Buying one-way ticket from Spain to USA
 

I've been told that you can not buy a ticket in the USA that is from outside the USA to USA. Is this true. I need a one way ticket from Barcelona to NYC. Help!

Of course you can purchase a one way ticket that originates from outside of the US. Some websites restrict purchases for itineraries originating from outside the US if you're using a US based credit card (mostly to prevent fraudulent charges I believe), but you can call the airline's telephone reservations to make the purchase.

You can, but it is EXTREMELY expensive to do so. I would recommend that you buy a roundtrip and have the return date as late as possible or around a time you think you may be coming home. (Try midweek for cheaper fare.)

If you don't return on the date, call the airline and see what they say about changing a return ticket date.

You can on most airlines -- but not from their websites. In years past this was impossible - but with the advent of electronic ticketing and some rules changes, it can be done.

You need to talk to a customer service rep - and it will be very expensive. One ways always are.

The round trip gambit iltte suggests would save you money - but be sure you buy R-T Spain>USA>Spain and not USA>Spain>USA. Because, if you don't use the initial USA>Spain leg the airline will cancel the rest of your ticket.

Question, I was under the impression having a one way ticket for international travel made one subject to heavy security clearance. Is this true?

Oh Yeah! On any one way ticket be prepared for any or all of - pat down, body search, complete screening, extensive interviews, and possible delays/denials -- but you can still buy a 1-way tkt.

Some of the multi-line services, such as Travelocity, etc, won't sell a ticket for a flight originating outside the US. But I think many of these have affiliate sites in Europe. I know Expedia has multiple sites for Europe; I just visited the Italian one, but it was only in Italian so I couldn't read the error messages that my search caused.

Often a discount round trip costs far less than a one-way ticket; some people have been known to miss the return flight, for whatever reason. Of course, that price phenomenum is based on US originating tickets; perhaps there is a different rule for Europe originating tickets, or on some airlines.

janis, believe I personally will just continue to buy r/t tickets. LOL. I have enough problems as it is getting through security. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving.

kayonnine,
Have you tried an independent travel agent? Or perhaps try calling the airlines directly.

I was under the impression that after 9/11 you couldn't purchase one-way tickets, but my daughter is going to study in Italy in March and isn't sure when she wants to return since she wants to travel in Europe for awhile and might even be doing another quarter the following Fall. So last night she was on a student travel website and yes, she can purchase a one-way ticket (and the price was pretty good since it's for students). However, when she went to check out prices on expedia and britishairways.com she couldn't get one-way quotes. I told her to call them, but yes, this can be done.

Good luck.

I've flown one-way from Europe to the US in 2002, 2003 and 2004. All one-way tickets, all purchased from the US, all cheaper than the cheapest round-trip that I could locate. No pat downs, no body searches, no extensive interviews.

Try airdeals.com, justfares.com or consolidators listed in your Sunday travel section (or in the NY Times).

Even if you could buy a one-way ticket to the US, you should consider the possibility that the immigration officer will ask to see your return ticket. Unless you've the right of permanent residence in the US, you might be sent for secondary inspection. So you might want to consider this possibility and then think about whether it's worth the potential risk or trouble. If you can't convince US immigration that you're not intending to overstay, then you could put on the next flight home -- this does happen.

111op,, I was wondering about that too.

I know when I have friends come here from Italy they have to show their return ticket. Of course kayonnine may be US citizen or holds a green card.

Good point though.