flying into thailand without a return ticket

**brian3673** · 30-03-2011, 04:04 AM

hi guy's
just wondering if anyone know's what the best thing to do about flying into thailand on a one way ticket.
information...fly into thailand 14-18 april from uk..
i am married to a thai lady...
i will be flying to saudi arabia hopefully first week of may to start a new job 28/28 but don't know what day yet...
i know you need a return ticket to get in to thailand at emigration just not sure what too do...should i put a return on my entry form to saudi and change the date when my ticket comes in from my work.

cheer's
brian.

**Airportwo** · 30-03-2011, 04:31 AM

Your problems will come when you try to board flight into Thailand - they wont let you board without a return ticket....

**OhOh** · 30-03-2011, 05:33 AM

If you have a prearranged visa you are allowed to board the flight. As you state you are married to a Thai lady, get a "marriage" visa. Call your Thai embassy, in the country you live in, London or Hull, and they will tell you what documentation is required.

Or get a return ticket from Saudi to BK with a changeable return date.

The reason they will not allow you to board with a one-way ticket , you might get to Saudi but not from there to bk, is because they are liable to return you to where you came from.

**BobR** · 30-03-2011, 08:54 AM

Probably better to check with the airline. I've lived here 5 years, now have a retirement visa. Flew to the USA and back, a round trip or return ticket in which travel originated here. When I checked in for the return flight, it was an issue at LAX but they ended up keeping a xerox copy of my retirement visa.

You're right to be concerned, but it can be done.

**Davis Knowlton** · 30-03-2011, 09:41 AM

I dealt with this crap in the Philippines for a while. Buy the damn 'show ticket', and then cash it in once you get into the country and wait 6 months for a 60% refund. Now, as a 'long term' resident, I have been able just to show my Filipino driver's license and that has worked fine for the past couple of trips to LOS. I will be interested how much crap I get when leaving the US after my trip this coming May. I already dread going to the US.

**backinpd2007** · 30-03-2011, 10:14 AM

Buy a cheap fare from bangkok to Kuala Lumper, and produce it if asked!

**boloa** · 30-03-2011, 11:16 AM

I flew back into Thailand 18 months ago on a one way ticket and was never asked to show a return ticket and had no prearranged visa,maybe I was just lucky !!!

**BigBaBoo** · 30-03-2011, 11:51 AM

There is a lot of misinformation on entering Thailand on a one-way ticket or without a visa. I've done it myself and here is what I've learned.
First of all, you do not need a RETURN ticket. If you arrive without a visa obtained before you leave (and get a 30 day stamp on arrival at the airport) the only requirement is that Thai immigration MAY want to see is a valid OUT OF THE COUNTRY onward ticket...it can be to a neighboring country like Laos...and not a RETURN ticket to your country. In fact Thai immigration often doesn't ask for this ticket, but they theorectically CAN. In my 30 years experience (although I usually had a return ticket) I have been asked only once to show an onward ticket in at least 100 no-visa entries to Thailand in that 30 year period.
Secondly many airlines do not bother to ask European tourists that appear to be financially capable of supporting themselves in Thailand for their stay for that onward ticket...but sometimes they do. The choice is up to the AIRLINE...and they do it because if anyone they carry to Thailand is rejected by Thai immigration the AIRLINE is required to get them out of the country. That's why the AIRLINES are checking YOU...because if you are rejected it will cost them.
Thirdly, if you have a valid visa...even a tourist visa...most airlines don't cocern themselves with your outbound ticket. (Getting a tourist visa however in some Thai consulates in certain countries may mean the Thai consulate wants to see proof of an exit ticket before they give you a tourist visa). The reason the airlines don't concern themselves with your return ticket if you have a valid Thai tourist visa is that they have no responsibility for you unless you arrive without a visa.
Fourthly, I have in 30 years of at least twice yearly visits to Thailand I have only been asked 3 times...2 times by the airline and once in Thailand by immigration ...to show my out of country ticket. (I had one anyhow, so it was no problem). So you seehow rare it is.
Bottom line...here's how to avoid any problem.
1. Get an out-of-country ticket valid within 30 days if you intend to arrive without a visa and expect to get that 30 day on arrival entry stamp.
2. Get a 30 day or 60 day tourist visa before you leave your country. It's a lot cheaper than an out-of-country ticket.
3. And don't look like a backpacker...look like you can afford to visit Thailand. (I'm not being biased...it's just a fact that is how the immigration will judge you when you arrive.)

**Blake7** · 30-03-2011, 12:10 PM

Just make a "booking" without actually paying for it and get the flight schedule sent by email.
Print it off and it will pass muster with airlines.

**Davis Knowlton** · 30-03-2011, 12:21 PM

^^In years of leaving the Philippines to go to Thailand, I have never been asked. When leaving Thailand to return to the Philippines, I have been asked EVERY time. All flights on Thai Airways.

**brian3673** · 30-03-2011, 02:00 PM

thanks guy's for all the information...you have been a great help.
think i will call the consulate in the uk and get a marriage visa.
hopefully that will be ok...but i will look into this and give you a update.
bigbaboo thanks for all your help with this.

i will let you know how i get on asap...

thanks

brian.

