One way ticket - airlines refusing

[JuniorMints 66]

Hi,

 

I know this topic has been covered a lot, but I can't find a response to this specific question.

 

My fiance has his K1 visa now and he went to the airport to buy his ticket, but both Turkish Airlines and Air France are refusing to sell him a one way ticket because he's on a visa.  He explained to them very well that he is not a TOURIST, he is an intending immigrant and will marry within 90 days and will stay in America.  Both airlines still refuse.  A round trip ticket from Algeria to SFO is $300 more and we don't want to waste that money if we don't have to.

 

I know I can just buy the ticket myself from here online so he will physically have a ticket in his hand, but my question is, when he goes to board the flight, and connecting flight, what can he say or do if they refuse him to board the flights? 

 

Does anyone out of Algiers have any experience with this?  I posted this here in case others have input.

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

    

Edited February 6, 2019 by JuniorMints

[Crazy Cat 39,258]

Unfortunately, he is dealing with some uninformed/misinformed individuals.......Even if you purchase a one-way ticket for him, the airlines could still deny boarding....You might have to spend the extra $300.....The unused return leg could maybe be used later for a visit to his country........

Edited February 6, 2019 by missileman

[Crazy Cat 39,258]

Although the airlines are misinformed, they are just trying to protect themselves in case he is denied entry at the US border (which, of course, won't happen).

[JuniorMints 66]

Yes, I'm thinking the extra $300 is worth it, better than having to buy an entire new ticket and wasting the first one . I wish all airports and airlines would have clear instructions on this topic - guess it's a way they make extra money 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Some airlines indeed don't know much about the visa and it's use. We used Emirates for his one way trip to the US, no issues.

 

As mentioned, maybe book the round trip but bump the return out say 6 months or something. Always can cancel it or possibly reschedule it again depending on the airline's policies.

[Huckleberry&Koala 184]

42 minutes ago, JuniorMints said:

Hi,

 

I know this topic has been covered a lot, but I can't find a response to this specific question.

 

My fiance has his K1 visa now and he went to the airport to buy his ticket, but both Turkish Airlines and Air France are refusing to sell him a one way ticket because he's on a visa.  He explained to them very well that he is not a TOURIST, he is an intending immigrant and will marry within 90 days and will stay in America.  Both airlines still refuse.  A round trip ticket from Algeria to SFO is $300 more and we don't want to waste that money if we don't have to.

 

I know I can just buy the ticket myself from here online so he will physically have a ticket in his hand, but my question is, when he goes to board the flight, and connecting flight, what can he say or do if they refuse him to board the flights? 

 

Does anyone out of Algiers have any experience with this?  I posted this here in case others have input.

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

    

When I came to US with my K1 visa, I came with Turkish Airlines, and bought one way ticket (online). I didn't have any issues. I flew from Turkey though.

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

the issue could be that you need to change planes (actual airlines ) in France or another country/because  you can not fly direct from Algeria to the USA

when you change airlines as the ones you want do not have flights all the way to the USA available,  you need a transit visa for the country where the next leg of your trip will happen

like i said it happens as tickets are seperate and the second leg means changing airlines

they really do their job

Edited February 6, 2019 by adil-rafa

[Huckleberry&Koala 184]

2 minutes ago, adil-rafa said:

the issue could be that you need to change planes (actual airlines ) in France or another country/because  you can not fly direct from Algeria to the USA

when you change airlines as the ones you want do not have flights all the way to the USA available,  you need a transit visa for the country where the next leg of your trip will happen

like i said it happens as tickets are seperate and the second leg means changing airlines

they really do their job

I think you are probably right because Turkey requires visa for Algeria and there is no transit visa, and if the transit time in Istanbul is long, then they cannot let them to board without visa for Turkey. I am assuming the similar situation applies for Air France.

[ineedadisplayname 443]

1 hour ago, JuniorMints said:

Hi,

 

I know this topic has been covered a lot, but I can't find a response to this specific question.

 

My fiance has his K1 visa now and he went to the airport to buy his ticket, but both Turkish Airlines and Air France are refusing to sell him a one way ticket because he's on a visa.  He explained to them very well that he is not a TOURIST, he is an intending immigrant and will marry within 90 days and will stay in America.  Both airlines still refuse.  A round trip ticket from Algeria to SFO is $300 more and we don't want to waste that money if we don't have to.

