Do I Need A Return Ticket To Get Through Customs?

[watson]

Hi,

I am planning to go from the UK to Thailand later this year with my wife and my child (who will still be under two years old when we fly out and return).

I have a UK passport, my wife has a Thai passport and my daughter has both a Thai and UK passport. We expect to return to the UK within 90 days, and return again to Thailand within a year of returning back to the UK.

I am thinking of using air miles I have collected to pay for our outbound flight to Thailand only, and once in Thailand, purchase one year open flight tickets back to the UK which will allow for our return to the UK and back to Thailand within the year.

I am thinking of doing it this way because we will be returning to Thailand for a further 90 days within a year of getting back to the UK and I believe it will be cheaper to buy open return flights in Thailand, rather than buying them in the UK. Eventually we plan to live in Thailand, so will always be "returning to Thailand", rather than "returning to the UK".

If I do it this way, when I arrive in Thailand later this year with my wife and child, I will have a 90 day visa but no return ticket.

My visa-related questions are, do I need proof of purchase of a return flight to obtain my 90 day visa, and/or have a return ticket for myself when I go through Thai customs? Does not having a return ticket cause problems when going through Thai immigration?

If this does not seem like the best/cheapest way of doing this, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Many thanks.

[jdinasia]

You need a Visa to assure that you can board the plane in the first place without a return ticket. I have never been asked (do I know of anyone that has been asked) to show a return ticket at immigration.

Edited March 26, 2007 by jdinasia

[Maestro]

do I need proof of purchase of a return flight to obtain my 90 day visa, and/or have a return ticket for myself when I go through Thai customs? Does not having a return ticket cause problems when going through Thai immigration?

I believe Thai consulates in the UK do not ask for evidence of a confirmed return flight when you apply for a visa. To be absolutely sure, call the consulate where you plan to apply. Application can be made by mail.

Neither Thai Immigration nor Thai Customs will ask to see a return ticket.

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Maestro

[skippybangkok]

Hi,

I am planning to go from the UK to Thailand later this year with my wife and my child (who will still be under two years old when we fly out and return).

I have a UK passport, my wife has a Thai passport and my daughter has both a Thai and UK passport. We expect to return to the UK within 90 days, and return again to Thailand within a year of returning back to the UK.

I am thinking of using air miles I have collected to pay for our outbound flight to Thailand only, and once in Thailand, purchase one year open flight tickets back to the UK which will allow for our return to the UK and back to Thailand within the year.

I am thinking of doing it this way because we will be returning to Thailand for a further 90 days within a year of getting back to the UK and I believe it will be cheaper to buy open return flights in Thailand, rather than buying them in the UK. Eventually we plan to live in Thailand, so will always be "returning to Thailand", rather than "returning to the UK".

If I do it this way, when I arrive in Thailand later this year with my wife and child, I will have a 90 day visa but no return ticket.

My visa-related questions are, do I need proof of purchase of a return flight to obtain my 90 day visa, and/or have a return ticket for myself when I go through Thai customs? Does not having a return ticket cause problems when going through Thai immigration?

If this does not seem like the best/cheapest way of doing this, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Many thanks.

Dunno, Customs have never ever asked me for anything or even stopped me.... just walk straight through.

[Mahout Angrit]

If this does not seem like the best/cheapest way of doing this, does anyone have any other suggestions?

As has already been said you will more than likely need the visa to allowed on the plane not at immigration. For a 90 day stay you will be getting a visa anyway and no evidence of ticket is required to apply for visa.

I would seriously check whether following your plan will be the most economic way of doing it. 1 year tickets bought in Thailand are not cheap in fact these days you can generally get a better deal on return tickets in UK than in Thailand. I think you will find it cheaper not to use your air miles for the 'free ticket' as a return bought in the UK at the right time of the year will be cheaper than half the 1 year ticket. Unless you intend to stay in Thailand on your next trip you will be buying a 1 year ticket again.

Can't you use your air miles as part payment for a return out of UK?

[watson]

Thanks to all for clearing this up.

After looking into the prices etc, and as Mahout Angrit cautioned, it's going to be cheaper to just get a return from the UK on my air miles (for the 2 adults).

FYI I've calculated it's actually "cheaper" to buy with cash than it is to use one's airmiles for an infant (under 2 years) flying to Thailand, so I'll be doing that (costs £100 on BA).

Cheers

[Mahout Angrit]

FYI I've calculated it's actually "cheaper" to buy with cash than it is to use one's airmiles for an infant (under 2 years) flying to Thailand, so I'll be doing that (costs £100 on BA).

On some airlines infants are free but not sure if any of the direct carriers are.

Edited March 26, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[watson]

Not wishing to digress off the Visa-aspect of this post, but do you know if internal flights for infants are free?

[Mahout Angrit]

Not wishing to digress off the Visa-aspect of this post, but do you know if internal flights for infants are free?

You dont say which airline you intend to use for domestic flight and they are not all the same. Most seem to charge 10% of adult fare, some a fixed fee.

If you intend to travel before 30th June and to include domestic travel you should consider Thai International who are offering return adult domestic flights for their international traveller for £20. See West East Travel