Yes. I flew back to Thailand on a visa exempt before my dtv was approved (the day after). After a few weeks I travelled to another country then returned and stamped in on the dtv for 180 days. This was last year when it was so much easier. These days I read a lot about people getting called in for interviews or further proof they're still in country. If you can, maybe postpone your trip. If not, hope for the best.

You didn't have to book a real ticket to apply by the way. Any flight number would have sufficed.