Should I book two one-way international fares?

[lovetravellingoz]

One way international is a guaranteed way of getting SSSS on your boarding pass

Is that more of a problem on flights to the USA?

Admittedly the USA is not a common destination for me, but the vast majority of my international flights are one-way redemptions and so far I am Sans-SSSS. Though I also use one-ways paid particularly within Europe.

Though most of my one-way redemptions are booked well in advance as I note that last-minute bookings is noted as one possible flag..

 

[OATEK]

My SIL recently travelled to FRA and back on two one-way tickets (SYD-SIN-FRA-BRE outbound with SQ/LH, and FRA-SIN-SYD with SQ). Didn't get the dreaded SSSS on her boarding passes and all went very smoothly.

 

[serfty]

My SIL recently travelled to FRA and back on two one-way tickets (SYD-SIN-FRA-BRE outbound with SQ/LH, and FRA-SIN-SYD with SQ). Didn't get the dreaded SSSS on her boarding passes and all went very smoothly.

I believe the SSSS thing is a USA only facet of travel.

Had it once on a QF93 a few years - the only other was during my first time traveling in the USA back in 2006.

 

[RichardMEL]

My SIL recently travelled to FRA and back on two one-way tickets (SYD-SIN-FRA-BRE outbound with SQ/LH, and FRA-SIN-SYD with SQ). Didn't get the dreaded SSSS on her boarding passes and all went very smoothly.

SSSS is not relevant.

That is only a US TSA "special" marker for flights involving the US.

 

[Gold Member]

I almost always book two one-way awards with different carriers for better availability and more efficient transit times etc.

But tread carefully especially in these times; many Travel Insurers will not cover you if the ticket is not booked as a “return”. Two one-ways fall foul of their fine print and would invalidate your insurance. Always read the fine print.

 

[RichardMEL]

I almost always book two one-way awards with different carriers for better availability and more efficient transit times etc.

But tread carefully especially in these times; many Travel Insurers will not cover you if the ticket is not booked as a “return”. Two one-ways fall foul of their fine print and would invalidate your insurance. Always read the fine print.

Another potential issue with travel insurance, specially those that come issued with rewards cards like amex or a bank CC awarding points that one would have to somehow link the points used to purchase the award seats as being earned through the CC spend (eg: I earned 300k QFF from Amex, and spent 250k points on such ad such).

 

[docjames]

Have done out and return on different bookings a few times now, and some were also different carriers (usually an award or where one way was cheap eg. MEL-NAN).

Only issue is to make sure you have copy of the inbound booking so the outbound carrier can see it when they check you in as they may ask for it (happened most times).

 

[dajop]

I just had a quick look over my last 30 international trips I've made for personal travel - 2/3 of these involved separate one way bookings.

 

[DC3]

I wouldn't say that's the case. 3 of my 4 last trips to US involved different tickets into and out of the country, mostly redemptions, although one was redemption + paid. Not an SSSS in sight.

You would have already had a booking out of the US, though? As evidence that you plan to leave. Yes?

 

[docjames]

The other possibility if booking two similar trips within a year are to book one “nested” inside the other to take advantage of better pricing ex-destination back to Aus.

Eg. $3000 for SYD-LHR-SYD and £1000 for LHR-SYD then book SYD-LHR, LHR-SYD-LHR, LHR-SYD (continuation of the first, or two one ways / reward fares etc). Rather than two SYD-LHR-SYDs as cheaper overall.

Doesn’t have to be same exact destination either - May be cheaper to book FRA-SYD-FRA (via LHR) and position to FRA after the first LHR outbound as an example.

There’s a number of threads historically on AFF on how to do this / trip reports.