Job Discussion Forums

Bill II · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Toronto

Can I book a one-way flight to China if I have a Z-Visa?

The airline companies have told me that I must book a two-way flight. They claim that they have the right to refuse boarding to any passenger with a one-way ticket.
I am planning to remain in China for three, may be more, years and the money spend on the return ticket will be wasted.
The airline company's claim sounds like non-sense to me. These are private companies not government agencies mandated to enforce immigration policy. What is going on here?

I have to book my flight early next week. Any advice would be appreciated.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

This question has just been answred yesterday in a different thread; also there are numerous old threads on this topic. Do us a favour and look them up in this forum!

Bill II · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Toronto

I have searched other threads and have not found what I am looking for.
Perhaps, I should clarify my enquiry.

I am travelling from Toronto to Beijing.
Can I book a one-way ticket?
Or: Do I need a round trip ticket?
If I need a round trip ticket can I book a flight from Canada to China to someplace close to China that will be inexpensive: i.e. Vietnam, Thailand, etc?

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Bill II the post that Roger was referring to is about 10 down from the top at this stage. Here is a link to it anyway:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=38074&sid=af8d1c38bdf2b5fe6c09353559dcb410

As you will see airlines certainly do have the right to refuse you carriage here if they feel that you don't meet the requirements of the government of the country that you want to enter. This is based upon the fact that they can be held responsible for taking you out of the country if for any reason you are refused entry.

Plenty of people do arrive on one way tickets without a fuss. My advice is to play it safe and get yourself an outbound ticket to Hong Kong or somewhere else close by. This way you are guaranteeing that you won't have an issue ticket wise. You can then either cash in the ticket once you get here for a small cost, or use it for a visa run or holiday.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject:

If the airline is going to give you a hassle about a one way ticket to Beijing then consider landing in Hong Kong and enter China via Shenzen.

It is a way to get around paying the extra money and consider this as a last resort.

Another idea is if you can't get around this "rule" in Toronto check flights from JFK and Newark. As I mentioned in another post I took a one - way from Newark to Beijing on Continental without a question at all.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

jeffinflorida · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:05 am Post subject: