Interrailing and one way flights

[MotherBot]

(Posting here for traffic! Cheeky I know..sorry!)

DS wants to fly to Spain and interrail from there, so just needs a one way flight. The booking site has flagged that if he doesn't buy a return he'll have to provide evidence of a visa as it will be assumed he's intending to stay.

Anyone had experience on this? If he shows his interrail ticket is that proof he's intending to leave?
Does he need a visa?!

Thanks anyone who knows, Googling has proven inconclusive.

Is he flying from the UK?

We have done plenty of one way flights to Europe..... we quite often fly in to one country and out of a different airport or country. It's never been an issue. Presumably he will have some way of returning home booked after his trip.

I've done it a few times too, did it last week and was asked for proof when I'd be leaving the Schengen Zone.

We've done ferries using different companies and different ferry ports before - arrive at one ferry port and use a different company and port to return -so I am not sure how the authorities would know your overall travel plans - I am sure it does not come up on their computer at passport control.

Thanks everyone, yes he'll be getting home by train and then ferry. Is showing your train ticket enough? We were told that the airline won't fly you and/or the country you land in won't admit you if they think you have no plans to leave?

@WayMeanWood when did they ask for proof, was it when you landed and went through passport control?

Is he at Uni? Have a Job? Does he have halls to come back to? Paid rent or rental agreement?

I would check with the airline - but it should be fine if he is able to show the train ticket and ferry booking he has to get back to the UK.

1000s of British children do inter railing every year. They turn up at passport control - and often don't have their return trip booked. They just have an inter rail ticket.

Also - plenty of people book 1 way flights - and maybe have a plan to return home at some point on some flight at some time. So the airline books them happilly.

I suppose he might face some more questioning at passport control about his plans.

Border Force don’t routinely do passport checks for those leaving the UK.

However if you are traveling on a British passport, with a one way ticket into Europe ex-Uk some airlines may ask you to provide extra documentation (proof of onwards travel, proof of EU residency) at either a Visa check desk or at Check- in (i.e. they may not allow you to complete the whole check-in process on line) before going airside.

The process varies and can be a bit random but it’s worth being prepared for a bit of extra admin.

Just get him to carry evidence of his ferry booking home and think no more about it. I doubt very much he'll even be asked.

The company I work for sells charter flights from the UK to Europe on a 'point to point' basis meaning even if they book a return trip they're processed as two one-ways and their return details aren't passed to the airline / border control until a few days before they come home. I've never heard of any of our passengers being stopped or questioned (and believe me, they'd tell us!).

Thanks everyone!
A couple of clarifications...

Yes, he's starting Uni this Autumn.
He won't be booking his ferry until he's en route as they haven't decided when they'll sail, it depends on the rail hopping as to when they get to the ferry port.

It sounds as though he 'might' be challenged on entry to Spain ?? and if so he can produce his rail ticket and proof of Uni place or something like that?

Can he book a flexible ferry ticket for the return so he has a date if he is worried? I know it will probably be more expensive, but it is an option.

If he has his interrail ticket available (ie proof of his departure from spain) then he should be fine, no?

Is he aware of the max stay in Schengen for non-EU passport holders?

I would encourage him to carry paper copies of all documentation, not just on his phone.

Yes, passport control asked and wanted proof, other people off the flight being asked too.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your replies, he's booked and will take his interrail pass with him. And his uni offer email!