Flights Dilema- London-bkk

[slouisea]

Hi

Im coming to Thailand in July, probably for a couple of months but possibly longer so I dont have a return date.

I would like advice on whether to try and get an open return flight to Bangkok (if so, can anyone recommend any websites/ travel agents?) -or- buy a single ticket for now and sort the return out later (Ive heard flights are cheaper when bought in Thailand- is this true?). If I get a tourist visa for 60 days but dont have a return flight out of Thailand is this a problem?

Thanks in advance

[Lucifer]

Get yourself a ticket via EVA Airways for two months stay.

Eva lets you change return dates free of charge.

[Maestro]

With a tourist visa you should have no problem whatsoever with a on-way ticket.

--

Maestro

[londonthai]

flights are cheaper when bought in Thailand- is this true?

not true.

save yourself money - buy a return

[Ciaphas]

I do the eva open ticket has always worked for me ecomonically.

[flightcrew1]

With a one way ticket you may not be able to check in for your flight. Though immigration rarely checks on this end - I have found the check-in agents always ask to see a return ticket or proof of residency. (Re-entry permit, work-permit or what have you)

I was on holiday in the UK last month and when returning they asked to see my work permit - even though I pointed out I was flightcrew for another carrier whilst showing my company id.

Airline can be fined if they allow someone travelling on a one way ticket.

[sweetchariot]

You would only have a problem with a one way ticket if you had no visa (visa exemption).

A single ticket will often cost as much as a return, so your best bet as mentioned previously is buy a return with EVA (as they seem to be the most flexible). Probably the best way to do it is get a 6 month return, as you don't know how long you will be staying, and then you will only have to change the date once rather than keep moving it forward when you don't know your return date.

[Zpete]

When I come to LOS, and am not sure when i will return to NZ, I use, Royal Brunei.

They will change your return date, no problem, no charge.

I do not think it has changed since last Nov.

Normally I use Thai, but RB gives some real cheap deals at times, worth checking out.

[IMA_FARANG]

Hi

Im coming to Thailand in July, probably for a couple of months but possibly longer so I dont have a return date.

I would like advice on whether to try and get an open return flight to Bangkok (if so, can anyone recommend any websites/ travel agents?) -or- buy a single ticket for now and sort the return out later (Ive heard flights are cheaper when bought in Thailand- is this true?). If I get a tourist visa for 60 days but dont have a return flight out of Thailand is this a problem?

Thanks in advance

1. With a 60 day tourist visa you shouldn't have a problem with a one-way ticket. Could be a problem (but maybe they won't ask) if you arrive without a visa (stamp on entry).

2. However, if you can afford it (no discounts) buy a full fare roundtrip with an OPEN return date. Most full-fare tickets have with an open return are good for at least one year.

3. Advantage to #2 is: even if you don't use the return portion of the ticket, it can be used as CREDIT for any other flight with same airline. So say you come here, stay 2 months, and decide to go on to Hong Kong as an example. If you have valid return portion of the ticket, you can use it as CREDIT toward purchase of Hong Kong ticket on same airline. If you do return to UK, just go to airline with unused portion of round trip ticket, and make reservation.

4. Other advantage: once you have return ticket good for year (already paid for), airline must allow you to make reservation for same price, even if fare goes up (fuel price increases).

5. I've done this before, so I know it works.

[geriatrickid]

There have been a lot of changes with tickets at EVA, so please verify the rules. (They've been modifying fares and rules for the past two weeks especially with fuel surcharges and admin procedures.)

As an aside, sometimes roundtrip tickets aren't the best option. If you book by segments depending upon the ticketing engine, you can get a better open fare with a set date that allows changes. Check that option out.

[torrenova]

Until I checked this last month, tickets bought in LOS were always better priced than their UK counterparts when flexibility was required. Recent changes have now made them more expensive in many cases. I hope this is temporary !!!

[Freddie_fly]

With a one way ticket you may not be able to check in for your flight. Though immigration rarely checks on this end - I have found the check-in agents always ask to see a return ticket or proof of residency. (Re-entry permit, work-permit or what have you)

I was on holiday in the UK last month and when returning they asked to see my work permit - even though I pointed out I was flight crew for another carrier whilst showing my company id.

