Open-return flight

[sara8]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about open-return flights. I'm hopefully going to be headed to the Netherlands on exchange next fall and am thinking of staying in Europe for an indefinite period of time afterwards. Any ideas of where to find open-return flights or has anyone had any experience with them? Or would I just be better off choosing a return date and paying the fee if I need to change it?

Thanks!
-Sara

[me]

last time i had an open return ticket, in 1990, it had cut-off date less than a year later. 320 days, maybe?

when i studied for a year in Germany, i used two one-way tickets. <which was foolish as i ended up flying home for X-mas> if you can find an open-return ticket that allows a return late enough to suit your purposes, go for it.

do the research: if it's cheaper to buy an open return, do so. if it's cheaper set a return date, then change it, do it that way. (if you do this, i'd suggest setting a late return date, then move it up if necessary. i suspect the airline would be more amenable to moving the return date sooner, maybe without charge, than to move the return to a later date.

- d