Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mishko]

I've been in Korea 6 years. I'm between jobs and on tourist visas. I bought a return ticket Korea to UK via Tokyo with JAL. Never again!

The flights to London were fine. But when I arrived at Heathrow 3 days ago for the return flight, the check-in clerk said: "Where's your return ticket?" I said this is a return ticket, to Korea. She then checked my passport for visas. Not finding a valid visa (as I intended to get another tourist visa on re-entry) I was informed I needed another ticket out of Korea. Then she called for someone from the back office to back up her opinion.

During the lengthy wait, I studied a notice on their desk, stating how JAL staff expect to be treated with politeness. So, I reckoned, I am not the first!

The lady from the back office supported her colleague, saying they could not let me on the plane, and then offered to procure me a ticket out of Korea! When I asked if this could be a ferry ticket to Fukuoka she was quiet. She said I would be liable for deportation at great expense if I did not purchase an air ticket out of Korea. When I politely stated my belief that she was talking nonsense she disappeared to find yet another Asian colleague.

Expert No. 3, seeing I would not buy their ticket theory, then finally said that if I signed an indemnity form they would be able to let me on the plane. To her clear disappointment, I said this was fine by me, but they had wasted 45 minutes of my time. She went off again to photocopy my passport, then finally said I should report to the Gate checkin at 4.00 pm, and trotted off.

None of these three angels thought it upon themselves to apologise.

Finally, when I mentioned as an afterthought that I had just enough time to buy alcohol in the duty-free, Angel no 1 opined that they would not let me through the transfer security check in Tokyo with over 100ml of liquid. When I said that a few months ago I had done the same in HK with a sealed duty-free bag, I was told it was not their fault but the Japanese Government's. Whether this duty-free restriction exists or not I was not then prepared to test, though judging by the duty-free in Narita, I'm sure they try every trick to persuade tourists to buy there! But what really annoyed me was that this information was only given to me when I mentioned my desire to buy alcohol in Heathrow - otherwise I would have bought it and lost it (unless they were incorrect, which is equally possible and annoying!).

So I collected and signed my indemnity form at the Gate check-in. It was very general, and I had to check the box relating to indemnifying the airline for fines or onward flights arising from my arriving at the destination without correct documents.

Needless to say, on arrival at Pusan I was treated with the customary politeness and instant visa!

So, thinking of flying JAL to London and back? Caveat emptor!

[soviet_man]

You can't bash someone who makes about $12 per hour.

They are just following the policy.

It probably does say in the fine print somewhere that you do need an onward ticket or visa to enter. It is just that JAL is one of the few carriers judicial enough to actually follow the policy.

[Binch Lover]

They were right on both counts and you look like an idiot.

First of all, technically you are not allowed into tKorea without an onward ticket (assuming you don't have a valid visa). This applies to many countries including Thailand. If the immigration officer decides to follow the letter of the law, JAL would be responsible for bringing you back to Heathrow. Would you have been prepared to pay for that flight? Just because you encountered a lenient immigration official doesn't mean they weren't right and trying to cover the company's ass.

Secondly, some airports conduct secondary security checks which include the liquids restrictions. I know Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris does this. Therefore, you can't buy duty free at your departure airport if you are transferring there. Narita must be the same.

[mishko]

You two charming characters would both no doubt have displayed great fortitude and a stiff upper lip if you had been in the same situation. But you have both also clearly missed the point which is:

There is an officious group of check-in staff at JAL in Heathrow and anyone considering taking the route I did with a ticket and visa situation similar to mine should be prepared for a possibly very uncomfortable check-in!

My only purpose in posting was to warn people likely to travel this route of this and not to worry, as the solution is to ask for and sign the indemnity form. No one is going to get their knickers in a twist about Korean immigration!

If I have helped someone with this (or with the alcohol stipulation), well and good. If not, it's no skin off my nose.