Need advice on booking Air Asia flight

[meow]

Although I have never had problems in the past with one-way flights from UK - BKK, I am going to play it safe this time and purchase an onward flight out of LOS (It's EVA Air and apparently they check for this before boarding).

So I have come across a pretty cheap flight (BKK-Phmom Penh) and would like to book it, however I am dubious about the little warning that pops up, telling you that you are about to pay for the flight in a currency that is not your own, in this case THB.

Since I've never done this before, I am worried that there will be some out-of-the-blue charge from my bank etc.

It will either be mastercard or visa.

Thanks!

[dirtydog]

Airasia show the full price in Thai baht before you agree as you do the booking, never had a problem with them.

[meow]

Yeah, so is it just a straight conversion, (GBP-THB) like I would see in XE.com?

And my main concern is, will I incur a bank charge here in the UK, as I am using a UK card in the UK to pay a price in Thai Baht?

If only they used paypal...

[dirtydog]

Wouldn't imagine your bank would charge you, ie on visa or mastercard, its just a normal transaction, but obviously when you first goto airasia site that 500baht flight doesn't include surcharges, the next step does and they are generally higher than the flight price.

[Strongarm]

You'll probably be charged a small conversion fee.

[Mr Orange]

it will be pennies if that, nought to worrie about

[Lostandfound]

If you are not planning on using the ticket (and simply want it to show at check in and possibibly immigration), my choice would be a scheduled ticket with a cancel charge from an agent. Most one way TG tickets have a 500b refund charge. I wonder how easy it is to get refunds through Air Asia?

You might even find that a print out of an itinerary is enough to pass inspection (where the agent has not issued the ticket).

[BobR]

If you are not planning on using the ticket (and simply want it to show at check in and possibibly immigration), my choice would be a scheduled ticket with a cancel charge from an agent. Most one way TG tickets have a 500b refund charge. I wonder how easy it is to get refunds through Air Asia?

You might even find that a print out of an itinerary is enough to pass inspection (where the agent has not issued the ticket).

Isn't the printed itinerary all he will have even if he buys the "ticket". The word ticket is left over from a bygone era, most airlines do not issue paper tickets any longer.

[Lostandfound]

If a tickets been issued the itinerary will show an e ticket number

should be enough for thai immigration just to see an itinerary.

If Eva kick up over it just go to the sas ticket desk next to Eva check in at t3 Lhr and buy a fully refundable full fare IATA ticket bkk to wherever.

[Lostandfound]

I almost alwayarises to arrive in Thailand without an inward ticket when it was cheaper to buy tickets in Thailand. Never had a problem with airline

only ba have ever made a fuss, flying Christmas day on last minute booking. I was able to show another separate onward ticket so was allowed to board. Seems the only reason was because the entire cabin was full of ba crew who were hoping for a private party en route to bkk, I think they were looking for an excuse to force me to travel the next day. Typical ba job club!

[BobR]

I almost alwayarises to arrive in Thailand without an inward ticket when it was cheaper to buy tickets in Thailand. Never had a problem with airline

only ba have ever made a fuss, flying Christmas day on last minute booking. I was able to show another separate onward ticket so was allowed to board. Seems the only reason was because the entire cabin was full of ba crew who were hoping for a private party en route to bkk, I think they were looking for an excuse to force me to travel the next day. Typical ba job club!

Sorry to be contradictory, but I did have a problem last year at LAX when I was returning to Thailand on a Return ticket I had bought in Thailand. The clerk at check-in made a big deal out of the fact I had no onward ticket and did not seem to understand that was because I live in Thailand and started my trip here. She had to call over a supervisor and they made a copy of my retirement visa. The OP's concern is valid.

[Lostandfound]

Sure seems like enforcement of the rule is arbitrary. The sas ticket desk next to Eva check in at heathrow is his friend if they make a fuss on the day. A full fare IATA ticket should be 100% refundable. He could even be cheeky to submit the refund at the same desk once he's got his boarding card. Otherwise just wait and do so on his return.

[meow]

OK folks, I finally went ahead and got an Airasia flight to Phnom Penh for 2300 THB.

I was already intending travelling to PP anyway, but I just wanted the flexibility to go when I chose, instead of going when the ticket states.

Cheers!

[Anteak]

Thai Air, Turkish Airlines, Finnair, SAS, and Qatar all want to see onward proof out of Thailand if you are not in possession of a return. This is the case anyway from Stockholm wouldn't have thought that Sweden was a special case. The same applied from Melbourne to BKK with Jet Star.

I've read that the reason behind it being that if you are not (for some reason) allowed into Thailand then you become the airlines responsibility to repatriate you.

I am going to be in the same boat early next year when I am uncertain of my date out of Thailand and want to arrive on a single. It will either be a refundable ticket or else a cheapo job within Asia. As an aside I've never been asked to show proof of an onward or return ticket at immigration.

Cheers for the Air Asia Phmom Phen tip.

[loll]

no problems with the exchange rate
it is not set by your bank but by VISA or Mastercard
there may be a fee for using the card abroad, but it wont be much - this fee may be set by your bank, ask them