**DroversDog** · 30-03-2011, 02:07 PM

The easiest is to get a Non-Immigrant "O" based on your marriage!

You can risk flying in without a return ticket (done it several times). When you check-in the airline may give you hassle and get you to sign a form to indemnify them if you are rejected entering the country. 99.9% of the time you won't have a problem, but expect to get pulled up if you look like a Russian hooker bound for Pattaya with no return flight.

**Jesper** · 30-03-2011, 03:21 PM

Just flew into thailand without visa and without a out of the country ticket or return ticket, wasn't a problem.

**Mr Brown** · 30-03-2011, 10:11 PM

Never been asked at immigration in Thailand

**Yemen** · 01-04-2011, 12:08 AM

Never been asked for return ticket by immigration but have been refused by Delta to board without a visa. Only reason for this was the agent had no idea of Thai policy as I had a flight within 30 days out of Thailand and was willing to sign a waver releasing Delta of responsability. She was a BITCH.

**brian3673** · 01-04-2011, 02:18 AM

well i called the thai conselate in the uk and as i am married to a thai lady all i
need to do is get my married visa and it doesn't matter if i only have a one way ticket...
£100 multaple entry to thailand for one year 90 day stay each time.

thanks for the help agian guy's...

pints are on me next time...haha

**OhOh** · 01-04-2011, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by brian3673

well i called the thai conselate in the uk and as i am married to a thai lady all i
need to do is get my married visa and it doesn't matter if i only have a one way ticket...
£100 multaple entry to thailand for one year 90 day stay each time.

thanks for the help agian guy's...

pints are on me next time...haha

Sabai.

**jandajoy** · 01-04-2011, 07:54 AM

Both Jetstar and Qantas have asked to see a return ticket on various occasions when flying from Aus to LOS. A valid visa is the easiest way round this but, as stated above, a print out of an itinerary will suffice.

**misskit** · 01-04-2011, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Yemen

have been refused by Delta to board without a visa.

Delta is the only airline that always makes me show a visa OR return ticket. The BITCHES (Delta has many) go on about a $15,000 fine Delta has had in the past for allowing people to arrive in Thailand without visa or return ticket. I always figured they were trying to get me to buy a return ticket.

**capello** · 01-04-2011, 10:00 PM

i had trouble at manchester a few years ago, did not want to let me on the flight, i had a years ticket but no visa, explained i was only stopping in thailand for 10 days then going down to perth to see my mate for a few weeks

gonna get a multiple entry in perth which was easy for my return to thailand, the airline said o.k. lets see the oz ticket, i told them i was buying in bangkok as it was cheaper

made a hell of a fuss but let me on in the end, arseholes

**db1** · 04-04-2011, 08:25 PM

I had a problem with air asia, passport only had three months left till it expired, they said it must have a least six months told them only going for three weeks showed return tickets, still got loads of hassle in the end had to sign form reliving them of responsability.

**nikster** · 04-04-2011, 08:31 PM

Never had a problem but then I always have a visa, which, as others pointed out, is good enough.

But in case you don't have a visa, just go online, print out an itinerary out of Thailand on any flight booking website, e.g. AirAsia to Singapore or something, and show that to the immigration. You don't need to buy a ticket - there's no way immigration can or would check with the airline. Most tickets these days are e-tickets, you get nothing, you show up with your passport at the airport. Paper tickets are rare.

**nikster** · 04-04-2011, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by misskit

Originally Posted by Yemen

have been refused by Delta to board without a visa.

Delta is the only airline that always makes me show a visa OR return ticket. The BITCHES (Delta has many) go on about a $15,000 fine Delta has had in the past for allowing people to arrive in Thailand without visa or return ticket. I always figured they were trying to get me to buy a return ticket.

Best to just avoid them then? Last 2 times I took Cathay Pacific - no return ticket as my return ticket was actually from Thailand to the USA and back. No questions, never looked at my Thai visa.

I remember EVA or China Airways asking questions but both were OK with the visa.

**Phuketrichard** · 04-04-2011, 09:26 PM

if ur going to be leavin gright away why bother wih the non "o" visa as it cost more than the tourist visa.

I have never, in over 28 years of flying in been asked.
Its the airline where u leave from that might ask
Best bet is get a Business class ticked out of Bangkok to PP or KL. AS soon as u land apply for the full refund and u will get the full 100%
or spring for the touris visa for , ( i thinks its $25) was free up untill the 31st last month but u missed that ;-(

**buycondojomtien** · 04-04-2011, 09:27 PM

As always people don't know what they talk about.

90% of chance that you won't get any problem but it depends on airline and immigration:

They might deny you boarding if you don't buy a return ticket, or immigration might deny you entering the country if you don't have the right visa or onwards ticket to leave the country when your visa expires.

Some people have been proposed to buy a return ticket at the most expensive price.

But i repeat, thousands of people go to Thailand without proper visa or return ticket every year without any problem, but it's like the lottery, it can happen to you, and then you will spend a lot more than the return ticket that you could have bought for cheap.

In your situation i would buy an onwards ticket to KL to be safe (2000 thb max ticket to KL on Air asia).

Bye.

Thread: flying into thailand without a return ticket

Thread Tools

Display

flying into thailand without a return ticket

Entering Thailand on one-way ticket

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions