Chile Forum

I've been meaning to post to this forum for quite some time about my move to Chile. I'm not sure where to begin. I am a Jewish man who met a a Jewish woman who lives in Santiago (we met through religious community connections and have been friends for a long time now). We've been engaged now for a few months. Anywho, long romantic story made short, I now have a "one-way" ticket to Santiago, and a passport. I've read that one-way tickets can prove to be problematic for some. I'm wondering how I can avoid any problems with the airlines. I won't have a credit card with me during my flight, but I'll have a wallet with at least $800 dollars cash in it. Will this work? My fiance sent me 3 copies of a letter (2 in spanish, 1 in english) that basically says that she's expecting me and that we are getting married etc (it also contains her name and address etc). We figured this might help if I'm questioned about the one-way ticket. I purchased my ticket through travelocity. I'm taking a flight from Seattle via Alaskan to LAX. There I will board a Copa Airline to Panama where I will tranfer to another Copa flight to Santiago. This is the first time i've travelled internationally. I'm a bit nervous to say the least. Any words of advice/wisdom would be welcomed.

Shalom,
Josiah

Mazal Tov on your upcoming wedding.
As I doubt your passport identified your religion, I don't see why it's important in this instance. Your question is of general interest.
I cannot recall ever having to show a return ticket to Chilean immigration officials. You'll have to purchase a tourist visa upon landing like everyone else and deal with renewal or conversion (to resident status, I mean) like everyone else. There is plenty of information about that on this site.
You could also confer with the owner of the website; his business is helping the English speaking community in Chile.

You may have trouble getting on the flights,

you need to search the forum for one way tickets, i remember reading something you need to tell them if they give you trouble at the boarding end, it pretty much says you dont need a return ticket! and to look in a system that will tell them so!

I did almost the same flight as you when I immigrated back to Chile in 2007 - LAX-Panama-Santiago on Copa as well on a one way ticket. I had no problem at all. I don't know what the current situation is now (things change) but I would verify per zer0nz's recomendation. Anyways, I wish you the best - Mazal Tov from another member of the tribe.

I doubt you will have any problems. I have never even been questioned with my one way tickets. It sounds you are kind of jumping into this international move a little blind. I wish you luck. I hope you will be prepared and studied about all the legal steps you will need. It might be good for you to contact the administrator of the website as it is his job to make transitions like this easier.

a colleague of mine flew Mexico City - Panama - Santiago with Copa in January. One way ticket - entry on tourist visa, EU citizen - as he was leaving Santiago a week later with TAM. No questions asked at any point during the trip.

A formerly heavy poster, tourist visa resident for many years in Chile said many many times on this forum that the travel industry bows down to an IATA database called Timatic. That there database is at the fingertips of every check-in agent. If said check-in agent is ignorant of the NOT APPLICABLE line for Chile for those entering on a tourist card and thus for touristic purposes, you can direct said ignorant agent to look up the Chile entry and all will be well.

Timatic public access via the Delta website wrote:.
- return or onward ticket. (Not applicable when travelling

for touristic purposes and holding credit card or sufficient

funds to purchase ticket.)
.

Yea, I have had a few calls regarding this lately. The airlines, including LAN of all frigen companies, is playing the round-trip game on people again, depending on where they buy there ticket.

Said it before, and will say it again: THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A ROUND TRIP AIRLINE TICKET WHEN VISITING CHILE!!!!!

Other than that, congratulation on the wedding.

@admin, yeah I've read you saying this before. I do believe you, but how should I handle this situation if it arises? I'd like to know if there is perhaps something I can do to avoid this situation entirely (other than wasting money on a return ticket). I have the TIMATIC info that I found posted on this forum. I'm going to print it out before I leave and bring it with me. Will this be enough?

BTW - It's really amazing how helpful you are on these forums. You've really blessed me with these forums and I really appreciate it.

Thank you to all for the replies.

Josiah

<edited>

answering machine wrote:Go to a Timatic public access database, and print it out, and make sure that the date that you print it is visible on your printout, as well the source of the access point to the database.

As it says about either a card or "sufficient funds" -- make sure to hold any kind of a card, just in case (don't you have any, that is not formally expired, no matter if it is actually active).

If you don't have any card, and hold only cash, it would be wise [probably] to be able to show that these pieces of paper could actually buy any kind of ticket out of Chile as per the requirements of the Timatic-originated printout.

~ answering machine

ok, now im 75% sure i know who answeringmachine is!

i came here on a one way ticket in december, 2009 and i had no problems. i haven't flown since then, so i can't compare the level of security and how that might have changed from then to now. that might be an issue, but i doubt it. chile is fairly easy-going about such things. the documents you have should be enough if you have any problems, and no doubt your fiancee will be nearby to help verify your story.