Return ticket

BS on the "absolute responsibility" and the "need" to do so. If they NEEDED to do so, it would be done every time. If it were a real issue, it wouldn't be ignored as often as it is. These companies are not stupid: they know that certain countries may fine them, and others would not.

As discussed a million times, Costa Rica and Panama are different (not to mention the US, which marches to its own beat) and have publicly made changes to their ongoing policies. If airlines truly had some issue with one-way tickets flying into Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras (and Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, etc.), do you think that travelers would virtually never have probs flying into those places except for a few exceptions? The world is made up of "rules" that don't get followed and all of us have probably already broken one by morning coffee.

No offense, but if you're constantly being asked how you're gonna manage to get yourself out of Guatemala, maybe just you look a little... rough around the edges. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Or shaving, etc.

That does make sense #11... most of the accounts I've heard of people having no problems are from North American or Western Euro travelers.

Having flown to G one-way on no less than 4 airlines in the last 4 years (United, the late Continental, AA, and Spirit) with no probs, and that's the experience of most folks.

OTOH it's not impossible that there is an actual change going on with the new government pushing airlines to do the checking, but I have a hunch that's not the case.

Hahaha, I would not say I personally look dodgy as most of the time I do business travels here, so I cannot allow myself any deviations from the "normal and socially accepted look".

It could be because of my nationality though, it's so exotic (not many Spanish speaking Bulgarians around hahaha) for this part of the world so they feel the need to check if some special requirements for me... And they are just following what the IATA is showing them... So yeah, it's different for everyone...

Keep banging your drum enroutesilgo by all means.....but you just happen to be wrong on this one.....#9 is spot on....watch this space in terms of hardening up on this for all travelers...

#13, if they really were required to do this, why do they do it so rarely except for one or two countries?

Is it that you simply are more aware of the regulations than the airlines are – in case a sternly worded letter and serious dressdown is in order? Or is it perhaps that they are fully aware that they don't "need" to do any such thing, because Mexico, Guatemala, etc. never fine them, so they in fact just don't even bother in reality?

Nobody's denying that Costa Rica is an exception, but with other countries it's just not common – yet. Tim said so much himself when he suggested that OP fly to Mexico. Mexico has exactly the same technicalities on the books, but travelers are fully aware that the airlines almost never enforce them (because they have no need to do so).

Not sure how anyone could disagree with this? Not denying that they ought to do that, just like we technically "need" to follow the speed limit or never jaywalk, but in reality...

I flew Gua-Hav-Gua once this year and when I was leaving Havana they wanted an onward ticket. I laughed and told them I would gladly stay but they quickly said no.
It is a rule, but VERY rarely enforced. Every flight I take, 6-10 per year for 15+ years, is a one way back to Guate. Never a problem.

They can't be serious. Why would you buy a RT ticket when the odds are you will end up dead in Guatemala? Everyone knows it is unsafe to go there and if you go, it will be One Way.

And I wish People would stop calling us Old tourists, Senior Citizens--We prefer to be called, "The soon to be dead"

One time Costa Rican immigration asked if I had a return ticket when using the land border from Panama. Another time they didn't ask. I don't look rough. I think anywhere it can be the roll of the dice although I have heard Spirit Airlines is the worst with asking for this ( no shock, I think they would sell their mother for another dollar ).

If I am going anyplace internationally and don't have a return ticket from that country, I plan for being asked even if it doesn't happen (and most times it doesn't). Waving a paper with a travel company logo might help.

American Airlines had never bothered me about this. And when I arrive at immigration, I am dressed cleanly and well, well groomed too...I say Good Afternoon in Spanish, smile and increase the chances of a hassle-free passing.

Sometimes while waiting in line I take a mental bet on who will have the most trouble in Central America. If you guess the couple where the guy looks like he was picked out of the sewer and the girl looks like she misplaced the other half of her outfit when at the Streetwalker's Convention, it would be a good bet.

I've had airline people try to bs me a bunch of times like charging me sales tax twice, etc. Don't let them tell you anything about it being their absolute responsibility to require it either. More likely it is their absolute responsibility to add to their bank balance. Just tell them you're meeting your uncle who is driving up from Panama and will travel along with him or something plausible and they'll back off. I've driven to the US from Guatemala and flown back, flown there and driven back several times and vice versa and nobody has ever asked me anything.

#18- try flying from Lauderdale via Spirit Air and see where that approach gets you...good luck!