 

I know I can just buy the ticket myself from here online so he will physically have a ticket in his hand, but my question is, when he goes to board the flight, and connecting flight, what can he say or do if they refuse him to board the flights? 

 

Does anyone out of Algiers have any experience with this?  I posted this here in case others have input.

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

    

I bought my ticket 9 months ago from Turkish airlines. I did it online tho. More or less I had no problem.... At my second leg, Istanbul -> USA all passengers went thru a pet down and turning on laptop and maybe a metal detector....Has been questioned a couple of times when I return, told them that I don't require a return ticket and probably I will be back a year since the person at the gate checkpoint insisted on it... They ran the visas, estas thru a system, I was cleared so boarded the plane...

 

You might need to check if you need a visa from your home country to enter Turkey tho...

You can apply for an e-visa to go to Turkey on the site below

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/

 

 

Btw he can try to call Turkish airlines hotline or booking and ask there for information and a possible e-mail or reference he can tell at the airport when he wants to buy his ticket again.... Or ask for a manager at the airport who knows a bit better about visas....

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by ineedadisplayname

[Lemonslice 4,555]

Here are the carriers' information guides, in English and French.

 

Only the Visa Waiver Program requires a return ticket (page 15). Documents required by your spouse are listed on page 69.  If the airline has questions, ask them to contact their  CBP Regional Carrier Liaison Group (RCLG) - a supervisor should know how to contact them.  

 

That being said, make sure he has the documents also to travel through France or Turkey. 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2019 by Lemonslice

[PushaKee 35]

2 hours ago, Ben&Zian said:

Some airlines indeed don't know much about the visa and it's use. We used Emirates for his one way trip to the US, no issues.

 

As mentioned, maybe book the round trip but bump the return out say 6 months or something. Always can cancel it or possibly reschedule it again depending on the airline's policies.

Once my fiance is approved, we are planning on using Emirates as he will be flying from Johannesburg more than likely. Depending on when we are approved, we might even be flying back at the same time as I have business in South Africa. I am hoping our timing works out somehow! I already have a plane ticket for myself as I am obligated to be in South Africa but who knows how this will happen. Otherwise, we'll fly him in directly from another airline.

 

[Prizm123 1,084]

2 hours ago, Gravlax said:

I think you are probably right because Turkey requires visa for Algeria and there is no transit visa, and if the transit time in Istanbul is long, then they cannot let them to board without visa for Turkey. I am assuming the similar situation applies for Air France.

this is incorrect. you do not need a visa for Turkey if you stay in the airport. I had a little bit of trouble on my trip to Zaporozhye because of this, i had a 17 hour layover to there and a 23 hour layover coming back, in neither case did i need a visa because i never left the terminal. I had to explain it to the ticket agent before i departed on United. I flew internationally on Turkish airlines

[MadamG 26]

Hi. So when I had that issue. I purchased the one way. The day of the flight I put based a return flight and when I knew he was here I called the airline and cancelled the ticket and got my money back.  

[JuniorMints 66]

3 hours ago, adil-rafa said:

the issue could be that you need to change planes (actual airlines ) in France or another country/because  you can not fly direct from Algeria to the USA

when you change airlines as the ones you want do not have flights all the way to the USA available,  you need a transit visa for the country where the next leg of your trip will happen

like i said it happens as tickets are seperate and the second leg means changing airlines

they really do their job

Hi, this ticket only has 1 stop in Istanbul and is using Turkish airlines all the way, no changing airlines.

 

I'm not sure why Turkish airlines and Air France are telling him this.   He will not be leaving the airport and he doesn't need a visa for either France or Turkey.

[JuniorMints 66]

7 minutes ago, MadamG said:

Hi. So when I had that issue. I purchased the one way. The day of the flight I put based a return flight and when I knew he was here I called the airline and cancelled the ticket and got my money back.  

Hi, do you mean you purchased ta separate 2nd ticket as a return flight the day of the flight to America and you had both tickets in your hand at the time of boarding?  Then you cancelled the return ticket in 24 hours to get your money back?