# Why do hijackers buy one way tickets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2001, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345 "2001-10-14T07:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/1 "2001-10-14T07:42:52Z")
Apparently, buying a one-way airline ticket with cash raises suspicion that the purchaser has bad intentions. I understand the pay with cash part, but how is advantageous to a hijacker to buy one way tickets? Couldn’t they buy round trip and not use the return leg? On domestic flights aren’t round trip tickets usually cheaper anyway? Is there some kind of terrorist mantra that precludes dishonesty in dealing with travel agents? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/2 "2001-10-14T07:44:53Z")
I don’t think that was the case on 9/11. Some of the hijackers had purchased round trip tickets, used credit cards, and gave frequent flyer numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/3 "2001-10-14T07:52:33Z")
Actually while buying one way tickets has always been considered, technically “suspicious,” we never really did jack about it because we hadn’t had a hijacking since, what, the seventies? ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/4 "2001-10-14T08:00:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobT \* > \*\*I don’t think that was the case on 9/11. Some of the hijackers had purchased round trip tickets, used credit cards, and gave frequent flyer numbers. \*\* I heard the same. Nonetheless, [this article](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/WTC_Investigation.html) is about a flight that was cancelled today due to suspicion of terrorist activity. Suspicions were aroused after: > [@](#): > > two men bought one-way tickets from a New York City travel agency, paying with cash and leaving an apparently bogus phone number… Anyway, this article and news items I’ve heard previous imply that the purchase of a one-way ticket fits the hijacker profile. Why? ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/5 "2001-10-14T12:58:20Z")
A few wild-ass guesses: First, many criminals are stupid, and many other criminals feel guilty/nervous about what they are doing and therefore want to get caught (at some level). Although it would seem unlikely that anyone in Osama’s group would be that stupid (assuming that his group was behind the 9/11 attack), there is a real threat of “sympathy strikes” by less organized groups. Moreover, consider that one of Osama’s guys (apparently) made some pretty stupid comments to a Minnesota flight instructor. Even the smartest people make stupid mistakes now and then. Second, for institutional reasons, the authorities must pay careful attention to those who buy one-way plane tickets with cash. This is because if another hijacking occurs, and it turns out that there were easily detectable indications in advance, you can bet that many high level government employees will have their carreers seriously damaged. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/6 "2001-10-14T17:22:27Z")
It may also be that many visitors from the mideast buy one-way airline tickets for cash and therefore this is just part of the profiling procedure. My wife is a flight attendant and she has had one such case flying out of Tulsa. There is a flight school in Tulsa that trains several persons from the mideast. This passenger had a roll of bills amounting to over $4000. They evidently don’t use credit cards or bank accounts the same as we do. ---
**Author:** ![thara5241](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@thara5241](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thara5241)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/7 "2015-10-24T21:54:07Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I don’t think that was the case on 9/11. Some of the hijackers had purchased round trip tickets, used credit cards, and gave frequent flyer numbers. No I don’t agree. The two you’re thinking of are victims NOT hijackers. In fact, the idea that the hijackers bought one way tickets makes complete sense. Why would they have purchased round trip tickets if they never intended to return? Here’s a news article proving my point. [http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/inv.hijackers/](http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/inv.hijackers/) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/8 "2015-10-24T22:34:21Z")
Sure glad that’s finally cleared up. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/9 "2015-10-25T00:53:07Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > It may also be that many visitors from the mideast buy one-way airline tickets for cash and therefore this is just part of the profiling procedure. My wife is a flight attendant and she has had one such case flying out of Tulsa. There is a flight school in Tulsa that trains several persons from the mideast. This passenger had a roll of bills amounting to over $4000. They evidently don’t use credit cards or bank accounts the same as we do. That kind of thing is not limited to the mideast. It’s fairly common and normal in Japan to carry around a few hundred thousand yen for whatever reason - to make a deposit on an apartment, buy a motorcycle, pay employees (!), etc. It is a largely cash-based society and the violent crime rate is low which makes carrying lots of cash around pretty safe. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/10 "2015-10-25T02:50:11Z")
They are just being frugal. Watching their pennies. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/11 "2015-10-25T03:28:44Z")
Aren’t round trip tickets usually cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/12 "2015-10-25T08:05:59Z")
