Return ticket

In the last 6 months, I have now known of three instances with personal friends who have come to Guatemala to volunteer for more than 3 months, where they have been required at the airport to buy a return ticket. One was with Spirit Airlines, one with American Airlines and one with TACA. I understand that a return ticket is required, but a bus ticket or anyway out of the country is permitted.

I believe that only Guatemala is enforcing this and doing so in a corrupt manner. Does anyone have experience with this upon departure to other countries, as well? I am wondering if this has recently become a norm for every country or just with Guatemala.

I understand that this is the law in every country in the world. Please, respond giving examples of if you know of experiences elsewhere.

Thanks all!

I fly out/in of Guatemala 6-8 times a year and a return ticket has never been required. The airlines enforce this not Guate immigrations.

You are definitely wrong in your theories.

Guatemala is in fact one of the least obtrusive countries in this regard and just wants people to come, no matter what. This is STRICTLY the airlines attempting to make extra $; it is their call, and IMO there is zero chance of them getting 'fined' as they flame. There are, OTOH, countries in the region who are more involved in these policies: Costa Rica and Panama come to mind.

I am extremely surprised that American Airlines is doing it as I've flown them one way at least 4 times and never had to produce. Regardless, it's an easy formality to get around, just bring a sample itinerary or a bus ticket.

Agreed, it's just the airlines covering their asses - nothing to do with Guatemala at all.

The law says that if Guatemala turns you back for not having onward proof the airline has to foot the bill to fly you back where you came from.

Last time they pulled me up on it I had a return flight to Guatemala with Aeromexico and they weren't going to let me board. But after about two minutes I think they realized what a useless charade it all was, and made me a reservation on an outgoing flight in a weeks' time and printed that up so that if Guatemalan immigration asked for proof of onward travel I had a piece of paper to wave at them.

The reservation (it was like a pre-reservation, or an intent-to-reserve or some such airline jargon) cost nothing and didn't even need to be cancelled - the conditions were that if I didn't confirm (and pay) within 72 hours, it expired.

Which all worked fine, but I admit it all revolves around actually ending up with a human on the other side of the check in counter.

Airlines need to comply with the rules of Immigration in a given country, even when the country is not enforcing them. This is also true for Costa Rica and Panama. In fact, in Panama, you need proof of Onward Travel at the Borders, or they make you buy a $14 bus ticket returning to Costa Rica. Airlines can be fined.

Also, you can avoid this by flying oneway to Cancun MX and then head down to Belize/Border. MX is no issue flying OW from most countries,

Airlines need to comply with the rules of Immigration in a given country, even when the country is not enforcing them

Nah... they definitely don't 'need' to do this, and in the vast majority of cases they don't even bother. It's pretty much a purely human/random process (and my experiences includes having issues on around 2 out of 30+ one-way flights over the last several years). Not claiming to be an expert on the mechanics of it but I'm absolutely sure that Guatemala is not fining these companies; other countries, from the information that's available, do it in some rare cases. It's not the case here and they are desperate for more tourists arriving by air.

Mexico is pretty much identical in this regard: they have the same technical requirements on the books, TT posters have reported a couple of problems with airlines on departure even though it's fine 95% of the time, etc. There is zero advantage whatsoever of changing travel plans to there for this reason.

Not so #5.....Solohobo is correct....the boarding airlines have an absolute responsibility to ensure their passengers comply with the set entry requirements including onward travel before allowing them to board. Fines are unlikely in practice only because immigration rarely check for onward travel (but they will if they are looking for a reason to deny entry). Whilst it has potential for the airlines to make money selling additional tickets the whole thing is a hassle that many check-in staff still can't be bothered with, but it looks like its being tightened up gradually and I wouldn't be surprised if its cast in stone pretty soon (including the types of "proof" that are acceptable)....
Watch This Space....

I was driving from Canada to Costa Rica once and they wouldn't let me enter the USA because I didn't have an "onward ticket". I said "what sort of onward ticket could I have if I'm driving a car?"....they said "but how did you get here without an onward ticket?"...I said "I flew into Canada on a one-way"....they said "you should never have been allowed to board the aircraft". Nice...I (Heart) Merkins....

