Post: #1

Just was hoping for an update on this. I know you're supposed to show a return ticket, but I've always gone one-way. Are any of you still doing this and getting away with it?

Anyone been turned away?

EDIT: I suppose I should specify I'm American. Not sure if this supposed "rule" applies to anyone else...

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #2

(01-05-2013 01:55 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Just was hoping for an update on this. I know you're supposed to show a return ticket, but I've always gone one-way. Are any of you still doing this and getting away with it?

Anyone been turned away?

EDIT: I suppose I should specify I'm American. Not sure if this supposed "rule" applies to anyone else...

I flew to BKK on a one-way ticket two months ago, no problems at customs.

Post: #3

Dunno if this helps, but I had a one-way ticket to China last year and they want to see the return before issuing the visa, so I booked a roundtrip, printed it, and then canceled it and they accepted the print out. United and Delta are two airlines that allow cancellations within 24 hours of booking.

Post: #4

The Thai Consulate General based in Portland, Or. indicates that Americans do NOT need a proof of an onward ticket if applying for a 60 day tourist visa,
http://www.thai-or.com

Post: #5

Why would you do that? Is it cheaper to buy tickets that way?

Post: #6

(01-05-2013 07:49 AM)Parlay44 Wrote:  Why would you do that? Is it cheaper to buy tickets that way?

Flexibility.

No need to buy a round trip if you have no idea when you'll be coming home or from where (or if ever lol).

I always try to do one-way, and when I'm ready to come back, I buy a ticket a few days before I'm ready to roll. It usually costs about the same.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #7

The following should almost be made a sticky about Thailand:

If you are paranoid about immigration hassling you about a return ticket. Before you go, buy a full price ticket (ie one fully refundable) that you cancel when you've entered the country.

Post: #8

(01-05-2013 09:52 AM)Vicious Wrote:  The following should almost be made a sticky about Thailand:

If you are paranoid about immigration hassling you about a return ticket. Before you go, buy a full price ticket (ie one fully refundable) that you cancel when you've entered the country.

I know that already.

But I have no reason to be paranoid about it unless other guys are reporting problems. Hence why I asked.

No one is, so I'm not paranoid.

I would have just checked thaivisa forums but you get way too many fear mongerers professing it's something should ALWAYS do, when all I wanted to know was were people still doing it my way. You're confusing convenient knowledge-seeking about the current situation with paranoia.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #9

I have flown into BKK from the USA, Europe, and other Asian countries on a 1-way ticket dozens of times. Never once had a problem and have never heard of anyone having a problem. Thailand is pretty relaxed on this kind of stuff.

It will not be a problem.

Post: #10

Where do you guys buy tickets that oneways are cheaper? Most of the time they re pricier than a roundtrip so I often let the second leg expire...

Post: #11

Yeah I bought a one way for about 600 dollars about 2 months ago. Now my one way back home is going to cost me about 800. probably 1400 total

If I would've just bougght a round trip in the beginning it would have been about $900-$1000

Post: #12

That seems decent. My one ways show up as 1900 versus 1000 round trip... Must be the airline or booking classes!

Post: #13

My method for dealing with it:

Soma Wrote:I've never been asked anywhere before, but to be safe instead of paying for an actual ticket I always print out something that looks in every way like a real ticket but isn't. For example, if you book a flight on Singapore Airlines from the website you'll get to a point before you have to pay where you can email the itinerary to yourself. When you get the email it looks pretty much like a real ticket, you just haven't paid for it yet. Print that out and no border official could know the difference.

Post: #14

I last did it in April 2012 with no problem. My guess is that what matters most is that you don't come to the country looking like the kind of guy who will run out of money. From what I understand if worse comes to worse and they give you a hard time you can show your bank statement to prove that you can afford to leave.

Post: #15

I have not flown on a one way ticket to BKK but seems all is ok from what guys are posting. If you really want to do it one way yet cover your back, I would fly with a one way ticket AND buy a cheap outgoing ticket with Air Asia to say KL or Singapore for about 80-100$. This way no harm done in terms of being denied entry to the airplane or given a hard time by immigration at BKK or before boarding. And worst comes to worst, you would go to KL or Singapore for cheap but then you'd be back within a few days to BKK to party like a true Beyond Borders Rockstar...

Hope this helps man. When are you flying? Seeing all you guys fleeing to BKK, I'm extremely tempted to join the exodus...lol

Post: #16

Damn, that's cheap man! From where are you flying out of? Australia or something? Cause in here, in gloriously overrated Boretown, even a one way flying with an airline as awful as United with 2 stops costs a G. The cheapest return is just under 1500 and that's with crappy United. My usual route via NRT with Air Canada is 2500 and 2k through HKG. Through Heathrow it's 1600 with AC. And with Emirates via Dubai it's 1850 for a return. Yes top class airline but a bit steep...so by all means, if you or anyone knows how to beat the airlines and get decent and cheap airfare to Asia from Boretown aka Toronto, I'm all ears!!!!

(01-05-2013 02:19 PM)murrb Wrote:  Yeah I bought a one way for about 600 dollars about 2 months ago. Now my one way back home is going to cost me about 800. probably 1400 total

If I would've just bougght a round trip in the beginning it would have been about $900-$1000

Post: #17

Vacancier,

Split it up.

Fly Toronto to LAX or SFO, then book a separate flight from LAX/SFO to BKK or wherever. You're missing out on Air China, China Southern, Dragonair etc which are always cheaper than US airlines.

Also check flying from Buffalo to LAX/SFO instead of Toronto.

Post: #18

My last visa run to Vietnam, (Dec 2012) I was coming back in to BKK with no "onward ticket". Was fine. Done the same thing a couple of times last year.

Also flew to BKK in August from the UK with a single ticket.

As I understand it, it's not an issue with immigration, but an issue with airlines - if you don't have a visa in your passport, and intend to use the visa-on-arrival, some airlines want you to have an onward ticket before they let you board.

At least a couple of airlines - SingaporeAir, AirChina - have checked for a visa in my passport right at the boarding gate, when they saw my ticket was one-way. Air Asia certainly didnt check anything for the visa runs coming back into BKK though.

Post: #19

(01-06-2013 04:05 AM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Damn, that's cheap man! From where are you flying out of? Australia or something? Cause in here, in gloriously overrated Boretown, even a one way flying with an airline as awful as United with 2 stops costs a G. The cheapest return is just under 1500 and that's with crappy United. My usual route via NRT with Air Canada is 2500 and 2k through HKG. Through Heathrow it's 1600 with AC. And with Emirates via Dubai it's 1850 for a return. Yes top class airline but a bit steep...so by all means, if you or anyone knows how to beat the airlines and get decent and cheap airfare to Asia from Boretown aka Toronto, I'm all ears!!!!

(01-05-2013 02:19 PM)murrb Wrote:  Yeah I bought a one way for about 600 dollars about 2 months ago. Now my one way back home is going to cost me about 800. probably 1400 total

If I would've just bougght a round trip in the beginning it would have been about $900-$1000

I'm flying out of Seattle and I bought my original one way ticket about 3 months in advance so that is why it was so cheap. My one way back home is going to be alot more but I just looked on kayak and its only going to be a little over 800. I'm also taking the cheapest flights I can find.

Post: #20

I've flown to Thailand twice with one way tickets. Nobody has ever said anything

Post: #21

Not 100% related, but I've been told that China Air (or Air China? Not sure what the name is) will allow you to change your return date with no charge for up to a year. So if you are looking to return back to the US, but not exactly sure of the date, that may be a good option.