> [@thara5241](#): > > No I don’t agree. The two you’re thinking of are victims NOT hijackers. In fact, the idea that the hijackers bought one way tickets makes complete sense. Why would they have purchased round trip tickets if they never intended to return? > > Here’s a news article proving my point. [http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/inv.hijackers/](http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/inv.hijackers/) Because it was known even in 2001 that if you pay cash and buy a one-way ticket you ping the suspicion meter. Assuming that you want to be a successful terrorist, you should use a credit card and buy a round trip ticket to dispel that suspicion. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/13 "2015-10-25T11:07:50Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Assuming that you want to be a successful terrorist, you should use a credit card and buy a round trip ticket to dispel that suspicion. And [buy life insurance](http://freakonomics.com/books/superfreakonomics/chapter-excerpts/chapter-2/). (Sadly only a link to an excerpt that doesn’t really include the subject.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/14 "2015-10-25T13:15:14Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > Aren’t round trip tickets usually cheaper? Round trip tickets are almost always more expensive than one-way tickets, at least within the same fare class. They \*may \*be less than the price of \*two \*opposite-direction one-way tickets ni the same fare class. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/15 "2015-10-25T13:27:25Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Because it was known even in 2001 that if you pay cash and buy a one-way ticket you ping the suspicion meter. Assuming that you want to be a successful terrorist, you should use a credit card and buy a round trip ticket to dispel that suspicion. Um I bought a one way ticket internationally in like 2008 and got no suspicion or extra scrutiny. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/16 "2015-10-25T13:29:30Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Um I bought a one way ticket internationally in like 2008 and got no suspicion or extra scrutiny. How would you know? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/17 "2015-10-25T13:30:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Round trip tickets are almost always more expensive than one-way tickets, at least within the same fare class. They \*may \*be less than the price of \*two \*opposite-direction one-way tickets ni the same fare class. Hmm, I just did a quick check of my local airport and that’s right, two different flights were cheaper one-way. But I’ve flown one-way several times and used a round trip ticket because it was significantly less. There are a bunch of [articles](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/one-way-ticket-cost-round-trip-ticket-109573.html) about it too. Has something changed recently? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/18 "2015-10-25T13:34:37Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > And [buy life insurance](http://freakonomics.com/books/superfreakonomics/chapter-excerpts/chapter-2/). (Sadly only a link to an excerpt that doesn’t really include the subject.) Back in the day when they had those life insurance vending machines in airports, when someone was going on a trip I’d sometimes give them a couple of bucks and ask them to get a policy and put me down as beneficiary. I’d say, “I don’t know, I just feel lucky.” If the plane had ever gone down I’d have probably had the devil’s own time collecting, the underwriters for sure would have claimed I didn’t have an insurable interest, but what the hell, better odds than a lottery ticket. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/19 "2015-10-25T13:36:08Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > How would you know? Extra bag searches, extra scrutiny, called for a grilling in a bare room? If the scrutiny is all background what is it exactly? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hijackers-buy-one-way-tickets/87345/20 "2015-10-25T18:55:50Z")
The only time I ever got the “extra security” treatment was about 10 years ago when I flew from Florida to Pittsburgh for my sister’s graduation. My daughter was 3 at the time and her grandparents were coming to Florida two weeks later. The plan was for both of us to fly up there, and leave her with her grandparents to bring her back in two weeks. I was flying home immediately. So I bought a round trip ticket for me and after looking at the prices, it was cheaper to buy a round trip ticket for her instead of a one way ticket. I don’t remember the exact prices, but it was cheaper. I even called the airline before the flight to tell them that they had an extra seat on the return flight. No problem, they said. It was technically against the airline rules, but people do it all of the time, thanks for the heads up. Well, when I checked in for the return flight I presented my ticket and the ticket agent asked where my daughter was at. I repeated the story. No problem, she says and marked on my boarding pass what could only mean “Al Qaeda” in whatever code they use. I was taken out of line, patted down, and interviewed in a small room and they kept asking me “where is the girl”? I told them. They didn’t believe me. I called her grandparents and they verified that my daughter was with her. They let me go with the impression that I had beat it this one time, but I had better watch myself in the future. The whole thing was bizarre. I wasn’t travelling overseas. Did they suspect that I was part of a child slavery ring that operates from South Florida to western Pennsylvania? If I was, their “verification” wasn’t very strong. If I was running some sort of scam, then all I needed was someone on the outside to pose as a grandmother and state the child was with her. Of course, after I get on the plane and turn my phone off, my wife has been called by her mother and told I was “arrested” at the airport. She called my phone about 5 times and had called the airport several more times. Ah, good times. 🙂