Buying a round trip ticket and then buying another ticket to come back earlier
I'm planning to buy a round trip ticket (USA -> Jamaica -> USA) where I will be staying for about 5 months. However, I may need to return to the states sometime during those 5 months. Will there be any issues regarding booking or immigration?
Best Answer
Your initial round trip USA-Jamaica-USA flight will be a factor in your initial entry and length of stay permitted. Once in the country there are no restrictions prohibiting you from departing earlier.
If you are coming back early, with no plan to return, you can simply call the airline and change your return flight.
If you plan to return to Jamaica to finish out your five month stay, you simply buy a round trip Jamaica-USA-Jamaica. When you make your return flight to Jamaica, the airline may ask to see your original return booking to make sure you will be departing Jamaica in accordance with immigration rules. Jamaica Immigration could in theory also ask for your return flight info.
The airlines are not concerned if you add additional tickets to your itinerary, as long as you are not trying to bypass some restriction they have on fares (which is not the case here).
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What happens if I buy a round-trip ticket and only use one way?
Can I buy a roundtrip ticket for a one-way trip? Technically, you can buy a roundtrip ticket and only use it to go one-way, but airlines frown upon this. And, you can only skip the return flight. If you miss a segment of your trip, the airline may cancel the rest of your ticket without giving you a refund.Can I change the return date of a round-trip flight?
Yes, you can reschedule or cancel a flight. However, you may need to pay a change or cancellation fee depending on the airline you booked with and the fare class of your ticket. Luckily during Covid-19, many airlines have reduced change fees or waived them altogether.Does it cost extra to fly back early?
During normal airline operations, changing to an earlier flight will cost you, unless you're an elite level frequent flyer or purchased a full-fare ticket. Arguing that it's in the airline's best interest to allow you on an earlier flight because it opens a seat that could be sold to others just won't cut it.Can you change a round-trip flight to one way?
Contact the airline before the day of the flight. Ask the company to modify the round-trip ticket for one-way usage. Although airlines practice a varying degree of flexibility, many airlines will modify a round-trip fare to allow one-way use, though some airlines may charge a penalty or fee for this service.Can you buy a round trip ticket and not take the return flight?
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