Do I need a round trip ticket to Thailand?

[doggie1955]

My Wife is Thai, and she lives in Thailand. I am planing to make Thailand my home soon.

Can I just buy a on-way ticket, or do I need a round trip ticket?

And can I get a open date ticket, so I can come back to the USA any time I need? (if I get a round trip)

[cooked]

I came here on a one way ticket but I also had an 'o' visa. I believe that tourist visas (or entry with visa waiver) theoretically require proof of onward journey. The airlines are liable if Thailand sends you back, so it is the airlines that (very rarely) make difficulties. You should be able to book a ticket to Phnom Penh at the airport if that's what they need.

[craigt3365]

Open date tickets can be very expensive. Best to use a travel agent and see what they can do.

Most likely, the airline will deny your departure at the airport if you don't have either a return ticket or a valid visa in your passport. If you are planning on staying here for the long haul, it's best to start planning the visa part now. Either get a retirement visa in the US before you leave (or even a multi entry tourist visa), or deal with it when you get here. There are a few ways to take care of this and best we move this over to the visa forum for that discussion. Best of luck!

Topic Moved.

[ubonjoe]

You need a return or onward ticket if you do not a have a visa. A cheap one way ticket to a nearby country will be accepted.

I suggest you get a non-o visa based upon your marriage. You can get a single or multiple entry from the embassy or one of the official consulates by mail or the honorary consulates in person.

[geisha]

I've had return tickets that are dated, but one can change the return date for around a 100 euros, you may not be able to return the exact date you want tho. Not sure if they do this in the states. Try Emirates?

[SantiSuk]

I've had return tickets that are dated, but one can change the return date for around a 100 euros, you may not be able to return the exact date you want tho. Not sure if they do this in the states. Try Emirates?

All the big 3 Arab airlines have a relatively cheap 'leg change' penalty and have sufficiently large numbers of daily flights to give a good prospect of meeting your date requirements.

I used to travel 5+ times a year return between London and Bangkok on Emirates, Qatar and Etihad (British Airways has become sufficiently cheap this year to fly direct which I'm happy to pay up to 200 euros premium for). I found myself changing return legs quite regularly and I never had to pay more than the stated penalty and could always get the date I wanted even at say a few days notice.

Yes geisha, Emirates leg change penalty was the best deal (but their fares are often more than the other two). My booking search records* for 2013 and early 2014 show that the cheap fares had penalties as follows:

Emirates £75 (so close to 100 euros)

Qatar £100

Etihad £135

May have changed since March 2014.

* Yes - I am that anal. Typical bladdy accountant