Job Discussion Forums

[alexthelegance]

Ive heard that if you fly into buenos aires with a one way ticket, that they may not let you in the country, because they require proof of continued travel. Is that BS or am i going to get shipped back to california?

i was thinking of just buying a refundable ticket for Rio or something to show customs, but i dont want to worry about it if i dont need to

anyone know bout this sort of thing?

[Gareth2000]

yeah theres sum post im sure about this but i came in on a one way with a laptop a heap of stuff and had no problems - i don;t think anyone does

[alexthelegance]

cheers. i guess ill just role the dice

[tortuga]

I'm in the same situation now, whether to buy a refundable return ticket or not. Let us know what happens Alex.

[alexthelegance]

o man, im not leaving till the first week of november. i was kind of hoping there was another test rat for this.

[sheena maclean]

alex
Try posting on the Lonely planet forum yo might get an answer there
www.lonelyplanet.com

sheena

[chulanina]

I live in Buenos Aires. I have never had them ask me for my return ticket. That is just me. I have noticed the last few times they are getting a little more official. In the event you do get asked, if you do not have a return ticket you will not be let in the country. You can buy a ticket from BsAs to Uruguay which is pretty cheap and should be OK to do.

[R McKinley]

I've heard people get their passports stamped by going to Uruguay, how exactly does this work? If I want to stay more than 3 months in Argentina, either working or traveling within the country, I have to do this? By crossing over and back again to Argentina, this gives me another 3 months legal stay here? Do I have to show a return ticket?

R McKinley

[D Silverman]

Hello,

Was also thinking of flying to to Argentina on a one way ticket, do they send you back home for not having a round trip ticket? Thank you for the advice.


Damien

[snielz]

Okay,
I just got back to Argentina from the US for the second time in three months.

The first time I was worried as I bought a one-way ticket. So, I bought a trip on Buquebus to Uruguay for a few months later to show them that I was "travelling through SA" with "no intention of staying in AR". That first ticket was with LAN airlines-- I had absolutely no problem whatsoever despite having three bags, two laptops, and a meek look on my face. The guys at LAN didn�t care and certainly no one in AR cares.

With this experience behind me, I confidently purchased a roundtrip from BA to Puerto Rico and back from American Airlines without even thinking about having trouble getting back in. Coming back from Puerto Rico yesterday the guy from American Airlines would not check me in all the way to BA. The best I could get the guy in San Juan to do was send me to Miami where he said I would have to re-check in while showing evidence that I was returning. I was trying to figure out what to do so I talked to a person on the plane from American and she too was adamant that I would not be allowed to travel without a return ticket. Going to check in, I was fuming and scared of the hit my wallet was probably about to take. I would have to buy another, essentially useless, ticket to use the one that brought me back to BA today. One key is that it didn�t have to be with AA, but I had to be able to show something. Then, I got into the right line at check-in. This guy in Miami had evidently had a better lunch than the man in Puerto Rico and so he checked me in and printed my ticket and told me to have a nice day. My stomach untied and I reached across the counter and kissed him full on the forehead before heading to my gate.

So, after two trips through the US, this is my best advice: AA is the strictest and if you get the wrong person you may be out of luck. Technically they will be right so you will lose. On the other hand, it may work out, especially if you are a beautiful girl or not afraid to kiss another man on the forehead. Uhh... I am guessing that another airline such as LAN or Copa will give you much less trouble. US airlines will probably be the biggest pain in the butt- I think it is one of our cultural things combined with 911 effects.

For myself, if I return back to the States, say for Christmas, and plan to come back to AR, it will not be with American as I don�t want my hopes and dreams to be left to the whim of the "check-in guy" who has been standing on his feet all day punching a keyboard.

Good luck.

[sheena maclean]

I had a similar experience with British airways going to Colombia (no kissing involved tho!!). Basically British Airways nearly didn�t let me on aflight fromLondon tobogota because mt return tickethome was forlongetthan 3 months!! Luckily they helped me out bygiving me a 'dummy'ticket with a date within 3 months but keeping the reservation for the original date.
I guess the moral of the story is find out the policy of the particular airline you are travelling with rather than what what will happen at the airport when you arrive cause that is more likely to be where the problem lies.
Cheers all!
Sheena

PS Welcome 'home' Sneilz!!!!

[Gauchito]

Guys,
Having a few hundred thousands miles on my back (most of them in AA), I became somehow a lecturer of the system.
First I am from Argentina, therefore I constantly have to put up with all kind of airlines employees around the world, and INS agents.

The naked truth is that, and regardless of country rules an airline can't "push" you to have a return ticket from no country in the world.
As Snielz thought, you could get a ticket to "get out" of your destination country by other means (train, ship, rental-car, etc). And if we get to the point if an airline can ask you to show the other tkt that you may or may not have, they can't do that, that will be a violation of your rights. However it's true that after 9/11 they don't care much about your rights.
Ultimately you'll be the one in trouble once you get to your destination.

Anyway guys you're in ARG now, y'all made it and that's the important thing. ARG (INS) official doesn't care very much about you staying or working here. Mainly try to keep a low profile and don't get in trouble.

If there's anything you need to know about BA, I am a full blooded porte�o. USE ME...

Cheers

Gauchito

[kstjean]

I flew from the states to Buenos Aires on Avancia in July - I don't know where they are based, in Columbia maybe? Anyway, they gave me some trouble at check-in in Miami about not having a return ticket, but I showed them that I had a credit card to buy a ticket back with and that got me on the plane.

Once I got to Argentina they didn't care at all. The immigration guy barely said two words to me as he stamped my passport.

[D Silverman]

[srp]

i had no return ticket and no problems