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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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 Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:47 am Post subject: Can a US citizen land in Thailand on a one-way ticket? |
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I'm trying to arrange my flight over as cheaply as possible. I plan to look for work in BKK but if things go badly I have the paperwork to get a visa in the ROK. So, I don't want to pay for a return flight from BKK unless I absolutely have to. I also would prefer not to have to pay for onward travel to Korea unless I need to.
I've been getting advice in a couple threads on ajarn.com concerning this. I was told that it is OK to fly in on a one-way but the travel agent is telling me that they cannot issue me a one-way ticket. Apparently as a US citizen I need proof of onward travel upon entry into Thailand AND I need a visa to enter Cambodia or Laos. So, the much vaunted border hop is not possible.
Is the travel agent misinformed or is it gray area?
(Remember I am a US citizen. This might be subject to different regulations.) |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| I did it, no problem. Guide books will say no, but it's generally okay. |
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laconic2
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Wonderful World of ESL
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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You probably don't want to fly Thai Airways then:
http://www.thaiairways.com.au/thai_faqs.asp#31
"Can I travel on a one-way ticket to Thailand?
No. Due to immigration requirements, unless you are a Thai national passport holder, have a residency permit or applicable visa, or have an existing confirmed ticket for onward travel exiting Thailand. Passengers who do not fall in to one of the above categories will be denied boarding if attempting to travel on a one-way ticket."
Looks to me like the airlines are the ones enforcing this. This is not to discount the possibility that an Immigration officer could choose to make your day a very miserable one if the planets are not perfectly aligned in his or her worlds when you present yourself, passport and ticket to the officer upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi . 
Good luck. |
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chaz47
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| laconic2 wrote: |
You probably don't want to fly Thai Airways then:
http://www.thaiairways.com.au/thai_faqs.asp#31
"Can I travel on a one-way ticket to Thailand?
No. Due to immigration requirements, unless you are a Thai national passport holder, have a residency permit or applicable visa, or have an existing confirmed ticket for onward travel exiting Thailand. Passengers who do not fall in to one of the above categories will be denied boarding if attempting to travel on a one-way ticket."
Looks to me like the airlines are the ones enforcing this. This is not to discount the possibility that an Immigration officer could choose to make your day a very miserable one if the planets are not perfectly aligned in his or her worlds when you present yourself, passport and ticket to the officer upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi .
Good luck. |
I'll be flying out on American Airlines and then transferring to Korean Air out of Seoul. I can see Korean authorities being arseholes... however this doesn't involve actually allowing another waygook to stay in the ROK so maybe they won't give a shite.
Dunno... luck will definitely be an asset as I purchased the ticket already. |
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Drew345
Joined: 24 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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It's the airline chekin agent (the one who will issue the boarding pass for the flight to Thailand) who is going to decide. If they follow the rules exactly, you don't get the boarding pass. If they are flexible, you can get the boarding pass. All of this only applies if you are planning to fly in with no visa on a "visa-exempt" status.
I would suggest you get a Thai tourist visa, then you can enter on a one way ticket. If you have a Thai tourist visa, you can stay for 60 days and then extend for 30 more days. If you are going to be looking for work, you might like the extra time. Flying in "visa exempt" you get only 30 days and can extend for only 7 days (or maybe 15). |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Drew345 wrote: |
It's the airline chekin agent (the one who will issue the boarding pass for the flight to Thailand) who is going to decide. If they follow the rules exactly, you don't get the boarding pass. If they are flexible, you can get the boarding pass. All of this only applies if you are planning to fly in with no visa on a "visa-exempt" status.
I would suggest you get a Thai tourist visa, then you can enter on a one way ticket. If you have a Thai tourist visa, you can stay for 60 days and then extend for 30 more days. If you are going to be looking for work, you might like the extra time. Flying in "visa exempt" you get only 30 days and can extend for only 7 days (or maybe 15). |
Generally they'll let you. I've done it a bunch of times in a bunch of countries and found that if you seem like you know what you're doing and argue with them they'll eventually give up. In the case of Thailand they're quite used to people taking buses to Cambodia or Laos or hopping a train to Malaysia, just tell them you aren't flying out and you'll be fine. The key is to be persistent and to act like you know what you're doing. |
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passport220
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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I am a US citizen, flown into BKK 28 times and never had a problem. However, others are right the airline check-in agent will be the one who can cause you a problem.
