Flying to Philippines with one-way ticket!

[j.debonis 0]

Has anyone ever flown to Philippines using a one way ticket? I'm concerned because I plan to return to Mindanao for the remainder of my petition process. I will fly over in April but do not know when we will return. I want to buy a one-way ticket for now and purchase return tickets for my family and myself after my wife gets her visa.

I have emailed the Philippine Immigration Bureau and they responded with the following:

"In reply to your query, a Return Ticket is a requirement for all foreign tourist travelers arriving in the country. Coming into the country without a return ticket Is a violation of Philippine Law for not being properly documented and is a ground for exclusion (Sec. 29(a) 5 of the Philippine Immigration Act).

The Airline that you will be taking your flight might not check you in or issue you a boarding pass if you do not have a return ticket with you, for the said airline will be liable for administrative fine of US $1,000.00 for carrying you without a return ticket.

As mentioned, under Executive Order 408 some nationals may be admitted into the country without a visa but they must be in possession of a return ticket upon their arrival. This cannot be dispensed with.

We hope to have answered your query."

This seems pretty clear...but I've learned things are quite so concrete in the Philippines. Just curious of other's experiences and/or ideas. Thanks,

James

['my_destiny' 0]

maybe you just buy two way ticket and make the return ticket be in open dates so that there will be no problem at all.

[neenuh 0]

hi james,

as far as i know, the airline will only let you through without a return ticket if you have a philippine citizenship or legal residency in the philppines. otherwise, you are required to fly with a roundtrip ticket.

this i know based on my husband's experience - if you are a non-philippine visa holder, you are only allowed to stay in the philippines for a maximum of 20 days. the philippine immigration will require you to file for an extension for a maximum of 2 months. should you choose to stay longer, you need to keep filing for an extension every 2 months. my husband did this when he stayed here in manila for over a year.

if you're going for the "cheapest" way to get the philippines with your plans of staying considered, my unsolicited advice is purchase a round trip ticket that has a 6 month validity period. this comes out a lot cheaper than purchasing an open ticket. but with an open ticket, you can keep it valid for a year. or just purchase the cheapest restricted round trip flight, void your return flight, and purchase your one-way ticket back to the USA once everything is in order.

Has anyone ever flown to Philippines using a one way ticket? I'm concerned because I plan to return to Mindanao for the remainder of my petition process. I will fly over in April but do not know when we will return. I want to buy a one-way ticket for now and purchase return tickets for my family and myself after my wife gets her visa.

I have emailed the Philippine Immigration Bureau and they responded with the following:

"In reply to your query, a Return Ticket is a requirement for all foreign tourist travelers arriving in the country. Coming into the country without a return ticket Is a violation of Philippine Law for not being properly documented and is a ground for exclusion (Sec. 29(a) 5 of the Philippine Immigration Act).

The Airline that you will be taking your flight might not check you in or issue you a boarding pass if you do not have a return ticket with you, for the said airline will be liable for administrative fine of US $1,000.00 for carrying you without a return ticket.

As mentioned, under Executive Order 408 some nationals may be admitted into the country without a visa but they must be in possession of a return ticket upon their arrival. This cannot be dispensed with.

We hope to have answered your query."

This seems pretty clear...but I've learned things are quite so concrete in the Philippines. Just curious of other's experiences and/or ideas. Thanks,

James

[DJ+Ten 0]

Or you can buy a round trip discounted fare (PAL Fiesta class) with a far out return date, then pay the $150 change fee to reschedule once you know your actual date. DJ

[neenuh 0]

fare conditions vary

those cheap fares are cheap for a reason --- flight restrictions and validity period

as the validity period goes longer, the more expensive

the less restricted, the more expensive

you should check those variables too

an open ticket can go as much 1900USD, yay

oh, and april is peak season, so expect awesome fare rates

Edited January 27, 2008 by neenuh

[j.debonis 0]

Thanks for the replies. I have considered an open-ended ticket but i believe that is only valid for one year. I plan to be the just a bit longer. Has anyone successfully purchased round trip tickets from the PAL website. Thanks,

James

[neenuh 0]

yup, my husband just did a couple minutes ago lol

the thing with the online availability is that you're stuck with what the web search shows you, so i would also suggest calling the 1-800-I-FLY-PAL (monday to friday, 8-5pm) for assistance.

