i am looking to purchase a fully refundable onward flight from Thailand to anywhere I cant find any airlines that do them - anyone know any airlines that do? The cheapest flight out is £50 non refundable there used to be £20 ones
Answer summary
The inquiry focuses on finding airlines that provide fully refundable onward flights from Thailand. The responses suggest various alternatives including booking through platforms like trip.com which may charge a fee, using airlines with higher tier refundable options, or considering cheaper alternatives like train or bus tickets to neighboring countries like Laos. Suggestions for specific airlines include Air Asia and Emirates, which have refundable ticket options, and also mention that some travel sites offer 'dummy tickets' or temporary tickets for immigration purposes. Additionally, the importance of confirming with airlines regarding acceptable forms of onward travel for visa compliance is emphasized.
125 repliesnewest first
62
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Hey guys thanks for all the advice. So it turns out Air Asia do a 1 free date change at no extra cost so when entering on the 60 day visa I will show my flight out in 60 days time and once i get my 30 day extension i can change it for free as I needed a outward flight for my 30 day extension last time. I am off to Cambodia after Phuket so it all works great - hope this helps anyone else
Either you fly to Thailand WITHOUT a visa, or you are flying on a Thai e- visa
*** VISA EXEMPT ENTRY:
You will get stamped in for a 30-days stay permit upon entry, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1,900 THB. This allows for a total stay of at least 8 weeks.
Theoretically, you could exit Thailand, stay in a neighboring country for a week and return visa-exempt for a second time, but you would need to show an onward or return flight ticket out of Thailand within these last 30 days.
The CRUCIAL POINT flying without a visa is that the airline might refuse to let you board the flight if you cannot provide proof of onward travel or departure from Thailand within the first 30 days.
Most airlines require an actual flight ticket out of Thailand as proof—for example, an inexpensive one-way ticket to a neighboring country.
Some airlines may also accept a bus or train ticket.
Your experience might vary from my advice, but it is not a guarantee for the same experience other people will make.
It is advised to send an email inquiry to the airline. You will then receive a response that you can print out and take to the check-in at the airport. If you call them, the risk is that the person on the other end will just make things up.
WARNING: if Thai Immigration finds out that you used a “fake” onwardticket to board the flight, they will deny entry! Earlier this year Phuket Immigration has issued a strict warning.
Thai Immigration normally is not interested in your onward travel, as long as your entry history does not show repeated and excessive use of visa-exempt entries.
*** WITH A VISA:
You apply online through the e-visa system of the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country.
Actually, you can apply for a tourist visa or a Non-Imm visa type through the online e-visa system of most Thai embassies in any other countries in the World, as long as you fulfill the requirements.
If you show a printed e-visa, the airline will not ask for proof of onward travel. Upon arrival, you will get stamped in for any length of admitted stay according to the visa type.
You should apply for a Thai e-visa at least 6 weeks before your planned departure. Processing times can range from 5 to 20 business days, and applying well in advance ensures you have enough time should any additional documentation be requested.
I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your stay in Thailand. Especially just to save a few dollars. If it jeopardize your stay and you want to come back, that will be the most expensive inexpensive decision you’ve made in your life.
Tom Jarvis Most airlines require an actual flight ticket out of Thailand as proof—for example, an inexpensive one-way ticket to a neighboring country.
Some airlines may also accept a bus or train ticket. It is advisable to send an email inquiry to the airline; you will then receive a response that you can print out and take with you to the check-in at the airport.
***either you fly to Thailand WITHOUT a visa, or you obtain a "single-entry Tourist Visa (Leisure Activities)."
*** WITHOUT A VISA:
You will get stamped in for a 30-days stay permit upon entry, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1,900 THB. This allows for a total stay of at least 8 weeks.
Theoretically, you could exit Thailand, stay in a neighboring country for a week and return visa-exempt for a second time, but you would need to show an onward or return flight ticket out of Thailand within these last 30 days.
The CRUCIAL POINT flying without a visa is that the airline might refuse to let you board the flight if you cannot provide proof of onward travel or departure from Thailand within the first 30 days.
Most airlines require an actual flight ticket out of Thailand as proof—for example, an inexpensive one-way ticket to a neighboring country.
Some airlines may also accept a bus or train ticket. It is advisable to send an email inquiry to the airline; you will then receive a response that you can print out and bring with you to the check-in at the airport.
WARNING: if Thai Immigration finds out that you used a “fake” onwardticket to board the flight, they will deny entry !
Thai Immigration normally is not interested in your onward travel, as long as your entry history does not show repeated and excessive use of visa-exempt entries.
*** WITH A TOURIST VISA:
A "single-entry Tourist Visa Leisure Activities" - as it is designated in the e-Visa system, must be applied for online. The Royal Thai Embassy of your home country is processing these applications. Actually, you can apply for a SETV though the online e-visa system of a Thai embassy in any other country in the World.
If you hold a printed 60-day tourist visa, the airline will not ask for proof of onward travel. Upon arrival, you will get stamped in for a 60-day stay permit, which can be extended for another 30 days at an immigration office for 1,900 THB.
You should apply for a tourist visa at least 6 weeks BEFORE your planned departure. Processing times can range from 5 to 15 business days, and applying well in advance ensures you have enough time should any additional documentation be requested.
