Do I need an onward ticket when checking in for a one-way flight to Thailand on Air China?

My experience of Chinese airlines in general is that they are sticklers for rules.

There is every chance they will want to see proof of your onward travel.

Ok

Pure guess here but thinking of the legal position, they may be difficult but I doubt that airlines can demand evidence of an onward ticket by air. I believe that if you show proof of any ticket out of the country that is within the dates of your permitted stay, they would have to accept it. I would back any ticket purchase up with a purchase receipt or bank statement showing it.

Your concern is probably the check-in agent when they look in the computer and don't see a return booking.

Ive been queried a number of times by Qatar at LHR why I have a one way flight - takes a bit of convincing them it's because I have long term visa.

Not from London but flew Shanghai to Bangkok and they asked to see ticket.

I’ve travelled to Thailand on a British passport and, in my experience, I wouldn’t panic about having a one-way ticket. The important thing is having genuine proof that you’ll leave Thailand within the 60 days.

I’d personally have a confirmed onward booking with me, whether that’s a flight, bus, train or boat. The Royal Thai Embassy in London is actually very clear that for the visa exemption, proof of onward travel can be by air, train, bus or boat, so you don’t specifically need a flight ticket. (สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงลอนดอน)

If you’re using something like 12Go, I’d make sure it’s a fully paid and confirmed ticket showing your name and a departure from Thailand within the 60-day period. I’d have the confirmation downloaded on my phone as well as a screenshot, just to make check-in easier.

I haven’t personally had Air China insist on a flight ticket, so I wouldn’t want to tell you that they definitely will or won’t. The airline check-in desk can be a little different from Thai immigration, which is probably why you’re finding such mixed experiences online.

If you want the least stressful option, a cheap confirmed flight out of Thailand is obviously the safest bet. But if you genuinely plan to travel overland to Malaysia, for example, I wouldn’t automatically spend extra money on a flight just for proof when the Thai Embassy itself says a bus or train ticket is acceptable.

I’d also keep your accommodation booking for the first part of the trip and your onward itinerary handy. It just makes the whole conversation at check-in much easier if they ask what your plans are.

And honestly, I’d rather have a proper confirmed 12Go ticket than some questionable “dummy flight” booking. Your plans are genuine, so your documentation should be genuine too.

I'd recommend you ask China Air directly and get their confirmation.

Fwiw Shenzhen Air systems came up with 15 days visa exempt (not 60 or even 30) for EU a bit over year back and if not for a sr. attendant trusted wisdom it would have been messy (regardless having a return ticket).

Better to buy a cheap bus ticket for a onward journey many airlines won't let you board with a one way I arrived in Bangkok 2 weeks ago and got 60 days with the option of 30 extra days

I have only been asked once by Emirates, I told them I was travelling on to Vietnam. I had an onward flight ticket, but they didn’t not ask to see it. I got the ticket cheap from an onward travel website.

Different airlines have different policies with regard to onward travel so the only answer is to ask your airline what their policy is for a visa exempt entry and have their answer available at check in just in case.

I believe now gone down 30 days entry but you get the thim app and apply for extra time in Thailand.

Dont forget to do the TDAC report .

On the TDAC report just write down the arrival plane number . Then get flight back to the uk on a separate flight .

Tdac report again and your new flight numbers .