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Which airlines from the UK allow one-way tickets for Non-O retirement visa holders to Thailand without requiring onward travel proof?
Non-O VisaRetirement VisaThailand ImmigrationAirline PoliciesOne-Way TicketUK to Thailand FlightsVisa Requirements
Dec 9, 2024
a year ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERTravelingl to Thailand for retirement in April with a valid 90 day non o retirement visa
My question is which airlines out of UK on a one way ticket will not reject my boarding because I have no onward return/ destination
My question is which airlines out of UK on a one way ticket will not reject my boarding because I have no onward return/ destination
TLDR : Answer Summary
Travelers holding a 90-day Non-O retirement visa should not require an onward ticket for boarding flights from the UK to Thailand. While airline policies may vary, many users report that airlines such as Thai Airways and EVA Air have not asked for proof of onward travel. It's recommended to carry a printed copy of the visa, as some less informed check-in staff may ask. Frequent travelers suggest that having a pleasant experience with airlines largely depends on the specific staff encountered during check-in.
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Brown ********
If you have a retirement visa they won't request one
Luit *****************
@Mike *******
topicstarter does not need this, he has valid visaReply to
Luit *****************
Reply
George *******
If airlines won't let you fly on a one-way ticket, then they should not sell them & not let bucket shops sell them too.
Stuart *********
@George ******
At the time of booking they have no clue as to whether you’re a Thai passport holder, a long term visa holder or any other status that would allow a one way ticket with no issues.George *******
@Stuart ********
That is immaterial. They should ask you to prove your Nationality before anyone will accept a reservation or booking. Anyway I get sick & tired of seeing insecure comments by people who have probably never flown to Thailand, or anywhere else on one-way tickets. I've flown into Don Meuang dozens of times before Suvarnabhum was even being built and after Swampy was opened and I have never been asked at any departing airport to produce a return, or onward travel document and I've flown into Thailand from, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bahrain, Nigeria, Ethiopia, UK and several other Northern European countries and never been asked by check-in to produce a return, or onward travel document or been asked by Thai immigration when entering. If people are unsure about themselves turning up at check-in without, return, or onward travel proof that is their perogative. Also on a few occasions I've flown to the UK on return tickets bought in Thailand, so why wasn't I asked as a British passport holder at check-in at the UK airports on return leg, which would then be the same as a one-way ticket why haven't you got a return ticket when flying back to Bangkok?Stuart *********
@George ******
Oh. So you’ve never been asked and therefore infer that no one else on the planet will be asked either. Well heads up buddy. Shit happens. Some people are asked and some are flatly denied boarding unless they provide an onward ticket.
George *******
@Stuart ********
You know what I don't recognise the word buddy, it's a mongrel Yank word. Have I said no one else would be asked, NO I didn't. How many times have you, flown in & out of Thailand, I suspect your one of the people that has no experience of multiple trips in and out and if American airlines are finicky about asking at check-in for a return ticket, or onward travel ticket, then that's up to them. The question asked was what do people think about having a one-way ticket, will they be questioned at check-in, in whichever country he is a National of. I stayed that I was never asked when leaving multiple different countries and never asked to produce a return ticket by Thai immigration. What anyone else does is their business. I wasn't advising anyone to try & travel in a one-way ticket, I was just stating my experiences. They say the more you drive, the more chance you have of being involved in a road accident. On that basis the more to fly out of any country & into other countries the chance of being asked at check-in or by immigration in any country for a return document increases, so unlike all the touristy/ retired commenters on Sadbook, I commented my experiences that's all. Some of you Thailand based expats need to get a life.Stuart *********
@George ******
The OP asked which of the (out of) UK airlines wouldn’t give him any issues with a one way ticket on a Non O visa. Your reply was that airlines shouldn’t sell one way tickets if you can’t fly on one.
Neither was this relevant to the OPs question nor of any use to anyone. But you had to comment - rather than scroll on by. Sort of an exact example for someone that needs to get a life.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve flown in/out of Thailand since 1988 (nearly 20 years before Swampy existed) on countless different visa types.