Airline can be fined if they allow someone traveling on a one way ticket.

I see this quote a lot and as I go through this every 10 weeks on returning to BKK, let me give you a little of my experience.

First of all I have never heard of an Airline being fined for allowing one way travel, at worst they may have to bear the cost of repatriating someone, but only if they are refused entry at the arrival point.

I almost always arrive in Thailand on a one way ticket, because I am Ships crew (technical) and seaman's tickets are only one way. In the last 28 years I have been quizzed about my one way ticket exactly three times.

Once in Singapore (ironically on a return from BKK on SAS). Once In CGD while traveling through from Houston. and once in LHR while traveling through from Chicago. In the first instance I explained that I was traveling on the return part of my ticket and showed them all the stamps in my passport, the supervisor was kind to me. In the second instance I showed them my one yr 'O' and my seaman's book, and was allowed to travel. In the third instance I successfully argued that I didn't need a return ticket to travel. Incidentally these instances were in 1984, 1988 and 2002. So that kinda blows the "its tightened up since 9-11 theory. As long as you have a valid Visa Thailand has no requirement to produce a return ticket. It is implicit that this requirement is waived when the visa is granted. However Some check in agents (and I stress that this is the person rather than the airline) do get a little "overly supercilious and can give you some grief.

I just traveled back from UK after a one week stop from Angola, my onward flight was Qantas and the check in didn't ask me for anything at all, this is generally the case.

I would like to stress that for peace of mind you do make sure you have a valid visa, and check with the airline beforehand if they will accept this.

So to give you a quick answer on the possibility of not being allowed to fly.........highly unlikely but...

One thing that has always puzzled me is that the hardest time I get is at BKK airport when leaving to go to work, I always have to have photocopies of my passport, seaman's book, company letter, invitation letter, work permit or Short term visa.

regards

Freddie

As to buying your return flight here forget it, a return from UK will be cheaper, now if you could get someone to buy the LHR/BKK/LHR ticket here in Thailand then yes it would be cheaper, but I'm not sure you can do that.

regards

Freddie

[thetravellingcat]

I flew into BKK from London Heathrow last October with a one-way ticket with Thai Airways. 370GBP

On arrival I was stamped in for 30 days. Almost a month later I did a run Lao only to come back the same day and get stamped in again, for another 30 days. One further 30 day stamp saw me up to my maximum, so after that I bought tourist visas (KL & Vientiane). On the way home I booked a 1-stop flight to Heathrow via Helsinki with FinnAir. This was cheaper than my original single! 335GBP

So it can be done, just make sure you don't over stay. If you do head to an airport because you have a better chance of paying just the fine and not having to pay off the local enforcement too! I had no idea I was going to stay so long in Thailand so thats why I did two singles, in hindsight I should have booked an open return because it turns out I could have used that other ticket as a credit against future purchases.

[gk10002000]

I have flown China Air Lines and EVA airlines from Los Angeles to Bangkok many times and have had no problems changin return flights. I usually end up staying longer than I planned. EVA was free. China air cost me $25 USD once. Had no problems except once around January and New Year's and Christmas I was not able to change my flight. BUt that was in 2004 right after the tsunami so no doubt that was a complicating factor.

When I change my ticket, I usuall check online to see if any flights seem to be available, then a quick stop in any of the decent english speaking Thai travel offices and let them make the call. have used Diana Inn twice on second road in pattaya. The young girl there is very nice. In fact last trip, I changed my ticket twice and it became a daily joke as I would walk by and stick my head in her office for another change!

[Shrubbery]

When I come to LOS, and am not sure when i will return to NZ, I use, Royal Brunei.

They will change your return date, no problem, no charge.

I do not think it has changed since last Nov.

Normally I use Thai, but RB gives some real cheap deals at times, worth checking out.

You have to be careful with RBA.

Some of their lower priced tickets can't be changed. some can be, at a cost of around 15-20 GBP.

And others can be for no charge.

You need to check the small print.