Skipping connecting flight

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itey

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#252820 13-Jul-2019 10:38

Im off on a 4 month backpacking trip in August. I will only be booking one flight to the start, which will either be vancouver BC or somewhere in the west coast of the USA (I'm meeting up with friends who will already be road tripping).

Im wanting to book my flight over, but it's obviously difficult as the guys road tripping have no idea where they'll be in August (their destination is vancouver).

I had the idea of booking AKL - Vancouver via LAX, with the idea of possibly skipping the connecting flight if my friends were still in Cali. What's the deal with skipping the connecting flight LAX - YVR? My understanding is in LAX I'll have to collect all my bags anyway? What's the airlines stance usually on this? Obviously if my friends are in vancouver /Northern West Coast I'd continue with the 2nd flight.

Your thoughts appreciated!

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#2275708 13-Jul-2019 10:38

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Scott3

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#2275713 13-Jul-2019 10:43

Do some searching with the term "Skiplag" or "Skiplagging"

Subway

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#2282718 24-Jul-2019 10:45

If its a one way ticket and you skip the connecting flight, then you'll likely be fine.

But if its a return flight, and you skip the connecting flight, it'll cancel your return leg.

jarledb

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#2282720 24-Jul-2019 10:49

Just be aware that you will throw all kinds of red flags with immigration if you just have a one way ticket. Would really recommend at least knowing where you will return from and having a fleixble return ticket that you can change the dates on.

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Subway

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#2282723 24-Jul-2019 10:56

jarledb:

Just be aware that you will throw all kinds of red flags with immigration if you just have a one way ticket. Would really recommend at least knowing where you will return from and having a fleixble return ticket that you can change the dates on.

It'll be fine, have done a one way ticket into the states before, there is no requirement to have a return ticket, as long as your ESTA is valid

wellygary

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#2282757 24-Jul-2019 11:58

Subway:

jarledb:

Just be aware that you will throw all kinds of red flags with immigration if you just have a one way ticket. Would really recommend at least knowing where you will return from and having a fleixble return ticket that you can change the dates on.

It'll be fine, have done a one way ticket into the states before, there is no requirement to have a return ticket, as long as your ESTA is valid

While it may be fine on a simple one way ticket,

What the OP proposes will likely raise flags with US ( and possibly Canadian) Immigration..

You are going to arrive on a flight that has transmitted data to US customs saying you are travelling to Vancouver, but you are not going to depart the US and then not arrive in Vancouver.... This will trip a flag somewhere, .....

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#2282799 24-Jul-2019 13:08

wellygary:

Subway:

jarledb:

Just be aware that you will throw all kinds of red flags with immigration if you just have a one way ticket. Would really recommend at least knowing where you will return from and having a fleixble return ticket that you can change the dates on.

It'll be fine, have done a one way ticket into the states before, there is no requirement to have a return ticket, as long as your ESTA is valid

While it may be fine on a simple one way ticket,

What the OP proposes will likely raise flags with US ( and possibly Canadian) Immigration..

You are going to arrive on a flight that has transmitted data to US customs saying you are travelling to Vancouver, but you are not going to depart the US and then not arrive in Vancouver.... This will trip a flag somewhere, .....

This is the aspect of the plan that would concern me.

Just be aware that buying a O/W ticket to the US will very likely result in extensive questioning by CBP. There are no legag issues doing this and entering the country providing you have a valid ESTA, but they will question you about your plans.

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#2282813 24-Jul-2019 13:44

sbiddle:

wellygary:

Subway:

jarledb:

Just be aware that you will throw all kinds of red flags with immigration if you just have a one way ticket. Would really recommend at least knowing where you will return from and having a fleixble return ticket that you can change the dates on.

It'll be fine, have done a one way ticket into the states before, there is no requirement to have a return ticket, as long as your ESTA is valid

While it may be fine on a simple one way ticket,

What the OP proposes will likely raise flags with US ( and possibly Canadian) Immigration..

You are going to arrive on a flight that has transmitted data to US customs saying you are travelling to Vancouver, but you are not going to depart the US and then not arrive in Vancouver.... This will trip a flag somewhere, .....

This is the aspect of the plan that would concern me.

