One Way Ticket To Thailand. An Issue?

[danols]

Hi

I plan to travel to Thailand on a one way ticket from Australia and get a standard tourist visa on arrival. Is this going to be a problem since I dont have a ticket out of the country with me?

Thanks

Dan

[jstumbo]

If you are an Australian citizen, you cannot get a visa on arrival. Visa on arrival is a visa that you apply for at the border or airport. That is limited mostly to developing country's citizens. What you looking for is the visa exempt entry, which is just a stamp in your passport that says you can stay for 30 days. These are limited to 90 days in a 6 month period.

You will probably not have a problem at immigration in Thailand when trying to enter the country. They do require it, but rarely ask to see it from first world countries. Where you may have a problem though is the airline. Many airlines will not let you on the plane if you do not have a return ticket within 30 days. Some do, some don't. Some do sometimes, and then at other times do not ask. Kind of hit and miss.

Best to get a tourist visa in Australia if you are planning on going on a one way ticket just to be safe. I don't know about you, but I would hate to get turned back at checkin because I did not have a visa or return ticket.

Call the airline also and see what they say, see if they will let you on.

[bartender100]

Or go to airasia website and buy the cheapest ticket available from bangkok,for any date after you arrive, is that a good idea??

[jstumbo]

That would also work. It would need to be within the 30 days though. You could even change the date to a later date and use it for further 30 day visa exempt entries.

[domus]

so would an airline such as Qatar sell you a one way ticket, and then not allow you on the plane?

confused!

[Maestro]

When they sell you the ticket they do not know whether you will travel with a visa, do they? They only look at your passport when you check in for your flight and if you have a visa you are OK with a one-way ticket.

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Maestro

[lopburi3]

You should read the ticket contract (fine print I know but perhaps browser can enlarge it) - you are required to meet the requirements for entry into the country and without return ticket (or a visa) you do not. They are fully within there rights not to allow you boarding. In the event you were refused entry they would have to pay for your exit and they would be fined for allowing you to travel.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You should read the ticket contract (fine print I know but perhaps browser can enlarge it) - you are required to meet the requirements for entry into the country and without return ticket (or a visa) you do not. They are fully within there rights not to allow you boarding. In the event you were refused entry they would have to pay for your exit and they would be fined for allowing you to travel.

and the check in staff in Australia are as tough as nails.

[fishhooks]

Particularly JetStar!

[Searat7]

Particularly JetStar!

I just traveled round trip from Bangkok to Sydney and was questioned By British Air at check-in for return flight as to whether I had a ticket for onward travel from BKK. When I told her I had a retirement visa she backed off. Airlines are checking there !

[Maestro]

...you are required to meet the requirements for entry into the country...

Danols, if you want to check the requirements for entry into any country, go to this website:

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...rt_information/

It will give give you the same information which the check-in staff get on their monitor.

--

Maestro

[libya 115]

You should read the ticket contract (fine print I know but perhaps browser can enlarge it) - you are required to meet the requirements for entry into the country and without return ticket (or a visa) you do not. They are fully within there rights not to allow you boarding. In the event you were refused entry they would have to pay for your exit and they would be fined for allowing you to travel.

I have noticed that more and more, now, that upon check-in that they question 'One-way' tickets to Thailand. It flashes up on their screen, like a flag system, then they check the passport for a visa. On two occassions they called a supervisor who actually photocopied my visa. The reason they did this is because it was an old Thai 'O' visa transferred by Thai immigration into my new passport (lots of Thai handwriting etc.)

Also remember the airline does hold the right not to let you fly. A reasonable check in supervisor would make you sign an indemnity form, saying that you will repatriate yourself at own cost if refused entry into Thailand. But in these days of over-booked flights, any excuse to 'bump' a passenger is grabbed.

[danols]

Thanks for this guys. I will get a tourist visa in Aus before I leave.

Reason I dont have an onward ticket is that I dont know where I will be going. I know that I am not going back to Aus anytime soon so no need to by a return ticket I might not use.

My first post here any many great replies. Great forum. Cheers.

Dan

[Tomkagai]

Dan,

The easiest way to solve your problem is to buy a full price return ticket (ie refundable) on a credit card, once you arrive in Thailand, cancel and get a refund on the return leg of your journey...

Used this trick a few times travelling to the US to work many years ago, as the first time I went on a one-way ticket was turned back at

Manchester airport because I didnt have a return ticket, was put on to this trick by a very nice airline employee.....

[danols]

Seem like my biggest problem is leaving Aus, not the Thai officials...

What if I buy a cheap Airasia Bangkok-where ever dated a couple of weeks into my stay?

Would that get the airline of the hook?

Dan

[IMA_FARANG]

Dan,

The easiest way to solve your problem is to buy a full price return ticket (ie refundable) on a credit card, once you arrive in Thailand, cancel and get a refund on the return leg of your journey...

Used this trick a few times travelling to the US to work many years ago, as the first time I went on a one-way ticket was turned back at

Manchester airport because I didnt have a return ticket, was put on to this trick by a very nice airline employee.....

Yes it works. The other way is to purchase a full fare return ticket and leave the return resevation open...a full fare return ticket is usually good for at least a year. Then when you want to return....or if you are going to someplace else, say Japan...you use the unused coupon of your inbound ticket and apply it as CREDIT to whatever ticket you purchase. Of course this has to be the same airline you came in on. I've done it before. You just need to go to the local airline office, book your flight, and apply the unused coupon as credit toward your outbound flight cost.

Edited March 20, 2008 by IMA_FARANG

[jstumbo]

Seem like my biggest problem is leaving Aus, not the Thai officials...

What if I buy a cheap Airasia Bangkok-where ever dated a couple of weeks into my stay?

Would that get the airline of the hook?

Dan

Yes, that would work just fine. As long as you have a flight leaving within 30 days if you do not have a visa. Not needed with a visa.