Thanks for the replies. I have considered an open-ended ticket but i believe that is only valid for one year. I plan to be the just a bit longer. Has anyone successfully purchased round trip tickets from the PAL website. Thanks,

James

[vbtbmrt 2]

if your married to a filipino you can get a visa which allows you to stay for a year it is called a balikbayan visa

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95922

[j.debonis 0]

if your married to a filipino you can get a visa which allows you to stay for a year it is called a balikbayan visa

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95922

A quick review of that indicates that i have to be traveling w/my wife. I'll have to read up on that in more detail. But thank you very much for the tip. I did contact the Philippine Consulate in Chicago and asked them about any specific visas for my situation but they didn't mention the balikbayan visa. I wonder if they were blowing me off or if that really doesn't apply. I'll look into it. Thanks,

James

[patrick & relyn 0]

Thanks for the replies. I have considered an open-ended ticket but i believe that is only valid for one year. I plan to be the just a bit longer. Has anyone successfully purchased round trip tickets from the PAL website. Thanks,

James

DONT FORGET TO CHECK CHINA AIRLINES. I HAVE SEEN RECENT FARES FROM SEATTLE IN THE $700-980 RANGE ROUNDTRIP. IT WOULD BE WORTH FLYING TO A HUB AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR AIRFARES. I HAVE FLOWN CHINA AIR TWICE AND IM HAPPY WITH THEM.

[garya505 2]

I flew alone to the Philippines in February on a one-way ticket. I had another one-way ticket on a different airline for the return, but nobody asked me for it and it never came up.

[trisha and eric 0]

Yes when you get to the immigration they don't really hassle much for the return ticket. For example.. I had electronic ticket last time.. Just a piece of paper i printed from my computer showing departure and return. I can't remember if the immigration person even looked at it and for sure made no attempt to verify it. Seems to me you can edit in the return date and airline

[j.debonis 0]

I was thinking that when i went to the philippines last Aug, after I had walked off the plane and went down the stairs, I was directed to a counter with 3 or 4 individuals where i was asked for my passport and plane tickets. I can't remember if they reviewed my return ticket or not. After the document review, I was directed to another "check point station" if i can call it that, where i had to wait 'behind the yellow line'. The worker checked my passport again. After getting my luggage, I believe I went through a different 'check point' before exiting the airport. I thought out of each of the three 'stops' someone had checked my return ticket...I just can't remember nor can I even remember where my passport was stamped. I hate uncertainty

I've heard that there are boats that leave Mindanao for some foreign country (Malaysia or Indonesia). I thought about having my wife send me a ticket so I can show that to immigration and tell them, "i plan to leave, just not by plane....by boat (and oh by the way, the ticket is only $50)" lol Who ever said you have to leave the country the way you came in?

Thanks again for all your replies.

[wahenie19 0]

Been to the Philippines plenty of times to visit my fiancee. the only time i showed my return ticket was the first time in terminal 1 and I voluntarily showed the ticket. The rest of the times never showed or was asked.

[manilaphilippines 0]

I was thinking that when i went to the philippines last Aug, after I had walked off the plane and went down the stairs, I was directed to a counter with 3 or 4 individuals where i was asked for my passport and plane tickets. I can't remember if they reviewed my return ticket or not. After the document review, I was directed to another "check point station" if i can call it that, where i had to wait 'behind the yellow line'. The worker checked my passport again. After getting my luggage, I believe I went through a different 'check point' before exiting the airport. I thought out of each of the three 'stops' someone had checked my return ticket...I just can't remember nor can I even remember where my passport was stamped. I hate uncertainty

I've heard that there are boats that leave Mindanao for some foreign country (Malaysia or Indonesia). I thought about having my wife send me a ticket so I can show that to immigration and tell them, "i plan to leave, just not by plane....by boat (and oh by the way, the ticket is only $50)" lol Who ever said you have to leave the country the way you came in?

Thanks again for all your replies.

What's good to other people may not good to you and maybe those who never checked nor asked for their return tickets just got lucky.You'll never know when they will ask or not for your return ticket.if i were you,i'll just buy an open ticket or just like what the other poster have said,you can ask for an extension every two months after the alloted 21days for a foreigner to stay here,so you can stay for one year,or might as well fly to the nearest Asian countries like Singapore,Malaysia etc and just come back after a few days or few hours so you'll get a new stamp on your passport.

While it's true that other people used the back exit,leaving the Philippines from Mindanao via boat going to Malaysia,i understand that there are lots of risk in doing that since it's illegal.

It's always right to do things in a right and legal way.Good luck!