1

It does. I did the same a couple of years ago flying with Iberia to San Jose and with Taca or so to Managua, back a couple of months later from Mexico city to Madrid/Amsterdam...no problem

2

It is the airlines that enforce the "Onward Travel" requirements for an airline. Its also depends on your Passport, #1 may not have to adhere to the same rules as yourself. Usually, it is not an issue when issued on the same airline, as they will see you are returning from the trip on a round trip basically, but a different return airline can result in the departure airline requiring you to prove your are leaving Nicaragua or the entry country regardless. This return travel must also take place within the time frame of the Entry/Exit duration, the length of stay for the Visa you will be given, based on what Passport you hold, most get 90 Days, but you need to check that as well.

Lastly, it usually easier to skirt the requirements by flying into Cancun or Mexico City MX etc, where the requirements dont exist for many nationalities, especially if you plan to take more than 90 days to visit the region, which is usually the amount of time granted to most North Americans/EU/UK/Aussie passport holders.
So, you should check with the airline you want to fly on, for it is they who will require the conditions be met, at the airport at check in for a flight to the region, and they can deny issuing boarding passes unless the requirement is fulfilled on the terms they deem meeting the requirements.

Use this to see what the rules are for your passport, country of departure, transit and destination.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/visa-health/global/en

3

#2 is quite correct- ironically subsequent departure from a different location is NOT proof of onward travel from the destination country, daft that that may seem. However as per #1 some airlines may accept it, especially if you are flying with the same airline...

4

Most of the world's airlines could care less, it's just the US based airlines that are conspiring to ripoff travelers with the "onward ticket" scam!

You're smart in avoiding transiting the US with your travel plans.

5

Indeed, avoid the U.S. last year i flew to Nicaragua with Continental and had a lot of problems with the airline as wel as at immigration in Houston although i had this stupid Esta-form and was only in transit, and had a 1000 euro ticket, never again.

6

Its certainly not only US airlines- I have had exactly the same issues departing the UK on BA and on Virgin...

7

#5 is spot on, I will never transit through the US again!

8

It is not just the US. The airlines are fined if they deliver a passenger to a country that does not meet the requirements, whether it be nit having a Visa, ineligible for a tourist Visa, Passport expired within 6 months of arrival, or no "Onward Travel" requirements.

The US may be pain to transit for most, but the ESTA is not exactly hard to conform to either. Considering that every airlines in the US serves Central America, many with multiple flights per day from multiple cities, it can very cheap to transit thru the US in Miami, NYC, Atlanta and Dallas/Houston.

Every popular country with expats and tourism has been enforcing or changing the requirements to make it harder for people to stay in a country, especially with the economic downturn in the USA/EU, some countries are fed up with the abuse, like Thailand, and even China.

9

So the answer to Baobaba"s question is still "no problem" wether it"s the airline or the country that demands an onward ticket..!?

10

And BTW- Taca is the first one that started enforcing these rules before anyone, ages ago, a El Salvador based airline...

11

Yezz, but how SOME us citizens........some are more intelligent...AMAZING..........

12

Hmmm #10 flew TACA SAL-BOG-SAL on a visa run in March 2012, no problem boarding the return flight without an onward ticket.

BTW #10 When was the last time you were in El Salvador?

13

Thank you all for your responses!
though i must admit i'm even more confused now. as far as i understood while trying to find some accurate info, this law is actually introduced by countries in central america and doesn't have to do anything with the greed of some airline companies :)
Here's what i was answered after i contacted Condor airlines directly:
''Our personal at the airport is subject to the regulations by the country and will only accept passengers in accordance with the entry regulations. Please ask the Immigration Office if they can provide you with a written and signed copy to verify their statement to show during the check-in and to avoid further complications.''
Btw,is this rule applicable only if you enter Nicaragua via plane??? (in that case nobody can stop you from buying a one-way ticket to Mexico and entering Nicaragua overland without return ticket)
Anway, i guess i could also buy online ''onward'' bus ticket to any of the surrounding countries and avoid troubles that way.

Edited by: baobaba

14

#14 the FACT is the immigration officers at the airport almost never (unless you're a stoned hippie or the like) ask for an onward ticket.

It's the US based carriers that practice the scam as they know no one (that matters) will complain, just be sheep following the flock & PAY/PAY/PAY!!!