Just be aware that buying a O/W ticket to the US will very likely result in extensive questioning by CBP. There are no legag issues doing this and entering the country providing you have a valid ESTA, but they will question you about your plans.

I buy a one way ticket every time and apart from "when will you leave" question they never check the return ticket. I did have a problem flying from London once though as the airline insisted I had an onward ticket to leave the US afterwards so bought it in the queue to checkin.

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#2283145 25-Jul-2019 02:28

Zeon:

I buy a one way ticket every time and apart from "when will you leave" question they never check the return ticket. I did have a problem flying from London once though as the airline insisted I had an onward ticket to leave the US afterwards so bought it in the queue to checkin.

I know the airlines check that you have a return ticket when traveling from Norway to New Zealand as when I return to NZ I don't have a return to Norway, and I have a Norwegian passport. I always get questioned about it and have to show them my residency permit for NZ.

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#2283155 25-Jul-2019 07:16

Zeon:

I buy a one way ticket every time and apart from "when will you leave" question they never check the return ticket. I did have a problem flying from London once though as the airline insisted I had an onward ticket to leave the US afterwards so bought it in the queue to checkin.

There is no legal requirement to have an onward ticket from the US. The problem is that one way tickets do raise red flags, and having a ticket to YVR where your immigration status would be classed as only a US transit and then deciding to enter the US would almost certainly raise issues.

Yes it's all legal and neither you or the OP are doing are doing anything that is dodgy, but the mere fact you're doing things that will raise some red flags means you are likely to be subject to additional CBP questioning at the time or potentially every trip in the future. Getting an X every time you use an APC machine would be a nightmare.

It's also worth noting that the secondary screening interview at AKL might also raise a red flag if you have a ticket to YVR but tell them you're getting off at LAX and not flying the final sector.

Brunzy

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#2283163 25-Jul-2019 07:48

Also remember your ESTA only lasts 90 days.
Going to Canada doesn’t count as leaving the US.

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#2283166 25-Jul-2019 08:05

Brunzy: Also remember your ESTA only lasts 90 days.
Going to Canada doesn’t count as leaving the US.

It's not so much the ESTA - but the VWP (visa waiver program).

An ESTA is just a pre travel clearance. NZ citizens traveling to the US on an ESTA are admitted under their VWP which is for a 90 day stay and gives you a WT/WB stamp in your passport.

Leaving the US does not pause the 90 days stay and if you enter the US again within that 90 days you will be admitted under the same WT/WB stamp already present in your passport. CBP are not allowed to issue a new WT/WB stamp when the current one is still valid as this would extend the 90 day period, and people would all just go on a trip to Canada or Mexico to get an unlimited stay if that was the case.

You need to leave the country before those 90 days, and can then technically reenter after the 90 days is up and receive another WT/WB stamp for another 90 days.

I had an interesting discussion a few years ago with the land border crossing at Bristish Columbia when crossing into the US as I still had by WT stamp from a visit to Hawaii two months prior (I had been back to NZ in that time). He wanted to charge me from memory US$10 or so for a new visa application and stamp to enter the US when there was zero need for this as I already had a valid stamp in my passport for entry with something like 30 days left on it. I was clearly trying to be a little tight and avoid paying the money when I didn't need to and I think he was simply obsessed with trying to get $$ off me and struggled to see me point that he was doing something he was not supposed to be doing which was giving me overlapping stamps in my passport.

In the end it was far simpler to just pay the money and go on my way as there is no point trying to argue any logic with them. 😀

The 90 day limit is a good point to raise for the OP if they are planning to reenter the US and are not aware of this.

Brunzy

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#2283175 25-Jul-2019 08:17

“Leaving the US does not pause the 90 days stay and if you enter the US again within that 90 days you will be admitted under the same WT/WB stamp already present in your passport. CBP are not allowed to issue a new WT/WB stamp when the current one is still valid as this would extend the 90 day period, and people would all just go on a trip to Canada or Mexico to get an unlimited stay if that was the case.”

Canada, Mexico and Cuba do not count as leaving, anywhere else it does and you can have another 90 days. When you come back you will get another stamp on your passport, and it starts afresh.