Staying for 60 days on a tourist visa works out much cheaper than entering without a visa, and save you time otherwise spent at the Immigration office.
alot of airlines and/or booking agents online give you a 24 hr/48 hour refund if you change your m ind. i literally had to do this somewhere , they wouldnt let me in till ibought a ticket right there in their border crossing office on my laptop, crossed the border and cancelled it an hour later.
What is the the purpose for this ticket? Unfortunately lots of people post incorrect information about being refused boarding, when in reality they just repeating misinformation
Andreas Mueller why do you keep using threatening language? Dummy tickets have always been accepted by Thai immigration, how on earth do you know if people are being rejected. I am laughing at your pathetic jibes at me and using rude capital letters in an attempt to make your point.
Ian Morrison they are neither tickets nor bookings. They are just a "reservation to a booking" and that's why they are regarded as an attempt of fraud by Thai Immigration ! You can easily google it
Jim Skinner WARNING! I am not kidding. Phuket Immigration earlier this year published a statement, that if they see you use a "fake" onwardticket, they will deny entry. There is nothing to laugh about. LAST WARNING!
Train & bus can be denied. Flights your best transport out. I’ve looked into everything and depends on who you’re flying with but train/bus not 100% guaranteed. Thai friends said not to chance it your flight might allow it but then if you’re pulled up by Thailand immigration, they would not allow it now days
Ralph Tyson how ridiculous! . . . .and every airline accepts this interference into their rules and regulations? The Airline won't f...g care what your embassy says
Andreas Mueller never yet had a problem. Infact i spoke to a Thai immigration officer only last week and they made it perfectly clear a ferry ticket was perfectly fine. Only been asked once by airline and fine then to
Petr S. Van Valkenburg It’s everything to do with immigration. The airline doesn’t want to be responsible for your flight back if immigration refuse entry.
Martyn Rollinson WARNING!!! . . .if Thai Immigration asks for the onward travel and you show them a dummy "onward" ticket, they will deny entry! Your advice is a VERY BAD ADVICE !
Martyn Rollinson my understanding and experience with a website of a very similar or same name, is that they are not alwats a confirmed seat that can be checked directly with the airline itself. Depending on route and availability.
You say someone used them last wesk, AND their onwards tixkets were checked ?
Petr S. Van Valkenburg Petr S. Van Valkenburg Petr S. Van Valkenburg that was the airline before departure or Thai immigration upon entry ? Depending how much time you got before departure gates close, they got no business only accepting a return flight to the US. That says you can't go on to any other country in the world without first returning to, or at least paying for, a return flight. And if they accept that your paying for, but not nessesarily using that flight out, then they understand the requirement more than they are showing, just to boost sales, which is moody. Also could just be some check-in counter "computer says NO" operator who has never been to Thailand or anywhere outside of the US, like many others..
But as it is written, an official and confirmed and paid ticket, leaving Thailand before the expiry of your Visa. It doesn't specify 'flights', however, that would be the most convincing and sensible option to have with you. With time to waste you could've bought a short haul ticket out, presented that to a different check-in counter, and ultimately asked nicely to speak to 'whoever the feck is in charge here' and then kindly told them the way it is and the way it's going to be. This is simply that being denied entry, you then become the problem/expense of the airline that bought you here, even though you can be denied entry for many other reasons, and I believe still be the responsibility of the arriving airline, I think. Did they also check you had 20,000 baht in cash and confirmed/paid accomodation booking for the entire duration of your stay ?
ImTheJesusChristHimself by Thai immigration on arrival, hopefully/probably yes. But he is speaking about the airline checking before departure, who may well, although wrongly, only accept flights, due to wording on a memo, something lost in translation, or a misunderstanding at either end. Of course an airline will think 'flight ticket' in the first instance.
But if being scrutinized by immigration upon entry, already flagged for one or more reasons, would you rather have a $6 train ticket, or a $60-$600 flight ticket, as it is down to the immigration officer at the counter who can and do deny entry, even with a train/ferry ticket, even a flight. If they don't like you, they can just say 'not today'.
ImTheJesusChristHimself no, won't, I had one way ticket and only return ticket they would accept was back to the U.S. United airline, I had to quickly book return ticket to the U.S. even I didn't know exactly how long we will stay, my wife is Thai her's didn't matter, but I could not book any to neighboring country either, had to be return to the U.S.A. !
Brett Mcgowan err i clearly do. To renew visa exemption. Only 2 land border crossings per year. So he clearly does either need the damn flight or go immigration jomtien and wait all day for 1900 baht. Dont presume everyone is a clown mate. This is clearly an attention seek post. Besides his info is very little so how do ypu know🤣🤣🤣
Lars-Göran Ingvarsson Yeah spot on - i know they are cracking down now on everything, entering on a 60 day and hope to extend for 30 so dont want any issues at immigration as we all know it can be hit or miss on who you get at immigration, some times i get asked for onward flight some not so just couldnt find any airlines fully refundable so thought i would ask
Karl Hopkins More likely, she is planning to enter 30 days visa exempt and prolong a further 30 days in Thailand. The airline taking her there might want to see an onward ticket out of Thailand within the original 30 days. But since she is planning to stay longer, she doesn't really need that ticket.
Karl Hopkins She was asking the question to see if it were possible to get a fully refundable ticket. Then she would need to waste money on a ticket that not going to be used.
Stacey8300 BS! A "fake" onwardticket isn't even a ticket. It actually is just the "reservation of a booking". I did not call it "dummy ticket", that was Jim Skinner. A fake onwardticket is blocking the airline's ETIX system, the airlines hate it