Is it actually clear that you can leave when you want? Aren’t there restrictions on the use of the fly-for-free privilege?

@Allen *********

they don’t normally offer up the indemnity alternative. You’d probably have to ask for it.

I’m also American and have never had an onward ticket when entering Thailand. I’ve had airlines raise that issue when flying to some other countries, but normally they are satisfied if you just sign an indemnity form agreeing to be responsible for any costs they incur if you’re turned away at immigration and denied entry. They keep the forms somewhere at the check in area. I’ve never had it come up (for me at least) at the immigration counter.

If you got a multiple entry visa, no one will ask you about onward travel.

Can’t you get a “fiancee visa” for your girlfriend for the US?

@Todd ********

I’ve done it many times. I was only denied and forced to buy an onward ticket once. Sometimes they don’t really care what piece of paper you sign as lo g as they bave your signature on something. Once I signed a medical waiver, and that was sufficient.

@Todd ********

In most of those places you can still avoid having a ticket for onward travel if you sign a document indemnifying the airline for any costs if they have to take you back to your point of origin. You just ask for the form at the check in counter. Only once in my life have I had to have a ticket for onward travel.

I travel with a backpack full of heavy photographic equipment. It’s always way over the carry on weight limits. I’ve taken hundreds of international and domestic flights covering almost every country in Asia and including every flavor of Air Asia, and it’s never been weighed.

@Bob *********

I was in Thailand. Now in Laos.

@Bob *********

exactly. With the multiple entries to Thailand that I described, the suggestion to just get extensions makes no sense.