URGENT -please help
 

Hello all,
I'm planning on an SA - UK motorbike trip hopefully leaving on 16 Feb but I've run into an unexpected problem with booking the flight to Durban. Because I'm going overland back to England Ive got no need for a return ticket from SA. But because I've got a British passport I'm apparantly not allowed to simply buy a single and if I do I may be put straight back on a return flight once I get to SA. What do people generally do in this situation, should I buy a return ticket and then cancel the return - is that possible? Any help would be very much appreciated since I can't afford to waste money on a return ticket that I'm not going to use plus I'm running out of time to book. Cheers,

Jasper

Hi Jasper

Yes, if you buy a return ticket that is fully refundable (in other words, not the cheapest flight possible), you will be able to cash it in for a refund of the return portion when you return. You might be able to get the refund in Durban, but it's more likely they'll require you to go back to the travel agent which issued it for the refund.

DON'T FORGET to cancel the return reservation when you get to South Africa.

If you've already bought your one-way ticket, just buy another one-way ticket back to the UK before you leave. Make sure it's fully refundable.

And if you have no spare cash for the extra ticket, make sure you have credit cards and sufficient cash / travellers cheques on you when you get to South Africa. All they're really worrying about is that you'll come without sufficient funds and become a dole bludger ;-)

Good luck with your trip and keep in touch.

------------------
Susan Johnson

"It matters not what goal you seek
Its secret here reposes:
You've got to dig from week to week
To get Results or Roses."
Edgar Guest

'One world, two wheels'
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com


[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 10 February 2003).]

Thanks a lot Susan, I'll start looking for a flight that can offer me a refund on the return ( I've only been looking at the cheapest flights up till now so I didn't find anyone who would do the refund). I've got a bit more time now cos I failed my motorbike test and had to delay a bit to allow enough time to book another. You don't happen to know if a foreigner can take a motorbike test in SA do you? I don't think I can be bothered to delay again if i manage to fail again next time. Cheers,

Jasper

Jasper

It also occurred to me that your cheapest option might be just to buy a cheap round-trip ticket and throw away the return portion when you get through customs in South Africa. Oftentimes the fare for one way is MORE than the fare for round-trip, due to generally stupid airline pricing.

Susan

Susan,
Thanks a lot for your help. I've decided to book a cheap round-trip flight (577pounds) leaving on 9 March - unfortunately the cricket has extended the peak season keeping the flights expensive. But by booking a return I have got a sort of safety net if I break a leg or something.
I'm feeling a mixture of excited and terrified now that the flight is booked and I'll soon be on my way, although I do still have a lot to do before I go (like pass my motorbike test!). Cheers,

Jasper