return flight onward travel

Singapore and it's city lights and skyscrapers

I never enjoyed flying. Sitting in a cramp cylindrical tube for hours, constrained to small seats, scrunched up with strangers is not my cup of tea.

I was super excited for this specific flight though because it will be my first trip abroad. And I'm traveling alone!

I was going to Singapore to visit a friend. I didn't know what documents to bring since it was my first time with international flight. All I have is my one-way ticket to Singapore, passport and an invitation letter that my friend sent me.

On the day of my flight, I came to the airport 4 hours early. Did I tell you I was excited?

I was the very first one to check-in. Paid the travel tax and terminal fee. Everything was smooth until I went to the immigration. I was subjected to a series of questions.

immigration

Question #1: Are you traveling alone? I said yes with a hint of pride in my voice.

Question #2: What are you going to do in Singapore? I told him for vacation and yes, still with pride.

Question #3: How long are you going to stay? I said I'm not sure yet because I was thinking of visiting Kuala Lumpur after since it’s only 6 hours by bus from Singapore.

And the most dreaded question: So you don’t have a return ticket?

It all went downhill from there.

The agent gave me a long piece of paper with personal questions that I have to answer. Questions like:

  • Who is my sponsor?
  • Who is paying for my trip?
  • How much have I already spent for the trip?
  • How much money do I have in cash?

Another agent asked me to go with him inside an office to be interviewed after I answered the papers. To say I was nervous is an understatement. They told me they wont let me travel unless I can give them proof that I am going back or that I have any reason to go back. The thing is, I did not bring with me my leave form or my company ID.

I ended up buying a return ticket four times more expensive than my promo ticket to Singapore.

Without hesitation I rush off to immigration, through security and towards my gate, arriving with only a few minutes to spare. As soon as I buckle my seat belt and settle into my window seat, I lean my head back, wipe the sweat from my forehead and take a deep breath. I'm on my way to Singapore.

While on the plane, I got to chat for a little with my seatmate who I found out was a backpacker and has been traveling for six months now. I ended up telling him what happened to me in the immigration.And that’s when he told me about this site called returnflightonwardtravel.com where you can basically rent a ticket for only $9.99! Waaaay less than what I paid for my ticket.

From now on, whenever I travel with no itinerary, I used the site to get a return ticket. It was a lesson learned the hard way.

return flight onward travel

Airport

There are many aspects of travel that could go wrong- bad accomodation, bad weather, getting sick, getting ripped off by locals. But that's all during the vacation. What about before that? Example, airports. Yup, airports.

Cancelled flights, long stopovers, lost baggages, airport security giving you a hard time, long line in costums. Really, i could go on forever.

Here are some very frustrating airport problems I've encountered on my trip to Bali, Indonesia.

Delayed flights

Three hours delayed

Long delayed flights.

I am from Philippines. I live in an island called Bohol, it is located beside Cebu City where the nearest international airport is. To get to Cebu, I have to take a ferry which will take 2 hours of my life. No big deal though if you're promised of paradise at the end.

I arrived in Cebu 4 hours ahead of my flight. I knew things were a bit off because I've gotten a few emails indicating delays and plane switches.

Then it begins.

The flight is delayed for an hour, then two, then three. I have a connecting flight in Singapore and I rather not miss it so I jog over to customer care and cue second problem..

Long line in costumer care.

Waiting in line

Line for costumer care

After standing for 40 minutes in line, it's finally my turn. I tried all options- different flight, different airline, different arrival airport etc. The agent typed frantically and luckily enough we found another flight which won't leave for the next 2 hours but I booked a much later flight. Just to be on the safer side with all of flight delays.

I arrived in Singapore almost 4 hours later than our expected arrival. But all is good. I got enough time to spare so I decided to walk around the airport and look at the shops since it's still too early for check-in. 

Feeling positive about the trip and excited to be in Bali. Nothing can put me down! Or so I thought, until I went to check-in.

I got denied entry of the country!

Denied entry

Stucked in the airport

Yes, that's right. My dream vacation is o-v-e-r.

Apparently, I need a return ticket to Philippines. It's an airport protocol to make sure I wont stay more than 30 days which is the allowed length of stay in Indonesia.

Now I am stucked at the airport with two options:

  • Get a return ticket which will be three times as expensive as my one way ticket to Bali

Or

  • Go back home

I was on the verge of crying. All that 2 hour ferry ride, 3 hours flight delayed, changes of flight schedules and now to this.

I sat for 30 minutes staring at nothing until I came back to my senses. Going home is never an option for me! I have to do something. So I search the internet for any alternative and there I saw, the light at the end of the tunnel. I kid you not. Said light is called returnflightonwardtravel.com.

I was able to purchase a return ticket for just $9.99!

I was doubtful at first if it's really legit because really, $9.99 for a ticket?! But hey, beggars cant be choosers right? I'll take whatever I can get at this point. So I took the risk.

After I took a screenshot of the flight confirmation they emailed me, I went to check-in again. And wallah, it worked!! 3 hours later I'm in Bali, lounging in the beach while sipping piña colada.

Lounging in the pool

Finally in Paradise

Lesson of the story:

Always book a roundtrip ticket. And if you're not sure when you're coming back, book at returnflightonwardtravel.com.