Pagne

I am researching a year long trip to europe. I know I have to get a Visa to stay longer then 90 days. Is it possible to get a roundtrip airline ticket for a year or longer?

Rastaguytoday

Do you mean a ticket with an open ended return, or a ticket is more that a year from now?

alanRow

VERY hard to do as timetables are never for more than a year in advance.

HOWEVER check some of the RTW specialists like STA Travel & Travelbag who organise their own tickets.

Alternatively why not do it on low costs airlines - http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...cle1649639.ece

alanRow

Why did I read roundtrip as Roundtheworld. More Caffine needed perhaps?

Pagne

I want to arrive and depart from Paris, tentatively Aug 2008-Aug 2009. Don't I need a return ticket in hand to even attempt this?

Dukey

Airlines can usually issue tickets 330 days out from a flight date.

If it comes to absolutely having a return ticket you could do it but it wouldn't be a full 12-month stay.

Gardyloo

Some airlines sell one-way tickets at roughly half the cost (maybe 60%) of round-trips.

Long-stay return tickets are invariably priced considerably higher than short stays (under 90 days.) The airlines don't want to give up the ability to sock it to you for higher fuel or operating costs over that long a period.

tcreath

I would probably call one of the airlines and ask them the best way to approach this.

Good luck!
Tracy

ira

Hi P,

If you buy a full-fare ticket you can change the return flight - for a fee.

ekscrunchy

You do not need to buy a full-fare ticket to change for a fee!!! You can change almost any ticket for a fee!

CRAZY4TRAVEL

I've been in the travel industry for 20 years and I don't know of any ticket that will allow you to travel longer than a year.

Pagne

Please educate me!
IRA: I have been to Europe 10 times and always look for the cheapest airfare. What do you mean by full-fare ticket?
CRAZY4TRAVEL: How do I show immigration in France that I have a return ticket? Do I not need one if I have my long term Visa in order?

CarolA

A full fare ticket is a ticket that has no discounts applied. The airlines love it, but I somehow doubt you are going to like it. The avg cost will probably be well over $2,000 roundtrip, but you can change it at ANY time with no penalty.

Most American airlines only sell tickets with a return 330 days in the future. You could buy that and then pay the change fee (genereally a few hundred plus any "fare" change)

CRAZY4TRAVEL

Even a ticket that allows changes for a fee has a ticket validity. The fares that are most common are 30 day stay, 60 day stay, 3 months, 6months and a one year maximum. I have never seen a ticket that could be used beyond a year for any amount of change fee. The return is forfeit after the expiry of a year.

You could do it two ways...purchase the least expensive roundtrip and discard the return....Or buy the full fare refundable type that you could refund the return portion and buy a new oneway flight when you're ready to come home.

ira

As crazy says.

>.purchase the least expensive roundtrip and discard the return...<

Then buy another cheap RT to come home.
Europe/US RT are often cheaper than US/Europe RT.

That way you will have a return ticket if you are questioned.

Pagne

Thanks everyone! Sounds like the cheap ticket is the say to go, discard and buy a new return one. Sigh, I guess I will have to adjust my budget for 2 airline tickets!

WillTravel

If you are anywhere near the Canadian border, or maybe even if you aren't, look into Zoom. It's easy to buy cheap one-way tickets to Paris on that airline.

http://www.flyzoom.ca