'the return ticket debate

Robert Jorge says on Oct 4, 2006, 17:44:

I have only entered Colombia twice. Both times were this year, from the US. Both times, I was never asked to provide an airline ticket showing I when I was coming back. I didn't have one to show them if they asked. The DAS does have you fill out a short form, that the airline gives you during the last 1/2 hour or so before you land. You have to write down how long your stay is, address, declaration of what your bringing in, purpose of visit, and so on. For this form, just fill it out the best you can, and make shit up if you have to. For example, I hadn't booked a hotel, so for my address in Colombia, I just made something up. For my length of stay, I was in a similar situation as you, I just wrote down what would have been 6 months from my entry date. I never got hassled and went through the lines both times quickly. My opinion, is just buy the one way ticket, and don't worry about it. Worse case scenario, if they ask for a return ticket, just say you "don't have one, it is electronic." I am 99% sure, the only time you will be asked to show your ticket, or itinerary proving your exit date, is IF you apply with the local DAS for a 30 day extension on top of your first 60 days in country. Hope this helps. Rob

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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Wastelandlive says on Oct 4, 2006, 19:44:

With all respect to the above opinion... There are some misconceptions there.

It's true that DAS cares about your return ticket, but the agency preventing you from going to Colombia on a one way ticket in the first place is the airline itself. They'd be stuck with flying you back were you to arrive in Colombia and be refused entry.

As a yacht captain, I used to fly round trip to the US FROM Colombia quite often. That meant, of course, that I returned to Colombia every time without a return ticket to the US. I had arrived in Cartagena under sail: my boat was there, and my last return, obviously would be under sail. I always carried my boat registration with me, and usually both DAS and the airlines accepted that explanation.

Once, Continental WOULD NOT let me board. I tried logic and reason. I showed them my papers. I asked them to call the Colombian consulate: whichever beaurocrat on the other end answered didn't know the right answer, and suggested that if I couldn't provide my "Merchant Marine Identity Card," (I'm not a MM), then I could come down to the consulate and fill out the necessary paperwork in triplicate, etc. etc.

I ultimately had to buy a fully refundable ticket. And I HAD a legal reason for a waiver. I was annoyed, but at the end of the day, it only required a few hours and a trip to the Continental office in Bogotá to get my money back.

It happens friend. Claiming you have no return ticket in hand because it's "electronic" makes NO SENSE. If you did have an electronic round trip ticket, there'd be a record accessible to the airline... no?

You are basically trying to break a rule. Punto. And things can be pretty relaxed in Colombia so you might get away with it. If not, just count on spending about a grand for the full fund one way fare back... it's refundable, and if you can afford travel internationally, with all the risks that entails, you should be able to handle that.

(I highly recommend you NOT be travelling to Colombia if you are broke. Shit happens.)

Best of luck.

Wasteland

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Robert Jorge says on Oct 4, 2006, 23:52:

Good advice Wastelandlive. You brought up things I never thought of. Basically, I was thinking of what DAS does at the Colombian entry point. I wasn't even thinking about the airline's rules. I still will stand by what I said about DAS at the airport. I never was asked for return tickets. But what the airlines require ... you have a good point. Of course the airline themselves would know if you had return tickets. I flew Continental my first trip, and had a return date ... but no actual "ticket" per say. My second trip, I flew LAN. I am here, and I do not have a return ticket from my original purchase ... I didn't know when I was going to come back. I am flying back to the US in 12 days with a one way ticket I bought from Avancia. Now you got me worried about that. I assume it will be no problem since I am a US citizen. Anyway, thanks for setting me straight. I guess it is good for people like me to give bad advice, so somebody that really knows what they are talking about will respond, and the poster thus gets accurate advice. Rob

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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roquero says on Oct 11, 2006, 21:35:

My experience I went on a one way ticket with Avianca last year, from Miami to Medellin, and they asked me for evidence of a return ticket.
Luckily, I had booked one with Copa.

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