer than just the camino.

If you plan to stay longer than it will take and then decide to go home early you need to contact the airline to 'upgrade' your ticket. Sometimes the (more expensive option) fare on a return ticket includes the right to change dates.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I had an injury walking the Camino last April. I needed to stop walking and return to the US. Certainly it was a factor that I returned on very short notice, but it cost me over $2000 to do so (and one airline wanted $3000). Much gratitude for travel insurance!

 

[gloria lowe]

Most airlines have a policy that you must show a ticket for onward travel from where you are going. The airline is responsible for making sure you don’t over stay and they have to get you back if you do.

 

[David with new Kit!]

Interesting views. In September past I flew into Biarritz with East jet and left via Bilbao with Veuling. (SJPP-Logrono) Not an issue at all with pricing or availability.

But, I do live in Europe and single flights are quite common when the return date needs to be flexible. That’s is, without paying for a full fat flexible return ticket.

I dreaded going out the first time one way but found it’s easier to get back than I thought.

 

[Desert Bruce]

I usually don't have a return ticket when I go to Europe, especially when walking a Camino. You just don't know how long it will take or what may happen. I didn't want to have to hurry my camino with a deadline.

Buen Camino

 

[aussieannie]

We are planning to walk the Camino in September 2020. We aren't sure about our return date from Europe to the United States. Do you think we would be okay to buy a one-way ticket there and then get a return one way ticket home when we decide when we want to return? Has anyone done that? Is it very expensive to do it that way? Thank you.

Hi Louise
In May this year I flew from London to Lisbon with the Portuguese carrier TAP. They refused to let me board the plane initially because I had no return flight booked& & it was only after making several phone calls to various airline personnel & a document showing my return flight to Australia two months hence that I was allowed to board the plane. In my previous five Caminos ( with different carriers) I have never booked a return flight & it has never been an issue. I could usually book a cheap Ryanair flight back to London, but it would probably be a different story if I wanted to fly to Australia. Perhaps book your return flight with a number of ‘spare’ days as others have suggested? There is always lots of lovely places to spend time in in Spain off the Camino!

 

[Deleted member 73526]

One way tickets are often a good use of airline miles / points, since the cost in points is typically half the cost of a roundtrip, but the price of a one-way ticket can sometimes be more expensive than the roundtrip fare.

To fulfill the requirement for a return/onward ticket, you can get a cheap (e.g. Ryanair) flight from Spain to London (outside of Schengen travel area) or a fully refundable ticket home. The latter requires a significant outlay but you can buy on a credit card and get the refund within the same billing month.