travel out on American and return on Delta

[Joyce]

I can get better deals with each airline on one way flights using miles. Will this cause a red flag at the airport? Is this way of travel unusual or do people do it all the time. I don't want any delays.

 

[hefleycatz]

We just did this for spring break. Flew American down to Orlando and Delta on the way back. Had no problem. It's all about price and availability. These were the best times for us. Airlines have cut back so much with their flights, I think more people are picking and choosing from different airlines.

 

[Nickfromct]

A one-way ticket is usually a red flag for added screening, but I can't imagine that'll take anymore than 5 extra minutes to get through security. This happened to me when I went down to DC on Amtrak and flew back to NYC. It wasn't a big deal.

 

[Passepartout]

A one-way ticket is usually a red flag for added screening,...

How would TSA know if your ticket is one-way or round trip? All they see is a boarding pass for the one flight you are boarding. Even if it's the first leg of a multi-leg, or even multi airline flight, just one boarding pass.

There could be additional scrutiny by an airline, or on your checked luggage, which would be tagged to 'interline', but these should cause no delay to the passenger.

As to the OP, If you get a better deal buying 2 one way tickets, go for it. It makes no difference.

Jim Ricks

 

[memereDoris]

I don't think I have ever bought a return ticket with the same airline. I've always had better luck with 2 one way fares. This causes no problems.

If you are leaving the country you must purchase both tickets before leaving. If you cannot prove that you are returning, they may not let you into the country. We can't get into the US without a return ticket proving we are returning. Customs needs to know even the flight number of your return ticket.

 

[Aussie girl]

Last year flying out of LAX my boarding pass had SSSS on the bottom of it and I was taken aside for extra screening. The TSA agent was very nice, but asked me "what have you done wrong" It turns out it was because I was flying on a one way ticket and I had been flagged for extra screening during the check in process.

SSSS stands for: Secondary Security Screening Selection or Secondary Security Screening Selectee, known by its acronym SSSS, is an airport security measure in the United States and Canada which selects passengers for additional inspection[citation needed].

Some criteria are:

Passengers with a one-way reservation
Passengers who pay cash for their tickets
Passengers who book reservations the day of their flight.
Passengers who "no show" a single leg of their flight.
Random selection, Flight to specific final destinations.
Flying without ID

 

[jadejar]

Just a couple of weeks ago, we flew to Aruba on AA and back on Delta. We did not have to go through any extra screening. The best price I could find was with two one way tickets, different airlines.

 

[Talent312]

It may help to show a R/T itinerrary when checking your bags.
In any case, wear recently washed socks without holes, and you'll be fine.

 

[Joyce]

Well. I have done it. Booking that way saved me miles for an extra flight on Delta. Round trip on Delta was 40,000 miles and one way was 25,000.I was then able to get a flight for my friend. 50,000 for 2 one way trips is not bad. otherwise going with Delta round trip would have cost 80,000 miles. Rediculous. I then used my AA miles which were expiring in a few months to get another one way for 12,500 each. Delta has become rediculous. In the future I will try flying AA. Now, should I get the airline insurance or do the miles get returned to me if I have to cancel in the future? The flight is not until next March.

 

[klynn]

I can't even remember the last time I booked a roundtrip ticket. We always book one-ways on different carriers and have never had any extra screening.