Ok so you are all ready for the big step to buy your ticket. Now you have heard everyone tell you that you should get a one year open return ticket. What does this mean? This effectively means that you can use the return portion of the ticket for up to a year from date of departure. Now remember a few things, you need to book your return when you know the date you would like to return. You cannot just show up at the airport and fly when you like as there may not be availability for you. Book far in advance as possible as it is possible there is limited availability on the dates you would like to return.
Now that this has been said you must be very aware that a lot of airlines have moved away from open return tickets and often do not allow them. OK so what does this mean? This means that a date must be booked in the system and reflected on the ticket that you hold a confirmed return date. Now what ever you do not do a no show on this ticket! If you are going to make changes or not use the ticket for the date that it is booked , then change your date well in advance. Be aware that there is a difference and a lot of airlines do not allow open dated tickets. If you see a return date on your ticket then you are booked to come home and you DO NOT Have an open return ticket so change the date before the date printed on the ticket if you are going to make changes.
The next question that can be raised is why have airlines moved away from this? Well for one an open segment “disappears” in the system, so when you make changes to the ticket a new booking is created with a new vendor locator’s and the history of the booking cannot be tracked.
Guys be awre and do not do a no show!
