One way flight … any tips?

Geranium44

Hi my son is planning on a working holiday in Australia and has an unknown return date within the next 6 months. Consequently he is intending to buy a single ticket on his credit card. 

He’s already booked backpacking travel insurance and is aware the policy won’t cover a return journey that isn’t booked at the outset. Are there any other areas he needs to be aware of eg should the airline (yet to be booked) cancels? He’s flexible on departure so wouldn’t be a major issue. 

Many thanks. 

Voyager2002

He would do better to buy a return ticket with a flexible return date. That would solve the problem with the travel insurance and would probably give a total air fare much lower than buying two single tickets.

eskbanker

If he's flying from the UK then his flight will be protected by the UK261 regulations, which ensure that if the airline cancels then they're obliged to get him on another flight and pay compensation too (unless outside their control):

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays/

Paying by credit card is definitely a good idea, and given the number of tales on here and elsewhere, he'd be well advised to book directly with the airline rather than trying to cut corners by using cheap intermediaries.

Not aware of any issues specifically associated with booking one-way flights though, unless not having a return booking hinders entry to Australia perhaps?

El_Torro

A one way ticket is often more expensive than a return, especially for long haul flights. Not very intuitive pricing, but there you go. 

alanrowell

El_Torro said:

A one way ticket is often more expensive than a return, especially for long haul flights. Not very intuitive pricing, but there you go. 

One way tickets tend to be the most flexible so you can cancel, change dates right up to departure. Return tickets tend to be use it or lose it and require you to travel on the named flights. It's the difference between buying Anytime or Advance train tickets 

tightauldgit

Geranium44 said:

Hi my son is planning on a working holiday in Australia and has an unknown return date within the next 6 months. Consequently he is intending to buy a single ticket on his credit card. 

He’s already booked backpacking travel insurance and is aware the policy won’t cover a return journey that isn’t booked at the outset. Are there any other areas he needs to be aware of eg should the airline (yet to be booked) cancels? He’s flexible on departure so wouldn’t be a major issue. 

Many thanks. 

I haven't looked at specifics for Australia but be aware that many immigration depts can be funny about one-way tickets without an onward travel booking and, indeed, airlines may refuse to board someone (at their discretion) who does not have an onward ticket.
 

Geranium44

Thanks everyone for your very helpful comments. I think my son will book his single tickets both ways. The airlines direct look to be around £400-500 more costly than Kayak etc and wonder if it’s worth spending the difference? How likely is a 3rd
party like Kayaj cease trading?

Voyager2002

Geranium44 said:

Thanks everyone for your very helpful comments. I think my son will book his single tickets both ways. The airlines direct look to be around £400-500 more costly than Kayak etc and wonder if it’s worth spending the difference? How likely is a 3rd
party like Kayaj cease trading?

Kayak is simply a search engine. It shows fares offered by airlines directly, and also by travel agents. These vary from the few excellent ones (Trailfinders) to the many who are outrageously bad and have offices in countries where it is difficult to sue them from the UK: examples of these include eDreams; Opodo; LastMinute; Trip and many more. If buying through an agent please read reviews first.

Note that you can get a flexible return ticket for less than the price of two singles, but for this you need to ask an airline or good travel agent.

Voyager2002

tightauldgit said:

I haven't looked at specifics for Australia but be aware that many immigration depts can be funny about one-way tickets without an onward travel booking and, indeed, airlines may refuse to board someone (at their discretion) who does not have an onward ticket.
 

This depends on the type of visa. Airlines simply follow the rules laid down by the government of the destination country.

tightauldgit

Voyager2002 said:

tightauldgit said:

I haven't looked at specifics for Australia but be aware that many immigration depts can be funny about one-way tickets without an onward travel booking and, indeed, airlines may refuse to board someone (at their discretion) who does not have an onward ticket.
 

This depends on the type of visa. Airlines simply follow the rules laid down by the government of the destination country.

In theory they follow the rules of the destination country but they also tend to err on the side of caution in their own policies and its at the discretion of the airline who they allow to board. If I was travelling with a one way ticket and no onward travel booked I would be double checking with the airline that I would be allowed to board. 

CKhalvashi

You may save with a return ticket compared to a one way. I will mix and match one way tickets with low cost airlines, including creating self-connections and open jaw, but wouldn't dream of doing this for long haul. Open tickets are available and others can be changed at a minimal cost, which may be more cost effective.

It will also depend on which visa is being used. Some will be fine without a return ticket (and except one country where return ticket (checked at check-in and at the border) and travel insurance at the border is strictly enforced), I've never been asked to show a return ticket, even when arriving as a visitor. I can't comment directly on Australian requirements however.

Be careful with agents as a few can be very good, many are extremely bad. Always watch for fees.