If you want to be safe, you can make a confirmed booking with Thai Airways without paying anything. Go to the Thai Airways website, go through the whole booking process, pick a date that works with your visa. At the end during payment you can choose the option "pay at originating city within 72 hours". The booking will complete and be in everyway a confirmed booking, it will auto cancel if you don't pay within the 72 hours. Make the booking and print out just before you leave and it will still be a valid booking as you can expect it won't take you 72 hours to get to BKK. |
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zhanknight
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Location: Yangsan
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| passport220 wrote: |
I am a US citizen, flown into BKK 28 times and never had a problem. However, others are right the airline check-in agent will be the one who can cause you a problem.
If you want to be safe, you can make a confirmed booking with Thai Airways without paying anything. Go to the Thai Airways website, go through the whole booking process, pick a date that works with your visa. At the end during payment you can choose the option "pay at originating city within 72 hours". The booking will complete and be in everyway a confirmed booking, it will auto cancel if you don't pay within the 72 hours. Make the booking and print out just before you leave and it will still be a valid booking as you can expect it won't take you 72 hours to get to BKK. |
This!
Although I have to say I've only had an 'ongoing flight' problem once - In Dallas as I was trying to board a flight to Incheon. I've been told that some places will take a bank statement with a large enough balance instead of an onward ticket, but I don't know. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 8:20 am Post subject: |
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| Drew345 wrote: |
| It's the airline chekin agent (the one who will issue the boarding pass for the flight to Thailand) who is going to decide. |
Here is what happened to me just a few months ago(August). Although I knew about the onward flight rule, it had completely slipped my mind, because I was just waiting for a family member who works for the airlines to make the ongoing reservation out of Thailand for me. So in my mind it was being taken care of.
But when I checked in at Incheon, they were not going to let me board, because I had no proof. At first they were telling me I needed to book a ticket right then and there. But to make a long story short, after being passed back and forth between two different supervisors, they let me board. However, they covered their butts by making me sign a waiver, saying if I was denied entry at Bangkok airport, they would not be held liable for any expenses incurred. I said fair enough, and had no problem getting in, but I was worried the entire flight. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| Drew345 wrote: |
| It's the airline chekin agent (the one who will issue the boarding pass for the flight to Thailand) who is going to decide. |
Here is what happened to me just a few months ago(August). Although I knew about the onward flight rule, it had completely slipped my mind, because I was just waiting for a family member who works for the airlines to make the ongoing reservation out of Thailand for me. So in my mind it was being taken care of.
But when I checked in at Incheon, they were not going to let me board, because I had no proof. At first they were telling me I needed to book a ticket right then and there. But to make a long story short, after being passed back and forth between two different supervisors, they let me board. However, they covered their butts by making me sign a waiver, saying if I was denied entry at Bangkok airport, they would not be held liable for any expenses incurred. I said fair enough, and had no problem getting in, but I was worried the entire flight. |
Even if this does happen you can just go to an Air Asia checkin counter and book a ticket to KL for less than $50. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| chaz47 wrote: |
I'm trying to arrange my flight over as cheaply as possible. I plan to look for work in BKK but if things go badly I have the paperwork to get a visa in the ROK. So, I don't want to pay for a return flight from BKK unless I absolutely have to. I also would prefer not to have to pay for onward travel to Korea unless I need to.
I've been getting advice in a couple threads on ajarn.com concerning this. I was told that it is OK to fly in on a one-way but the travel agent is telling me that they cannot issue me a one-way ticket. Apparently as a US citizen I need proof of onward travel upon entry into Thailand AND I need a visa to enter Cambodia or Laos. So, the much vaunted border hop is not possible.
Is the travel agent misinformed or is it gray area?
(Remember I am a US citizen. This might be subject to different regulations.) |
The agent is mostly correct.
Can you do it = yes.
Will the airline give you grief when you go to board without onward passage = PROBABLY YES (especially if you are boarding in the US).
You should be able to sign a liability waiver to get past the boarding agent or do yourself a favor and get a 60 day tourist visa (instead of the 30 day stamp on arrival) and then you won't have the problem.
You can get an entry visa for either Laos or Cambodia here in Thailand so the agent was only 1/2 correct there.
. |
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