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One Way Airfare

Have any of you traveled one way to Colombia without being a resident of Colombia. I have a pensionado visa but it expired in November so maybe it won't help with the one way airfare. Any ideas guys?

By Lostgringo on Mar 27, 2008, 05:19 in Friendly Talkzone.

wendell13 says on Mar 27, 2008, 06:43:

I just returned to Colombia on a one-way ticket. I have a valid visa. There was no problem buying the one way but when I got to Miami the Avianca agent said I needed a round trip ticket. I pointed out to her that I had a visa to live in Colombia. She said OK. So they do check to see if you have one

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durito says on Mar 27, 2008, 06:54:

As is posted here frequently, it all depends on the airline.

Colombian law says you need a ticket. I've never once heard of DAS checking for a ticket at the airport, but if they were to check, it'd be the airlines responsibility to take you back where you came from if you are not admitted, thus they are supposed to check. Most people have reported that they rarely do.

A few years ago Copa made me buy an onward ticket at the airport in Panama City. In January this year, I flew one way from Los Angeles and was never asked for a ticket (this was also on copa). I did not have a visa at the time.

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sloopskipper says on Mar 27, 2008, 07:01:

Check the prices, round-trip is often cheaper than one-way. I have discarded return tickets on a round-trip several times.

But, I have not been checked for the return in Panamá, or Colombia.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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adrienne79 says on Mar 27, 2008, 07:17:

I flew in on LAN (ticketed through AA) on a one way ticket in Septemberb and I didn´t even a visa yet. I arrived as a tourist and the next day went and got my visa. No one ever asked a thing and I didn´t have any problems.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 27, 2008, 07:34:

Great stuff guys. I can get a one way from Manila to the US with no problem (I am a Canadian), but I thought I would run into a problem with the one way from the US to Colombia. I think it is worth trying if I cannot get a good price on a return ticket. Sloopskipper is right about one ways often costing more than the round trip.

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bickerss says on Mar 27, 2008, 07:48:

Many times on a one way ticket, bit some airlines may stop you att eh departure end ie especially? if they are american. Where I have had problems with other countries, I have had the travel agent make me a booking without paying and print it out as an eticket. this has got me through.

I knew you couldnt resist colombia for long lost!!!!!

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

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guacharaca says on Mar 27, 2008, 08:28:

You could buy a very expensive, fully refundable, unrestricted, "Y" class one way ticket for the return portion of your travel and have it refunded after you arrive in Colombia.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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Lostgringo says on Mar 27, 2008, 09:29:

great info people thanks..bickers once you know Colombia there is no turning back...I should have known that

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durito says on Mar 27, 2008, 09:55:

I forgot the "fake" eticket. This works great. You don't even need a travel agent. Bring up a different eticket on the internet, save the text into a word file, change the info to make it look like a future flight out of colombia. Make it on a different airline than you are flying in on.

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 27, 2008, 11:12:

I was once at the departure desk of an airline, the guy in front of me wasn't allowed on the flight unless he went and bought a return or onward ticket.

It cost him $1,000 extra, although the ticket agents said he could claim most of the money back, just loseing $100, that was flying from Europe.

Not worth the potential problems, better off buying fully refundable ticket or something along those lines.

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vicshere says on Mar 27, 2008, 11:15:

as long as you can show residency in the onward country you don't need a return ticket

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 27, 2008, 11:23:

vicshere,

True, BUT most people who are these questions aren't resident in Colombia, but tourists.

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vicshere says on Mar 27, 2008, 12:11:

the op I think has a visa...so my answer was directed for him...but yes

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 27, 2008, 12:37:

vicshere,

Not sure who the op is is, but if Lost Gringo he says he doesn't have a visa, it run out.

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vicshere says on Mar 27, 2008, 12:43:

what ever

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 27, 2008, 15:16:

It was actually a very helpful American Airlines desk agent who taught me the refundable one way return trick. She wasn't able to let me check in with my outbound OW ticket but was kind enough to point out that I could charge a $500 refundable "return" OW from BOG to MIA and then ask for the full refund on the ground in BOG.

As she explained it, the airlines enforce the rule because otherwise they get stuck with the cost of bringing you back to the US on the next plane.

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adrienne79 says on Mar 27, 2008, 15:44:

"As she explained it, the airlines enforce the rule because otherwise they get stuck with the cost of bringing you back to the US on the next plane."

Hmmm, that interesting. Damn, I guess I should have waited to get my visa and I could have flown back for free. Hahaha!

Well, for what it is worth, I had already spent two months here prior to leaving for 1.5 weeks when I returned on the one way ticket. When I left the first time I verified with DAS that I didn't need the ticket. So if any agent was to give me a hard time I was prepared to take it up high since DAS doesn't even require it. Not sure how well it would have worked since airlines are not too coopertaive but like I said, no problems so nothing at all to worry about. I was flying in from the US. My one way ticket was from DFW to Maui (spent one week there) then to LAX to MIA and then to BOG. All the flight were AA except the last flight which was on LAN.

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goin_south says on Mar 27, 2008, 16:29:

RELATED POST:

........ My pastusa said she has a friend who was awarded a visa of some sort (not sure what type; I'm guessing fiance) and who told her the airlines have 'special immigrant' air fares...
SUBSTANTIALLY (INCREDIBLY!!) LOWER... than your and my fair.

Can anyone substantiate or deny?

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 27, 2008, 16:56:

My Pensionada Visa has expired. My passport will expire in approximately 5 months. I pland on getting everything updated in Bogota.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 27, 2008, 16:58:

It's pretty funny but a round trip with American Airlines is cheaper than a one-way ritght now.

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bickerss says on Mar 27, 2008, 23:31:

Check the passport Lost before you go. Many countries require 6 months left on a passport and that is something I have seen people with my company get deported for.

Investment Strategy - buying when others are crying!! Offloading when others are gloating!!!

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 28, 2008, 03:44:

twice I left Colombia though venezuela flying out of Caracas (best airline food)

Once DAS asked me about my ticket out. After I told them I would be leaving through Venezuela, they asked if I had credit cards, When I showed them all was ok.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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Juanes says on Mar 28, 2008, 07:17:

no one said jack all to me....i flew in on a one way from panama city for the carnaval last year into cartagena, no questions. i then flew from bogota to leticia one way and after going to manaus in brasil and round latin america i again enetered via ecuador in august 2007 into ipiales, at this time i never had a flight ticket to return to europe because originally i flew into mexico city in 2006 one way.

generally, i find this presents no issues whatsoever and you should get 90 days as normal, oh yes the 6 months at least on passport is v important i remember, i even exceeded my days in colombia and brasil and nowt happened.

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 28, 2008, 10:39:

Juanes,

Its the luck of the draw, most people aren´t going to have problems, but some will, always best to fit in with the required rules, its not worth fucking up a trip in my view.

Generally single tickets costs about the same as a return anyway, or just a little cheaper, presuming the person is returning to the same departure point.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 29, 2008, 18:54:

I don't where I got the information but I was under the impression that I didn't require the 6 months on my passport to enter Colombia. It looks like I will be staying another month in the Philippiens whether I like it or not. Just as well I suppose as I wanted to tour Thailand. You cannot enter Thailand if you don't have at least 6 months on your passport. And they do not "renew" your passport here. Everthing has to be sent back to Canada and a new passport is created. I'm not sure if that is the same for all passports. Had I been smart I would have got this done upon my arrival here 5 months ago. Has it been that long? I miss Colombia that's for sure.

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Ctg Bound says on Mar 30, 2008, 06:45:

Lostgringo,

I look forward to your return to Colombia.

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