BT Football Academy booked one-way tickets. Return flights OPTIONAL for travel to Spain

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Otto de Vries, CEO of the Association of South African Travel Agents.

Listen below: 

A group of more than 20 children and three coaches from the BT Football Academy became stranded in Lisbon, Portugal, after taking part in an international football tournament.

In a public statement, the academy cited delayed visa processing issues and a lack of funds, which disrupted their flight planning.

Kfm 94.5's Tracey Lange, sponsors, Travel Direct, and many ordinary South Africans rallied to raise funds to get these kids on flights back home. This feat was successful.

To the relief of parents, the group is on their way back to South Africa on various flights. The last is set to arrive by Thursday afternoon.

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‘Tracey Lange Cares Initiative’ raises funds for BT Academy kids to return home by Thursday

Stranded in Europe: 'We are lodging cases of child abduction, fraud, theft’ - Virgil Martin, parent of BT Football Academy member

Now, Kiewit is asking: What do flight regulations say about international travel with no return ticket?

De Vries says when travelling to Spain, the Spanish government issues Schengen Visas based on an itinerary without having to show that return flights have been booked. 

"It turns out that a Schengen Visa is an overarching Visa for a number of EU countries. They do not all necessarily apply the same requirements... if you're applying for a Spanish visa, you don't need a return ticket; you need to show an itinerary of travel..."

- Otto de Vries, CEO - Association of South African Travel Agents

"In most cases, when you book a ticket, depending on the channel you book it through, there is a requirement within a very limited period of time where you have to commit and then actually purchase those [return] tickets and show that it's purchased. It's recommended ultimately that you should have that [return tickets] in place."

- Otto de Vries, CEO - Association of South African Travel Agents

De Vries also questions why South African Airlines did not confirm if these members had return tickets booked at check-in, which is sometimes required.

"Beyond the visa... the question that comes to mind is: how were they able to travel departing South Africa without showing evidence at check-in that they have got return tickets in place?"

- Otto de Vries, CEO - Association of South African Travel Agents

"The airline would be required at check-in to ask if the persons travelling are in possession of a ticket to return back to South Africa... because there is a potential penalty and a potential fine as well as the cost of repatriating those passengers if airlines don't follow this process."

- Otto de Vries, CEO - Association of South African Travel Agents

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.