Buying two different tickets for one trip...good idea?

[nattypruett 0]

Hi all,

We are looking at one-way tickets for my husband from Istanbul to Portland, Oregon for late February/early March 2014. Every search comes up at least 1030 USD for a decent flight. I tried searching for flights to JFK (New York) and another search for flights out from there to PDX (Portland): the results were a few hundred dollars cheaper (although he has to fly through Moscow before JFK). JFK would then be his POE, but he would have at least four hours to go through customs and recheck-in for his flight to PDX. Anyone have experience buying tickets like this? ALL advice welcome.

[kzielu 1,147]

One problem with two different tickets is if your first flights gets significantly delayed and you don't make it for second one, you'll have to buy another ticket. Always safer to have entire flight on one ticket.

[ToddB 10]

Sometimes its cheaper to buy round trip tickets, and simply not use the return portion. Agree with the above post if arrival, and departure times are close. Four hours??? Should be fine.

[Cathi 5,695]

buying tickets like what, on 2 different airlines? With POE in another state? It is very common for POE to be at one of the major east coast airports. He will simply collect his bags and go through customs and immigration at JFK and re-check his bags on the flight to Portland. We live in NH and when we fly back from Jordan our POE is always either in Boston, Philly, DC or Newark and then on to Manchester, NH.We have done it with as little as 90 minutes between flights(although I wouldnt recommend it), 4 hours is plenty of time. Did you try Delta airlines? When my husband flew one way through them his ticket was only $700 USD.

Edited December 13, 2013 by mimolicious

[kzielu 1,147]

Sometimes its cheaper to buy round trip tickets, and simply not use the return portion. Agree with the above post if arrival, and departure times are close. Four hours??? Should be fine.

Four hours will not be fine if the flight gets cancelled or diverted for example.

[ToddB 10]

Obviously!!!! She's looking for the least expensive, most reliable way.

Cheap, and reliable are not usually synomous in the airline industry. Up to her to weight the risk/reward.

A stateside connection with a 4 hour layover.....should be fine!!!

[nattypruett 0]

One problem with two different tickets is if your first flights gets significantly delayed and you don't make it for second one, you'll have to buy another ticket. Always safer to have entire flight on one ticket.

YES. That's what I'm most clenching my teeth about. Thanks for the advice everyone. Well, the money we saved buying separate tickets can go toward a new ticket in the event of a delay or cancellation. So it I guess it would even out LOL.

[Sandra_Barbaros 1]

Ive never gotten tickets directly from an airline. Ive always used www.fly4less.com and flew round trip from JFK to Istanbul for $412. Or I use... www.cheapseats.com either way it depends on advancement time before purchase and if you want a direct flight or not.

[kateser 0]

In my experience, round-trip tickets have ALWAYS been cheaper than one-ways for some reason. Try skyscanner.net.