I’ve been asked once for a ticket out by a check in clerk who hadn’t realised I had a visa. Once I’d pointed that out there was no further issue.
My experience would be completely irrelevant to the OPs question as I am not them.
However I advised that they don’t need a ticket out on a Non O visa, but may still have an issue with an inexperienced check in clerk.
George *******
@Stuart ********
Go on any airline website to book a flight. They asked From/To. Date/Dates. One-way or return. I rest my case and by the way I clicked on your reply, but haven't read it and do not intend reading it.Stuart *********
@George ******
What case might that be? That your reply is nonsensical or that you consider yourself right? No idea. Just move on.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Phil *******
EVA out of Heathrow direct to Bangkok have never asked me for proof of onward travel, even when I've entered visa exempt.
Della ***********
Two years ago was denied boarding had to quickly book an onward flight with Lufthansa and last year with Air Asia was asked again so dont chance it, ask the airline...
Kirsten *********
Qatar airlines didn’t ask
Brian **********
@Kirsten ********
they did with me, in August this year.I had a one way ticket, but had a Non-OA Visa, so no problem.
The point is, it can’t be predicted, whether any particular airline will ask.🤷🏻♂️
Kirsten *********
@Brian *********
I just came voA No onward ticket. Airline didn’t ask. Immigration asked me. I said I’m going with a friend to Langkawi on a boat and showed a picture of boat. They shrugged and stamped.Brian **********
Reply to
Brian **********
Reply
Manuajomtien *********
Maintenant ils le demandent presque tous;comme votre lieux de residence
Rich *********
Thai air is ok
Nongnuch ********
print the e-visa and carry it on you, in case check-in wants to see onward travel proof. As a Non-O visa can be changed into a longstay, you won't need to show an onward travel proof to the airline. Immigration normally does not check your onward travel, it is the airline that does so
Keith *******
@Nongnuch *******
someone with good advice not bullshit, well done sirReply to
Keith *******
Reply
Leigh ************
Thai airways
Stephen ********
I last used Thai airways on a one way ticket with no visa. I think any airline would be ok with a non o
Neil ********
I am a Brit and in Thailand. I book either a return from Thailand or I book single flights and never a problem.
Thai airways a good option but BA started flying out of Gatwick again now
Thai airways a good option but BA started flying out of Gatwick again now
Alison **********
I travelled with Eithad one way with no visa I got my visa stamp on arrival.
Nongnuch ********
@Alison *********
you NEVER received any visa on arrival. You were just stamped in on an "admitted until" stamp visa-exemptAlison **********
Nongnuch ********
@Alison *********
as a british citizen, you DO NOT have to buy a "visa-on-arrival". You are elegible for the "visa-exemption" and thus will receive a simple STAY PERMIT for 60 days, if you enter without a visaAlison **********
@Nongnuch *******
yes I got 30 day I came in MarchNongnuch ********
@Alison *********
the visa-exemption went from 30 to 60 days by July 15th, 2024Reply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Robert *********
It's not airline policy ,it's Thai government policy ..buy a ongoing bus ticket before the end of your first visa
Ne ***********
If you have visa then you don’t require to show return ticket.
Only if you travel on-arrival visa.
Only if you travel on-arrival visa.
Nongnuch ********
@Ne **********
as a Brit, you don't enter Thailand with a visa-on-arrival. You just get a visa-exempt 60-days stay permitNe ***********
@Nongnuch *******
if u travel on arrival visa you need to proof onward ticketNongnuch ********
@Ne **********
AGAIN: a citizen of the U.K. does NOT have to buy a "visa-on-arrival". Only citizens of certain countries need to buy a VOA . .here is the list:Nongnuch ********
@Ne **********
he has a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa and so he doesn't need an onward travel proof. You only need an onward travel proof when you want to enter Thailand visa-exempt. With a "visa-on-arrival" you will only get stamped in for 15 days, and the airline wants to see a proof of onward travel within these 15 days. If you travel without a visa and are a citizen of the 93 countries elegible for "visa-exempt", you will get stamped in for 60 days, and the airline might want to see onward travel proof within these 60 daysReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Vinny **************
Don't need one with an electronic visa
Tractor *******
We flew last Feb with Thai airways and had no issues at all .
