Another flight question

[Qwerty87 34]

Hey all, my visa just got approved! I'm looking to book flights rather soon, can someone please explain to me why I keep seeing posts where people have got a return flight? I was just going to get a one way ticket, but I keep seeing posts on here recommending a return but I'm unsure why? 

[Wuozopo 4,285]

22 minutes ago, Qwerty87 said:

Hey all, my visa just got approved! I'm looking to book flights rather soon, can someone please explain to me why I keep seeing posts where people have got a return flight? I was just going to get a one way ticket, but I keep seeing posts on here recommending a return but I'm unsure why? 

 I found the return was much cheaper than one-way on the non-stop United flight I wanted to take. It was all about the money.

 

Edited May 19, 2019 by Wuozopo

[ConnorS 85]

22 minutes ago, Qwerty87 said:

Hey all, my visa just got approved! I'm looking to book flights rather soon, can someone please explain to me why I keep seeing posts where people have got a return flight? I was just going to get a one way ticket, but I keep seeing posts on here recommending a return but I'm unsure why? 

Yeah I have found even looking up the identical flight going out with the same airline booking one way more often than not actually works out more costly than putting a return on the booking which does seem counter intuitive, it's quite odd but is representative of all the airlines I have checked

[Eva_AJ 80]

27 minutes ago, Qwerty87 said:

Hey all, my visa just got approved! I'm looking to book flights rather soon, can someone please explain to me why I keep seeing posts where people have got a return flight? I was just going to get a one way ticket, but I keep seeing posts on here recommending a return but I'm unsure why? 

The one-way is more expensive as it is better for the airline to have you on both flights (there and back)

 

7 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 I found the return was much cheaper than one-way on the non-stop United flight I wanted to take. It was all about the money.

 

My only concern is (looking into this as I will face the same problem) could I get flagged? As it is against the rules that you sign while booking the flight to book return ticket while you do not intent to board the flight back...

[Crazy Cat 39,751]

51 minutes ago, Qwerty87 said:

Hey all, my visa just got approved! I'm looking to book flights rather soon, can someone please explain to me why I keep seeing posts where people have got a return flight? I was just going to get a one way ticket, but I keep seeing posts on here recommending a return but I'm unsure why? 

A one-way ticket is completely fine.  Just remember, if choosing a round trip ticket, to cancel the return flight.....or you could schedule the return flight for a year later (if you want to use it)

Edited May 19, 2019 by missileman

[Wuozopo 4,285]

27 minutes ago, Eva_AJ said:

The one-way is more expensive as it is better for the airline to have you on both flights (there and back)

 

My only concern is (looking into this as I will face the same problem) could I get flagged? As it is against the rules that you sign while booking the flight to book return ticket while you do not intent to board the flight back...

 

I have not been flagged by United, but I have only cancelled the one time in over 20 years of using them so not a habitual gimmick I use.

[aquatic_brewer 39]

21 minutes ago, Eva_AJ said:

The one-way is more expensive as it is better for the airline to have you on both flights (there and back)

 

My only concern is (looking into this as I will face the same problem) could I get flagged? As it is against the rules that you sign while booking the flight to book return ticket while you do not intent to board the flight back...

The airlines are clamping down on something called skiplagging but that is different, just not taking your return flight shouldn't get you blacklisted or flagged especially if it's not a pattern of behaviour (i.e. you're doing it regularly).  People miss flights all the time, for all they know you got caught in traffic and didn't make it to the airport.   

[Wuozopo 4,285]

I would not even think about trying to book the return portion a year out thinking I could use it to go back to visit the U.K.  Then you're back in your home country with no return to the US. I suppose if you are using a K1 visa as a trial to make sure it all works out, you have a way home if you decide not to marry. 🤔

[Qwerty87 34]

Okay so is it purely a financial decision? Because I'm sure I read somewhere that some airlines are uncomfortable with a one way flight?

[Eva_AJ 80]

Just now, Qwerty87 said:

Okay so is it purely a financial decision? Because I'm sure I read somewhere that some airlines are uncomfortable with a one way flight?

They usually charge you the tripple the price for one-way so that is why people pick return tickets. Airlines do not care what tickets you buy as long you pay

[aquatic_brewer 39]

5 minutes ago, Qwerty87 said:

Okay so is it purely a financial decision? Because I'm sure I read somewhere that some airlines are uncomfortable with a one way flight?

Airlines will insist on seeing a return flight when you check in for your flight to the US, but this is only if you're flying in on something like ESTA because part of the conditions of entry under ESTA are that you have booked onward travel which takes you outside of North America before your 90 allowed days are up.  In your case you're flying in on a K1 visa which trumps an ESTA and does not require a proof of onward travel.

Edited May 19, 2019 by tsusoup

[Marieke H 2,343]

As others have said, it's all about the cost.

 

I took a one-way flight with Icelandair that was a few hundred Euros cheaper than a return flight, but all other options I looked at had one-way flights that were twice or triple the price of a return flight.

[JFH 12,189]

1 hour ago, Eva_AJ said:

The one-way is more expensive as it is better for the airline to have you on both flights (there and back)

 

My only concern is (looking into this as I will face the same problem) could I get flagged? As it is against the rules that you sign while booking the flight to book return ticket while you do not intent to board the flight back...

You could get flagged. I work for an airline in the fares and contracting side of things. But it’s very unlikely. The people who get flagged for this (as technically it is fare manipulation) are frequent flyers who draw attention to themselves by regularly (more than once a week) booking hidden-city tickets. 

 

If you are worried, book your return flight as far out as you can, typically you can book up to 331 days in advance, or book a fare class that permits an inbound date change and you may even use it once you have AP for a trip back to the homeland. 

 

Depending on where you you are flying to, you can get one-way sector fares on Norwegian, Thomas Cook, Aer Lingus and Icelandair. 

Edited May 19, 2019 by JFH

[Mike E 11,727]

I booked my K-1 fiancée a return flight because I didn’t trust the competence of airline clerks.