I often see the suggestion that people arriving to Thailand and expecting the 30-day airport chop, the Visa Exempt stay, get a refundable airline ticket. This primarily to show their airline when they board as oftimes the airline will check that the pax has the capability to depart Thailand within 30 days.

So, what airlines flying out of Thailand have fully refundable tickets? Absent "fully," how about "mostly" refundable. Or variations on the theme.

Mac

I think it is more based on the price and maybe class of the ticket. You have to go on the websites go to book look at terms and conditions. (ie) first class ticket probably refundable, economy may not be. All airlines I think will have refundable/cancellation policies, again depending on price and maybe class of ticket. I have not done this but have reviewed many websites, costs and conditions. ie: refundable if you cancel within 14 days, gives the airline time to resell the ticket.

Edited October 7, 201213 yr by Colabamumbai

Out of my experience, all airlines have refundable tickets. The booking and traveling class is the key point.

First class: dont expect problems at all, business: minor fees, or complementary.

For eco: s more you pay, as moe options you have.

I booked, before I moved to Thailand, mostly 1 year tickets. Besides no fees for changing the return flight, you could easily give that flight back. As early you decided to do so, as more you got back.

Malaysia Airlines is a good partner, Singapore Airlines, too.

Also: Thai Airways is refunding every ticket. Minimum to the Thai g/f, that can't use it, to visit the Farang b/f, who paid it, b/c of the buffalo is sick! They are totally aware of the situation.

The visa application need a pre booked flight. But in case something goes wrong,.....!

I think it is more based on the price and maybe class of the ticket. You have to go on the websites go to book look at terms and conditions. (ie) first class ticket probably refundable, economy may not be. All airlines I think will have refundable/cancellation policies, again depending on price and maybe class of ticket. I have not done this but have reviewed many websites, costs and conditions. ie: refundable if you cancel within 14 days, gives the airline time to resell the ticket.

Even Air Asia , Tiger, .... are offering this., for extra money. Same like for book your seat, food, ....!

Edited October 7, 201213 yr by noob7

Why not just get a tourist visa to start with and avoid the cost and hassle of messing with airline tickets.

Might be better in the TRAVEL section as its plane tickets your talking about not visa's,

Edited October 7, 201213 yr by CharlieH

Why not just get a tourist visa to start with and avoid the cost and hassle of messing with airline tickets.

The tourist via is the most 'can I see your return flight ticket' visa.

They start asking you at the embassy/consulate, in case, you are lucky!

But it has a point:

With a tourist visa in hand, you can easily plan a visa run. Air Asia ticket, to Malaysia/Singapore, should be enough, to show at embassy/consulate or any airport counter

I think all airlines have fully refundable tickets. The refundability is based on the ticket price. If you pay full price, then you get an essentially fully refundable ticket. It is often better to just buy the absolutely cheapest ticket you can find and just toss it if you are not going to use it.

I agree with CharlieH - however the contracted ground agents at check in are machines and will be prompted to enter flight details, absent of an outward ticket it will be time consuming and you are at the mercy of the airline, they risk being fined that you will not be allowed entry into the Kingdom.

To answer the OP almost all carriers offer some sort of refund provision, HOWEVER in your fare terms it will state 'Refund" $50 but read and see if there is a "No Show Fee" in other words of you wait until post departure to start the refund process you will be charged $50 + $75. I would suggest a cheapo one way that you throw away.

you can pick up cheap deals on tiger or airasia for less than refund admin charges so if a ticket is needed it can be done very cheap.

Just onward travel details printed out well even if not booked have done me for over 12yrs of travel

Another option, research your return ticket options, prepare to book them but dont actually book them.

Depends on the airport and airline but often you will not be asked return tickets. Check in with plenty of time to spare, if you get hassled, then you can book most tickets (Air Asia. Tiger etc) online using the airport WiFi in about 5 minutes. If no wifi or free wifi, then you could book it over the phone from the call centre for a some extra fee. Then you can show them the ticket from your laptop/tablet or via the phone.

I recently arrived with Air Asia from Australia with this plan, but didnt get hassled with return ticket.

To receive the tourist visa I'm required to show an itinerary or some evidence of my return ticket. Would a plane ticket to Malaysia or Singapore or some other cheap destination from Thailand suffice for the tourist visa?

Yes - but if itinerary is accepted you probably just need to provide your travel plans.

Korea air will let you reschedule your return flight anytime within the next year or so. Maybe doesn't answer your question, but useful info.

It is not a return ticket that is required but proof that you have the means to leave the country after your visa (or visa exemption) is finished. So you can get a cheapo ticket to Phnom Pen or somewhere. If you could swing it to merely book this ticket and retrieve some kind of a refund, even better. I came on an 'O' visa so didn't need a return ticket, but I was a bit nervous about airline staff not being aware of the fact that I didn't need one. These are the guys that may be a hindrance as their airline has to pay a fine and pay for your trip back if immigration refuses you.

However it is difficult to find a single ticket that is a lot cheaper than a return ticket, enough to make it worthwhile. I found one but with two stop overs.

To receive the tourist visa I'm required to show an itinerary or some evidence of my return ticket. Would a plane ticket to Malaysia or Singapore or some other cheap destination from Thailand suffice for the tourist visa?

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To make it clear it is not a "return" ticket that is required. it is a ticket "out of the country" (Thailand, I mean) that is required. So, yes, any ticket (by air) to a neighboring country will do.

Still, the best way is to get a tourist visa before leaving your country.

No ticket out of country required with tourist visa....airlines accepts visa instead of wanting to see ticket.

Plus tourist visa gives you 60 days vice 30 days if you decide to stay longer.

Most always tourist visa is cheaper than "out of country ticket" also.

Also on refundable tickets.....be aware that for many airlines a refundable ticket may ALSO be accepted as credit toward another ticket.

So say you purchase a refundable ticket to Singapore from Singapore Airlines as your "out of country ticket.

Often you can then go to Singapore Airlines in Bangkok, and apply that BKK to SIN ticket as credit toward another ticket, say BKK to Tokyo....and you pay only the difference in fares.

Just check with whatever airline you use regarding this before you leave your home country.

air asia give a refund on airport tax , you can find a cheap flight from hat yai to KL or bkk to KL for around 1000 baht and 700 baht is airport tax, air asia charge 200 baht admin fee.

i claimed before - the airasia web site claim system never used to be very good but they have revamped it so it maybe better now ?

i had the refund about 1 month after claiming,

there's some air asia flights currently : hat yai to KL in feb for 1090 baht and 920 baht is airport tax - so after the admin fee you will get 720 baht back, which is correct i got back around 15 pounds.

that's the minimum price - to pay that you have to select no luggage and de-select a seat etc.

if you have scb online banking you can also avoid the 199 baht pp processing fee - which also works well.

Bro, why just by air ? In the thai law i state clear it´s ticket out of thailand bye air land or sea, On the departure card you not only have flight nr,+ Other + vehicle nr......

This rule is enforced by airlines and the only ticket they can confirm is an airline ticket so yes an airline ticket will normally be the only proof they will accept. If the check is an immigration checkpoint some other form may be accepted, as Cambodia bus tickets were a few years ago, but such checks are not normal.

Bro, why just by air ? In the thai law i state clear it´s ticket out of thailand bye air land or sea, On the departure card you not only have flight nr,+ Other + vehicle nr......

I get my ticket from www.Exit-Thailand.com and works ok whit the airliner