Christopher ***********
@Tractor ******
Flew Thai Airways from Munich to Bangkok September 2023. Check-in staff required sight of return/onward ticket or, ‘some sort of visa’. I had extension from Non-O (Retirement) Visa and reentry permit which I showed them.Reply to
Christopher ***********
Reply
Jan ******************
@Vinny *************
You print out the e-visa received as a PDF file and hand it over in the immigration. Only Non Immigrant and long stay visa are excused onward ticket requirements.Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
Onward ticket check by airline should be done only if you do not have any valid visa.For all visa, the requirements are checked at approval of the visa, therefore not necessary to check again at check-in.
Jan ******************
@Luit ****************
Some embassies/consulates issues -as an example the in Norwegian Thai embassy- Tourist visa without any onward ticket at all and some altså with onward ticket within 90 days. The formal requirements anyway is an onward ticket within the initial days you get stamped in for in the immigration.Luit *****************
@Jan *****************
If an embassy thinks it is not necessary to check this for applying visa, it is op to them, but that does not reroute this check to the airline. With a valid visa and passport, airline checks are complete.Immigration might do all kind of checks
Jan ******************
@Luit ****************
an airline can and still controls if the passengers fulfill the requirements in their visa.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Sue **********
@Jan *****************
Its the airline who might ask not immigration.Jan ******************
@Sue *********
Onward ticket are a formal requirement for tourist entries, rarely checked in the immigration but they ask from time to time. Because it’s a formal requirement and the airlines can be fined and responsible for the passengers return if formal requirements aren’t fulfilled they normally will be more strict regarding this requirement. But the point here was requirements and e-visa.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Henrik *****
Depends on which e-visa.
Ralph *******
@Vinny *************
Not all airline desks are able to read an electronic visa.Bobby *******
@Ralph ******
what does this mean? They can’t read a PDF printout? Some of your responses on this group are a bit scaryRalph *******
@Bobby ******
It’s ‘electronic’. It’s stored in your passport. Where did the pdf come from?And yes, some airline desks can’t see an electronic visa.
Bobby *******
@Ralph ******
you have no idea what you’re talking about. Nothing is stored in your passport with regards to Thai visasRalph *******
@Bobby ******
Why does it have a chip? But yes, perhaps it’s not stored there. And yes, I do know what I’m talking about. I have an electronic visa; airline desks in Bangkok can’t see it. Every time I try to fly home they get difficult about my visa.
Bobby *******
@Ralph ******
nothing is stored on the chip in your passport with regards to your Thai visa. Electronic visa means it’s not a physical stamp in your passport. It’s stored in the computer system but not on the chip in your passportMax ********
@Bobby ******
why when you get a new passport you have to get your visa shifted to it?I was with someone who carried his old passport with him as he had not had his new passport updated.Bobby *******
@Max *******
computer records need to be updated.Max ********
@Bobby ******
your new passport should be linked to computer records.A persons name should be the connection.Ralph *******
@Bobby ******
Yes, I can believe that. It could be why I always get problems.Reply to
Ralph *******
Reply
Stuart *********
None of them should require an onward ticket with a Non Immigrant visa.
That said you may come across a check-in clerk that doesn’t know this and ask you for one. If asked simply point out that you don’t need one because of your visa, and/or ask for a supervisor to clarify.
That said you may come across a check-in clerk that doesn’t know this and ask you for one. If asked simply point out that you don’t need one because of your visa, and/or ask for a supervisor to clarify.
Vinny **************
Bonnie *********
@Vinny *************
You find airlines that answer questions? I'm impressed.Vinny **************
@Bonnie ********
🤣🤣🤣Reply to
Vinny **************
Reply
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