Dummy ticket vs refundable flight booking, which saves more money in the long run
Posted by Ill-Refrigerator9653@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 24 comments
Trying to figure out the most cost effective way to handle proof of onward travel across a long trip.
Option one is booking the cheapest refundable fare on a budget airline and canceling after. Option two is using a dummy ticket service.
On a short trip refundable booking probably makes sense. but I'm traveling for 3 months across 6 countries so this is gonna come up multiple times.
Trying to calculate what actually saves more money including the time cost of managing all those refundable bookings and making sure I don't forget to cancel any of them.
Curious what the math looks like for other long term travelers.
anothercar@reddit
I can’t tell what the goal here is. To lie to customs agents about your plans?
rarsamx@reddit
Not necessarily. Sometimes we travel with flexible dates we may plan to be there one week but if we love we may stay longer. Always withing the visa allowed period. The thing is thatany countries require you to have an inward ticket the moment you enter.
shitdayinafrica@reddit
Likely apply for visa before departure with flexible dates in the itinerary
anothercar@reddit
Yikes not worth it. Be flexible within the country but be honest with customs about when you plan to enter and leave
shitdayinafrica@reddit
Its a required document for some visa applications that need to be done in your home country.
Go for the summy flights simpler better faster. Normally travel agents will do this for free if you book flights throufh them for the same trip. I have never paid for dummy tickets
CyberpunkAesthetics@reddit
Is it ever checked?
sbktmkc@reddit
also some airlines charge a cancellation fee even on refundable fares so it's not always actually free to cancel
Ill-Refrigerator9653@reddit (OP)
Wait really, i assumed refundable meant free cancellation. that's annoying
DevilxxOP@reddit
depends on the airline and fare class. some are genuinely free, some charge a fee. always read the fine print
SCDWS@reddit
That seems like false advertising
DevilxxOP@reddit
depends on the airline and fare class. some are genuinely free, some charge a fee. always read the fine print.
aeb3@reddit
An expensive enough class of ticket that it fully refundable and make it the first thing you do after arriving.
Oyster49@reddit
Dummy tickets aren’t always accepted by immigration officers, your best bet is to schedule a refundable ticket close to the time when you’d need to leave.
ChateauLaFeet@reddit
This is my worry
MistressMinaStash@reddit
Dude, you're being too clever with this. Try kubiktrip and you'll be happy.
Rude_Context_4844@reddit
for a 3 month multi country trip i'd just use dummyfares for the visa and border stuff. way lower total cost than managing 6 refundable bookings and risking forgetting to cancel one [drop at 1 hr]
Pig_Benis_was_taken@reddit
yeah when you put it that way the math does seem to favor the dummy ticket option
negrafalls@reddit
You'll find better answers on a backpackers or travel sub.
Recommendation: but the refundable onward ticket and put a reminder in your calendar to refund it
Difficult_Skin8095@reddit
The hidden cost of refundable bookings is the mental energy of tracking them all. i've lost money forgetting to cancel twice
SCDWS@reddit
Why are you not just canceling them once you've passed immigration? Or setting a reminder in your phone to cancel them? It doesn't really require any mental energy at all.
Altruistic-Doctor789@reddit
also factor in that budget airlines sometimes change refund policies without notice. nothing worse than going to cancel and finding out the rules changed
SCDWS@reddit
There really shouldn't be much of a time cost with refundable fares. Once you pass immigration in a country, cancel it. And if your memory is really that terrible, just set a reminder on your phone for a day after you plan to enter a new country to cancel it.
WayLast1111@reddit
peace of mind has a dollar value too. i've paid for worse things while traveling
Effective_Tackle_195@reddit
You know these questions about onward travel exist for a reason, right? You can't just stay forever.
Just book your onward travel.