Transborder Trip On 2 Airlines
Sep 22, 2016, 3:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: American AAdvantage
Posts: 1,045
Transborder Trip On 2 Airlines
Due to the current schedule, I am thinking about traveling to Toronto on Air Canada and returning on American. Although I've GE/Nexus, is there any risk (e.g., secondary screening) to purchasing the one-way tickets on the airline websites? The alternative would be to purchase it on Expedia, so I'd have a single itinerary showing both the outbound and return flights. Thanks.
Sep 22, 2016, 4:18 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,032
Due to the current schedule, I am thinking about traveling to Toronto on Air Canada and returning on American. Although I've GE/Nexus, is there any risk (e.g., secondary screening) to purchasing the one-way tickets on the airline websites? The alternative would be to purchase it on Expedia, so I'd have a single itinerary showing both the outbound and return flights. Thanks.
Sep 22, 2016, 8:49 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
Atleast 50% of my transborder travel is like this. I've never had a problem. Sometimes Delta will ask you to show a return ticket/booking or a US or Canadian residency visa but thats about it. Air Canada and American never ask for anything.
Oct 1, 2016, 1:14 pm
#5
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Posts: 13,437
Until I got my KTN, I had not had an SSSS in over ten years. Since then, I had SSSS twice, each time involving international travel. The first time was at the AA transfer desk in HKG; was flying from BLR to HKG on BA miles on Cathay, and revenue ticket on AA, HKG/DFW/COS. The secondary screening in HKG was minor. In DFW it was horrendous.
Oct 1, 2016, 2:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Until I got my KTN, I had not had an SSSS in over ten years. Since then, I had SSSS twice, each time involving international travel. The first time was at the AA transfer desk in HKG; was flying from BLR to HKG on BA miles on Cathay, and revenue ticket on AA, HKG/DFW/COS. The secondary screening in HKG was minor. In DFW it was horrendous.
Oct 1, 2016, 2:48 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP's question has to do with the risks, if any, in booking outbound and inbound transborder flights on different carriers. The answer is that there is none.
At absolute most, either or both the carrier check-in agent or CBSA/CBP Officer as the case may be may ask to see proof of the return on the other carrier. That may take an extra 30 seconds somewhere along the line.
As to the other speculation about KTN's being mistaken for redress numbers, that seems just as spculative as an agent mistaking a request for a gluten-free meal for a redress number.
Don't forget that these are all separate fields and that "security" agents don't determine the printing of "SSSS." That is determined either by the carrier (not at the station) or DHS.
At absolute most, either or both the carrier check-in agent or CBSA/CBP Officer as the case may be may ask to see proof of the return on the other carrier. That may take an extra 30 seconds somewhere along the line.
As to the other speculation about KTN's being mistaken for redress numbers, that seems just as spculative as an agent mistaking a request for a gluten-free meal for a redress number.
Don't forget that these are all separate fields and that "security" agents don't determine the printing of "SSSS." That is determined either by the carrier (not at the station) or DHS.
Oct 1, 2016, 3:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
OP's question has to do with the risks, if any, in booking outbound and inbound transborder flights on different carriers. The answer is that there is none.
At absolute most, either or both the carrier check-in agent or CBSA/CBP Officer as the case may be may ask to see proof of the return on the other carrier. That may take an extra 30 seconds somewhere along the line.
As to the other speculation about KTN's being mistaken for redress numbers, that seems just as spculative as an agent mistaking a request for a gluten-free meal for a redress number.
Don't forget that these are all separate fields and that "security" agents don't determine the printing of "SSSS." That is determined either by the carrier (not at the station) or DHS.
At absolute most, either or both the carrier check-in agent or CBSA/CBP Officer as the case may be may ask to see proof of the return on the other carrier. That may take an extra 30 seconds somewhere along the line.
As to the other speculation about KTN's being mistaken for redress numbers, that seems just as spculative as an agent mistaking a request for a gluten-free meal for a redress number.
Don't forget that these are all separate fields and that "security" agents don't determine the printing of "SSSS." That is determined either by the carrier (not at the station) or DHS.
Or maybe the traveller in question is just travelling more, so the automated randomness strikes more often.
Oct 1, 2016, 5:03 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,032
Until I got my KTN, I had not had an SSSS in over ten years. Since then, I had SSSS twice, each time involving international travel. The first time was at the AA transfer desk in HKG; was flying from BLR to HKG on BA miles on Cathay, and revenue ticket on AA, HKG/DFW/COS. The secondary screening in HKG was minor. In DFW it was horrendous.
