Yep, that’s technically true, but you just need proof of onward travel outside of the UK. An ultra-cheap Ryanair ticket to Ireland or the Continent would suffice. As long as you don’t have more than 3 big suitcases, look or smell like a vagabond hippy, then you probably won’t be questioned.

Consolidators are good for one-ways:
www.flights.com
www.airdeals.com
www.economytravel.co…
www.allcheapfares.co…
www.justfares.com
There’s more if you do a one-way search at www.bookingbuddy.com

Yep – Don’s suggestion is a good one. If you’re worried, buy a OW ticket out on Ryanair, etc. The only problem with that is it can be a vicious circle – let’s say you buy a OW ticket from LONDON-BERLIN, well technically you might need to show a way out of Germany upon arrival. So a open jaw ticket might be best for your situation.

I suppose I can take a few days off to paris and then wrap up my work in UK.
thanks a lot

US passport holders can enter UK for 180 days to play tourist in a 360 day period. You can not leave and then return straight away with a 180 new days to play tourist. If your work were going to be 183 days, and you work 180 in UK, leave for 3 days to Paris, then come back to finish up in 3 more days, then that would be no problem.

Of course, buying a one-way ticket, and using a one-way ticket, are 2 different things (wink wink, nod nod). But if you will need to return to the UK in future, then you don’t want to risk getting caught overstaying your tourist days, and should arrange proper visa for work, residence, study, or family reunification.

I am having second thoughts on having a one way ticket. Might as well come back and then go back in late October.
I am going to call up Zoom to see if there are any penalty for returning earlier than schedule.

Please post back on that. My understanding is that Zoom tickets are basically 100% unchangeable. 

Will keep it posted. I have to buy something by tommorow. While talking to a Zoom agent, they indicated that the seats are smaller than the regular airlines. I am not sure if he was comparing them to the newer Virgin planes with the nice blue lights or they are smaller than the norm.
 
I am also not sure if I would like the overhead screen which will make my night really misearable. Problem is I have meetings on Fri and saturday so I really need to be fresh. Probably go directly from the airport. Last time, i went to the cafeteria for a coffee after ariving at the office and slept off for in a lounge chair till lunch time missing my meeting.
 
I am over 6 and long legs makes my travel a bit uncomfortable. In most circumstances, i ask for exit or bulk making me a special candidate for a XXXX security if you know what I mean.

Zoom has a premium economy product, with 37” or 38” of legroom, if I recall, but check their web site. This generally costs about an extra hundred or two hundred each way, so it might still be cheaper than a regular airline. You can also pay for seat selection (thus getting a bulkhead or whatever), but those seats might already have been purchased.

If you have close timing for your business meeting, I’d suggest choosing a flight that got you there as early as possible. I think Zoom is more prone to delays than the majors, but it could happen with any airline.

Hey, i have the same problem! My boyfriend and i were going to fly into Manchester, UK on a one-way ticket. Do you think having a Eurail pass will be good enough for them to let us in the country? The British Embassy in Canada said no, absolutely we need a return ticket, but it’s kind of up to the guys at Customs, isn’t it?
Another thing I’ve heard is that Amsterdam is more relaxed with their entry rules, so we could possibly fly there first. I’m just worried about travelling throughout Europe without a return ticket. I don’t want to get hassled every time we cross a border!
Any feedback appreciated. Sorry for jumping on your thread sammohanty, I just figured this was an appropriate place to post.

You must have proof of onward travel within 180 days max already arranged when you arrive. British Customs and Immigration are tough—every airport I’ve been through in the past 5 years (ABZ, NCL, LGW, STN, LHR, MAN) have always asked everyone questions before entering the UK. These typically are something like “What is the nature of your visit to the United Kingdom?” (tourist, work, study, etc.), “How long do you plan to stay?” (2 weeks, in transit, 4 months, etc.), “When will you be departing the United Kingdom?”, “Which places will you visit during your stay in the United Kingdom?”. If something doesn’t jive, then you’ll get additional questioning, and will need to show some proofs (seat reservations for trains leaving the UK by the time you told them, hostel reservations outside of the UK that line up with the itinerary you told them, etc.). Keep in mind that technically you must have proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the UK, as well as proof of health insurance, but this is rarely enforced unless your story doesn’t jive, or you look or smell like a vagabond hippy.

