Wondered if some of you savvy
travelers can give me the pros/ cons
of purchasing one-way tickets.

For too many reasons to list,
there are two upcoming trips
where I only need a one way ticket.

I understand the price may
be similar, if not more expensive,
but I'm more concerned about
horrific security stories; how
likely is this blue eyed blonde
(natural ) to be flagged?

Advice please?
Just buy round trip and toss the return?
TIA.

More and more airlines are selling OW tix at decent prices.

Really depends on your route and timing.

In several OWs we've done in recent months (domestic and intl) I've yet to be SSSSd (but have on 2 RT itineraries.)

Where to? When?

For guaranteed SSSS you should buy a one-way ticket at last minute on a credit card not in your name. The security was not horrific, just tedious. At least you get to be "special" for 20 minutes.

If you buy the tix in advance (5 days or more) and have the CC with you when you check in there should be no problem. They just want to ensure that your fare wasn't paid for out of Afghanistan.

Nah, you should buy your one-way ticket with a big stash of dollar notes, or a suitcase of quarters!

I always buy my one-way tickets at the last minute, with no luggage, thick heeled boots, while wearing a trench coat. Begets great entertainment every time. Especially because my gut suggests something strapped around my waist.
8-)

Lots of business travelers fly one-way (or multi-city trips). TSA makes a great effort not to obviously profile in or out travlers - so being blond or female is not going to help. But extra security is usually not that big a deal - my 73 year old mother and 13 year old daughter were "specially selected" on a trip to Orlando 2 years ago - made for a good story later, which is part of the reason you hear stories - they are rather rare.

and it's no big deal if you get flagged. It takes about extra 5 minutes out of your life. Last year, flying ~130,000 miles I was randomly flagged once, and it was at my home airport which I visit about every 2 weeks. The great AA TA (who treats me like a family), offered to take the SSSSs out from the BPs, but it would take her about 10 minutes of typing. I was running little late for my flight so I thanked her for the offer but I declined. Went upstairs to the F gates at TPA. At the end it turned out that the SSSSs actually helped me in this instance. I was steered towards the "special" line where all the tagged passengers and crew members are sent. There was nobody there, so even though it took about 5 extra minutes for the magic wand and my carry on search, I was way ahead of the people that got to the regular line at the same time I got there and even had time to have a drink before the flight started boarding.

Don't sweat the small stuff...

Thanks for all the posts
and laughs
Although I won't be laughing
if something icky happens

I'll probably use FF miles for
one of the trips,
which should help, right?

(It *is* possible to use miles for
ONE way flights,isn't it?)

Most airlines do not have one-way FF award tickets. That means you need to spend the miles for a roundtrip, and then you'll throw away the return.

I see nothing wrong with SSSS. If anything it gets me through security much faster.

It was a couple of years back now, but did a business trip to the US as a round trip with about 8 or 9 stops before returning to LAX.

As we were travelling on OWT's and non US citizens we had the privelege of security checks at EVERY airport. The amusing thing was the standard retoric that it was a 'random' search. There was nothing random about it!

One airport (Phily) we arrived 2 hrs before the flight and almost missed it because of the security checks!