So I'll be roaming Europe for 3 weeks in mid-May. I need to fly back to Dallas on 6/2 and really don't want any connecting flights. I don't care what city I fly out of, as I'll just schedule that city as my last stop.
So far, the cheapest I've found is a non-stop from Frankfurt on Iberia for $777. Buy now, or keep checking in May while I'm in Europe for something better?
Wait, so you are suggesting that you would buy your return ticket while you were in Europe on your vacation? Really not a great a idea, for a couple of reasons. Reason 1 - the cost will be about 2-3X what you are seeing now. On a side note, buying one-way tickets is never cost effective. Reason 2 - On more than one occasion, I have been asked to show proof to immigration officials and/or airline officials of a return ticket before boarding. Basically, Europe is not interested in people coming over and not leaving and they want to be sure you're going back.
Using Google Flights, I see directly Europe to DFW non-stop flight from London, Paris, Frankfurt and Madrid on June 2.
I'm flying in to London from Cancun, then returning to Dallas, so a round trip ticket wasn't happening.
I'll probably grab the Frankfurt to Dallas non-stop ticket unless someone knows a trick for finding a cheaper one. I had to use 6 different search sites, plugging in every city that has direct flights to DFW. Skyscanner was the only one that found the Iberian non-stop flight.
I think you'll find the operating aircraft is American Airlines in codeshare with Iberia.
You would then be purchasing a multi-city (open jaw ticket). Again, you do not want to enter Europe without the ability to show proof that you have a ticket to leave. And, yes, Iberian would be a code-share, so you won't actually fly with Iberia.
Are you thinking that you need two one-way tickets? You don't, just buy a multi-city ticket, instead of clicking roundtrip, click on the multi-city option.
I don't think it will be any cheaper in May - usually it goes up as it gets closer. The Iberia flight out of Frankfurt will work fine, that seems like a decent price for a direct one-way. I also would not want to enter Europe without a return scheduled - may raise eyebrows at immigration. So get something between now and when you leave, even if not this flight.
Have you bought your ticket there yet? If not, a multi-city ticket may be cheaper. Plug in Cancun to London and {whatever return city} to Dallas- then it will all be on one ticket and quite possibly cheaper.
Our flights from DFW to Europe and back via NYC are about $110 less per person than the OP's from Frankfurt. So in our case, one-way flights were, and are, more cost effective.
That said, I do agree that non-stop is preferable if your budget allows.
I booked the non-stop from Frankfurt, I'd rather just get it out of the way. Thanks all.
Has anyone entering Schengen with a US passport ever been asked to
prove they had a return flight?
I haven't but our 20 years son was quizzed about this return plans. He was asked the date, the airline, and the airport that he was returning from. He expected the next question would be to see his travel schedule. But he was able to answer firmly and quickly so the officer looked at him for a second or two and then stamped the passport. I am guessing that if he had hesitated with his answer there would have been more questions.
Glad to hear about the non-stop using Frankfurt. It has the most international locations in the world so is of course, a giant hub! We flew in early 2005 when they still had the U.S. air base there.
With so many transatlantic cruises one way tickets are common place. When we arrived by cruise ship no cared about our plans for returning to the US.
It probably depends on the airline and the circumstances. We booked a one-way flight from Australia to New Zealand on Emirates, together with a one-way back to Australia from Queenstown on New Zealand Air. The Emirates check-in desk required me to show proof of travel out of New Zealand before they would give us our boarding pass. Fortunately I had a copy of the e-tickets with me.
On the other hand, we fly to and from London on British Airways on one-way tickets all the time and have never been questioned. I book that way because we fly on miles. Maybe we have never been questioned because we have considerable history with the airline, or maybe they can look at my other pending flights and see that we do have a flight out of Heathrow weeks later. Or perhaps British Airways is not strict about it because we can stay there 180 days rather than 90.
People -- you REALLY should check of the date of the original post/question. The poster has been and is now home and all the current suggestions about one way ticket problems is mute. The thread was awaken by a first time poster.
True, but kaeleku rised the issue anew with their plans or a one-year trip which will require booking one way at a time, since one cannot buy RT tickets that far apart.
Kaeleku - if you were almost denied, there's a possibility that a flag was placed on your passport. This isn't definite, it does depend on the airline. If this is the case, you'll be questioned much more thoroughly and probably would have to provide proof of a return ticket. I had over-stayed by a week in 2010, but could prove that it was for emergency surgery - and I had a return ticket. Ever since then, I get the 3rd degree when boarding a plane or train, though.
I think the safest option would be to purchase a refundable return ticket. Peace of mind is priceless.
