Buying My Ticket - need flexibility - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**PlayPal** · 10-13-2004, 03:10 PM

I'm heading to Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece) in November and I'm not sure what type of ticket would be best to buy. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to be returning, but it will be after at least 2 months. It seems as though one way tickets are the same price as round trip ones, and I haven't been able to find any sort of open-ended tickets on any of the bargain sites (expedia, travelocity, etc). Anybody have any advice?

**skidrage** · 10-13-2004, 07:42 PM

Though I have never had any problem, one-way tickets might cause some trouble for you with custom officials. This is because they want to see proof that you will be leaving the country. Also, one-way ticket and round trip tickets are usually around the same in price (as you mentioned), so by buying a one-way ticket, you are going to end up paying twice as much for your round trip flight.

I suugest that you buy a round trip ticket, but make sure how much it would cost to change the return date and how many days in advance you need to notfiy the Airline. The fee to change the date is usually around $100. This way, you will have your proof of return ticket, but you will be able to change the date as needed.

**PlayPal** · 10-13-2004, 08:57 PM

Ahhh, you vewy vewy smaaht. Thanks for the help. I didn't even think of the custum officials thing. No reason to make that part of traveling any more unpleasant than it already can be. Gracias.

**Somnambulation** · 10-14-2004, 05:53 PM

I struggled with this decision before I took my trip this summer and I ended up going with the round trip ticket. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten a one way, just because I was very uncertain about when I would be coming home. The only probelm you are likely to face is at customs in London and even then, if you have a rail pass they will probably rea;lize that you dont plan on working illegally in Britain. Plus with a one way you can take advantage of last minute reduced prices for your return flight, but it also means that you have to be somewhat disciplined with your spending so that you dont spend your return money.

**worldwidemike** · 10-15-2004, 09:22 AM

Of course, if you find a cheap enough ticket, then you can just "throw away" the return portion, in essence. Some basics, though: Travel on a Tuesday-Thursday...the more flexible you are on travel times and dates, the cheaper they can get your price down to. Buy your ticket in the "slow times" of the airline biz...after Christmas and up until Spring break are the best. Watch the newspapers for sales and read their fine print. A lot of times you only have to BUY your ticket by "X Date," but can put off the actual departure till later. The cheapest fares are usually 90 days out, with the "Fare Class" getting progressively more expensive as the departure date approaches.

If you are truly going to be gone for who knows how long, then you can buy another "round trip" to come home. Use all the above tips to negotiate the fare down to the cheapest price, and simply don't use the "return" portion...

As a rule, one way tickets are more expensive because they're targetted at business travelers -- not us cheapskate leisure travelers.

worldwidemike

**bellelass** · 10-15-2004, 05:57 PM

I have used travelocity many many many times, and I have a habit of cruising their site of deals. If you search for flexible dates, its really amazing what you can find- my best friend and I are going to london over new years for around $300 each rt.

I'd just go one way and if you dont use the other half, big deal. f- it. of course, when you have to come back to the states....

**PlayPal** · 10-18-2004, 08:55 PM

Hmm, thanks for the tips. I'm leaving in Mid-November, so the 90 day thing is long gone, but I'll definitely try to travel on tuesdays or thursdays. I'm hoping that it will help that it's the tourist off-season over there.