I'm planning on a 1 year trip around South East Asia being based in Thailand for the first 6 months

Could someone shed some light on the following.

Best (most economical) way of arranging 1 year return flights leaving from Uk - I understand Airlines only book 11 months in advance how do you get around this, "I want a 12 month return airline ticket"

I plan on arranging 3 x 60 Day visas at Hull Embassy then skipping in and out of Thailand( ie excursions to surrounding countries a week here a week there) for the remaining 6 months is this still possible (have immigration rules changed)

What else haven't I thought of? Let me know?

Edited October 11, 201213 yr by spacedcowboy

Eva I think do the longer term return.

You can easily slip in and out of Thailand now...no restrictions on this any more I believe.

Go and spend some time in Vietnam....imho a beautiful country.

Eva will give you an "open" return valid for 1 year.

Watch the passport, neighboruring countries use a full page for the visa and if you intend hopping back and forth you will eat up the empty pages quite quickly.

Triple entry is fine, extend each entry by 30 days will give you 9 months if used correctly, watch the dates, there will be an issue date which is the start NOT the date you arrive in Thailand, so leave applying and getting that visa as late as you can.

Technically you can go in amd out as many times as you like but they will start to ask questions if you repeat too often.

If the visa is used you get 15 days by land border and 30 days arriving by air. ( thats nfo for further down the timeline).

Good luck, stay safe, have fun !

It' s easy! Airlines indeed have difficulty planning planes 1 year ahead. But I always fly China airlines to bangkok with a fixed return date(maximum should be under 10 months AFAIK) because i never know when i come back. So for instance after about 9 months hanging in SE asia you give them a call and change your return ticket with no cost to another date(This way getting around the system as you inquired). A let me emphasize: No extra fees or costs. I hope i explained this clearly enough for you to understand.

It' s easy! Airlines indeed have difficulty planning planes 1 year ahead. But I always fly China airlines to bangkok with a fixed return date(maximum should be under 10 months AFAIK) because i never know when i come back. So for instance after about 9 months hanging in SE asia you give them a call and change your return ticket with no cost to another date(This way getting around the system as you inquired). A let me emphasize: No extra fees or costs. I hope i explained this clearly enough for you to understand.

Thanks for this info mate...I am flying them for the first time in Dec.

It' s easy! Airlines indeed have difficulty planning planes 1 year ahead. But I always fly China airlines to bangkok with a fixed return date(maximum should be under 10 months AFAIK) because i never know when i come back. So for instance after about 9 months hanging in SE asia you give them a call and change your return ticket with no cost to another date(This way getting around the system as you inquired). A let me emphasize: No extra fees or costs. I hope i explained this clearly enough for you to understand.

Thanks for this info mate...I am flying them for the first time in Dec.

Great! They also have excellent customer support. I fly with them for 5 years now and whenever i had a problem about changing or anything at all, they eased me into a great solution. And it's always sooo easy with them! No tricks and no scams. Nice to share the easyness amongst you. This dude obliges China Airlines.