I agree that this is being tightened up and becoming more prevalent. In the past it seemed to be only flights originating in or entering the U.S. and then usually just Spirit but now it is universal with all airlines to enter Costa Rica. When you present a proof of residency card which waives you from this requirement the person at the check in desk always disappears with the card momentarily to do what? Authenticate this credential? Ask a supervisor if it is O.K.? Copy it?
Recently I flew one way from Bogota to San Jose on Copa and I went through this whole scene at El Dorado. Definitely here to stay.
There are online businesses that will buy and deliver a Ticabus or Transnica ticket out of Costa Rica, at a very inflated price I would add, that satisfies the law even if you do not intend to actually use it. The whole thing in general has the contrived appearance of a money grubbing enterprise in my opinion.
The only way to truly circumvent these laws is to become a legal resident of the country you intend live in. As immigration and its implications becomes more of a concern, even in developing countries, the air carriers will have no choice but to enforce these policies. Guatemala included.

It's the airlines obligation to make sure you have all the documents required by the country where your destination is before letting you board the flight. They should be checking you for visa, onwards ticket, etc.I believe they use the IATA database, you can have a look what the requirements are - http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/travelinformation.php

The airlines (TACA, COPA) have always checked if I am holding an onward ticket out of Guatemala in less then 3 months... I have never been asked for such thing by Guatemala immigrations though, so it's sort of stupid to require such a ticket as there are other ways to leave GT in 3 months without flying...

I think any per-purchased ticket with valid PNR/itinerary will do the job... And it can be cancelled once here... All this does not make much practical sense apart of the airlines trying to sell you under pressure an extra ticket I assume...

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!

Roberto--I get picked for the personal shakedown almost every time I fly. My daughter thinks it is hilarious. I tell her they do it because they think I am the reincarnation of Jesus. They always inspect the bottom of my feet to see if I have something taped there but I think they are looking for nail holes.

Even the USF&WS inspectors give me a going over looking for endangered something or other.

Maybe they just had an issue with your souvenirs.
http://premiumblend.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/shrunken-heads.2.jpg

xinloi- sorry you are stopped (LOL)
but, seriously, I think it sometimes is the roll of the dice, but I also think people who look very "wild" to the inspectors are sometimes profiled and have rules enforced on them others are not asked about. I can understand someone saying "I am what I am", and not changing a style of dress or haircut.

I am almost off on another trip to Haiti so please forgive me if I don't see messages right away. Interestingly, Haitian inspectors have never asked me anything and the last time I flew into Port Au Prince, American Airlines either forgot or didn't bother to check if I had my passport (never mind the return ticket). Coming back to the US, it was another story- no one got near the plane without an inspection of documents.

Looks are important. For example, I had encountered a UN roadblock while in a taxi in Port Au Prince. The driver thought if I spoke to the UN "police" they would just let us pass. I was sad 'white" skin is seen as so powerful. The driver was amazed I wouldn't just tell the UN guys that we were important and had to pass.

It always helps to take a bath before you go to the airport you know?

I've been asked for a return ticket about half the times I've flown into Latin America on Spirit. Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico. The simplest solution is to get a travel agent to print you out a reservation for a return flight before you leave. You don't have to actually buy the ticket. Show that to the check-in people and you are fine. I've also had luck with bogus home-made itinerary printouts. Airlines don't always ask, but I always carry one to be safe. It is no fun at all being denied boarding at the last minute.

Wow. Regardless of who or what asks for return proof or not....

A friend told me that in Costa Rica there is a particular buslines that offer "fake tickets" sold soley for the purpose of showing return proof and are not good for any actual bus trip. They are about $10 and I apologize greatly but I do not know the company name. I am looking to purchase a ticket myself right now and if I find it I will post it.

It is against the LP Forum rules to promote illegal activity.

Does that include suggesting to alter airline quotes with white out Solo?

It's the white out what makes it legal!

Wow. Regardless of who or what asks for return proof or not....

A friend told me that in Costa Rica there is a particular buslines that offer "fake tickets" sold soley for the purpose of showing return proof and are not good for any actual bus trip. They are about $10 and I apologize greatly but I do not know the company name. I am looking to purchase a ticket myself right now and if I find it I will post it.

.....

www.ticabus.com

lol @ #27! "do as i say not as i do"

My suggestion of making a reservation and placing it on hold, and to put white out on the Hold part, is not illegal, as you actually have a valid reservation you can still purchase right there at the gate if you wanted to with your smartphone.ipad or calling AA. A pending reservation is different than a fake reservation...haha

but the reservation with AA is only for 24 hours, correct? so, after 24 hours it is just as fake as a fake reservation?

That is why you make the reservation right before you go to the airport...