In my ongoing journey to move to Thailand, I asked my travel agent to buy me a round trip ticket, from Hawaii, with a return date several months in the future. The problem is that the airlines charge a penalty of $150-$200 to rebook my return, as I do not know when, (or if) I will return.

I remember reading on some board, that round trip tickets from Thailand to the U.S. were significantly less than the same ticket from the U.S. to Thailand.

She suggested that I purchase a one way ticket Hawaii – Bangkok – Singapore ticket, with the last portion fully refundable, to show Thai immigration that I had a outbound ticket, and then refund the last leg.

When I am ready to return, I would then buy a round ticket from Bangkok to the U.S. at a lower price than I would have paid.

Does anybody know if this is a viable option for me?

Tickets out of Thailand are definately cheaper so I would go with your travel agent's suggestion. I've never heard of immigration ever bothering to check for an outbound ticket. You would be pretty safe with just a one way ticket to Bangkok but if the Singapore leg is refundable there is no harm in putting down that extra money that you will get back anyway.

Remeber if you already have a pre stamped visa in your passport you don't need a outgoing ticket.

Please correct me if wrong mods

I arrived in Thailand last December with a pre stamped visa and one way tickect and all was fine.

Good Luck

A few recommendations. First, try booking on a foreign carrier. I have noticed they do not charge for flight changes...at least some don't. All US carriers do!

Second, I have been seeing incredible deals lately. EVA and China Air especially. But also JAL. I am in Las Vegas now and have been watching this closely as I am almost ready to buy tickets for my return to LOS. The best deals I have seen are around $625 without taxes and surcharges.

Here are some links to Bangkok based travel agencies. They have prices listed...but I have not checked the validity. They both list prices for one way tickets back to the USA.

Good luck!

http://www.travelconnecxion.com

http://www.travexnet.com

A few recommendations. First, try booking on a foreign carrier. I have noticed they do not charge for flight changes...at least some don't. All US carriers do!

Second, I have been seeing incredible deals lately. EVA and China Air especially. But also JAL. I am in Las Vegas now and have been watching this closely as I am almost ready to buy tickets for my return to LOS. The best deals I have seen are around $625 without taxes and surcharges.

Here are some links to Bangkok based travel agencies. They have prices listed...but I have not checked the validity. They both list prices for one way tickets back to the USA.

Good luck!

http://www.travelconnecxion.com

http://www.travexnet.com

Thanx for the sites - I'll check them out.

I am presently in Hawaii (Big Island) and JAL is the only carrier that flies direct to Bangkok. They charge a $150 fee to change your return date. Their prices are O.K. about $850 with all of the taxes.

You might want to check out the tra