On 26 May 2007 07:59:17 -0700, Solo Thesailor
wrote:

Hi, Thanks all for being a great source of wisdom. I have a question
about organising flights when crewing for a sailing vessel cruising
long distance without definite destinations or timescale. Apology if
it is a stupid question to some...

To get into a country one usually needs to show return tickets. Say,
if I travel from Australia to join a boat in Miami, after cruising for
6-12 months or whatever I could end up in Italy or New Zealand etc. Do
I change/refund ticket (which probably means it needs to be a much
more expensive open ticket?) or do I fly back to Miami with a one-way
ticket and face a possible refusal of entry because it is not a
straight-forward return ticket? In the latter case of flying back to
Miami that would be rather stupid if I'm already in NZ so close to
home.

Also when I get to the last destination how do I clear immigration
without a departure ticket to go into town/airport to buy that ticket?
Buy on-line or by phone from the boat (but that's often not possible)?

From one accasion organising a one-way ticket into Vanuatu for a sail
back, it was a tedious and long drawn out affair chasing up the
authority for a letter to be allowed in with a one-way ticket, despite
it being a formally organised inter-country group event with all the
letters to support the application. So this time doing it as one
person I am not too hopeful of a smooth or even successful and timely
transaction. I would very much appreciate your advice and tall or
short tales.

Thinking about it now, this would apply to skippers flying to buy/pick-
up a boat to sail away to undefined destinations too.

Many Thanks


I suspect that you are "doing it wrong". Shipping crews fly all over
the world to join vessels and I'm fairly sure that they all aren't
getting round trip tickets.

I suggest that you contact a Ship's Agent and see how they do it. I
know that in Singapore, for example, crews joining a ship are required
to have a bond posted to ensure that they do leave, and get a two week
visa. In Thailand crews don't seem to need the bond and get a 30 day
visa.

Generally, I think you'll find that most countries do not specify a
"round trip air ticket" as such, rather I believe that most countries
specify that you must show evidence of how you will leave the country.

However, this is a general statement and may well not be applicable in
Australia or the U.S. that seem to now have especially convoluted
immigration regulations =:-)
Bruce in Bangkok
(brucepaigeatgmaildotcom)

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