Don,
My son who is 21 months is travelling with me on a one way ticket. My wife is British but my son has a US passport. I purchased a 1 way ticket for him as I am not sure when my wife wraps up her work in London and return.
I know I am taking a chance but do you think the customs will really question his one way ticket or is there a age for which he can travel with his mother with no questioning.
I am leaving tommorow.

Since his mother is British, I doubt you’ll have a hard time about that one. They might ask why he does not have a British passport, and I guess technically they could deny him entry, but keeping a wee kiddy from his British mum working in London would not look good plastered on all the dailies, so I doubt you’ll have problems in this case. Keep in mind that I am not an immigration official, I’m just telling you what I’d personally do in a similar scenario, and the reasons I’d use for doing it.

If your son is eligible for a British passport, why not get one for him?
 
I’m not sure if you are traveling with them, but if not, make sure your wife has a notarized letter indicating you give her permission to take him.

Thanks Don,
That helps a lot. i feel a lot less stressed now!

Thanks traveller,
 
We both work for the same London based company, so we go every few months to attend the board meetings. However, I return within weeks or proceed somewhere else. It gives her some time to attend and clean up our flat.
This time we will be applying for my son’s British passport as my wife has both US and British.
 
I just have a normal working permit to work there.

Then just make sure your wife has a notarized letter anytime she’s traveling alone with your son. There are some templates on the web – I think on the Alaska Airlines site for example. 

Here was my experience:
Immigration asked me about my departure: In a few weeks. Not a problem
Immigration asked my wife about the son’s departure: she said he is only 22 months and cannot fly back on a return till her work is done. The officer said this was not allowed and he has to return with the dad. Wife said, dad cannot take care of the son alone. There was a bit of an argument and I intervened telling my wife to shut up and be sweet. At that point, the immigration officer said not to bother and let us go.
 
I am not sure what to make out of it. Good or bad!!!! Legal or Illegal I am still not sure of his age.

Glad it worked out, sammo.

Thanks Don,
 
Finally had my first full day of work today. weather stinks but what to do. Thanks for all the advice.

Went today to look for a ticket to get back and again one-way on July 4th. AirIndia is turning out to be the cheapest for 357 GBP.
Cannot understand why it is so expensive when I only paid 400.00 USD from US to UK.
 
Any idea where I can buy better priced tickets from UK to US one way or should I just buy it from an US travel agent.

 
i am planning to go to ireland from canada  and i have bought a one way ticket to BRU belgium. i have an onward flight to ireland

question : do  i need a return ticket to canada to board transat airlines ? if so which country ireland or belgium ?

i would appreciate any info on ppl who were denied boarding on one-way tickets ?

thank you

Medicinemaan, you just need proof of onward travel out of the Schengen border within 90 days of arrival. Your onward ticket to Ireland is sufficient, since Ireland is not part of the Schengen Agreement border zone.

Don, does this also apply for travel to Italy?  We purchased one-way tickets to Florence and then became worried that we should have purchased round trip tix.  Will it suffice to purchase OW tickets from say, Pisa to London, in order to prove outward travel from Italy?

A ticket from Italy to London will work since London’s not in a Schengen country.

[=“courier new”]Hello, I have been looking for someone to talk to as I have been given some information about my current ticket.  I am in Italy on my last stop of a 17 months of traveling around the world.  My ticket I purchased is United Airlines multi stop from Pisa to Minneapolis and then on to Portland and return to Pisa.  The question I have is that I dont have a set return time and purchasing open return tickets is expensive.  The friends who will buy my ticket home prefer waiting until I am certain of my return.  The United agent told be because I am US citizen I need to have return proof when I am leaving returning to Italy.  Well I bought one-way ticket when I began my traveling 17 months ago and there was not a question at the departing counter in Portland Oregon, nor have I had any problems while I have been traveling at any airport or country.  I am somewhat uncertain about this matter. I see you have been discussing this on the forum and would like some input.  Thanks greatly.[/]
[=“courier new”]Paul[/]