Phuket Thailand

rolly · #1 17-02-2007, 02:14

Hi all

I couldn't find any info on this, I have a one way ticket to bangkok and have booked a 1 month tour around laos, cambodia, vietnam and thailand, at which point I haven't decided where I want to go or what I what to do.

Does anyone know if ill have any trouble at the airport in thailand because I don't have a ticket onwards to anywhere else? I was going to book my tickets once im there.

Cheers

steve@thaib · #2 17-02-2007, 02:31

It's generally a condition of your visa, a return or onward ticket. I'm sure some of the other guys here who have done similar things will be able to help more specifically, but you might even find that they don't let you board the flight.

faultytowers · #3 17-02-2007, 02:45

Last trip Emirates check-in at Heathrow asked to see proof of return/onward ticket from LOS (also wanted to know how long visit was going to be) , I had an e-ticket so had to show them a copy of my itinery.

dray · #4 17-02-2007, 02:46

Very rarely this will be a problem. Technically you must have "sufficient funds" for an onward flight. So this is ok.

rolly · #5 17-02-2007, 03:00

thanks for the info guys, thats what I was hoping, ill print out a couple of bank statements and hopefully they'll let me through.

steve@thaib · #6 17-02-2007, 03:08

I would check with your carrier, look on their website. Is it really worth taking that chance? How sick would you be if the didn't let you board your flight?

stevem · #7 17-02-2007, 04:32

If you are relying on a visa on arrival then you may well have a problem at checkin. If you have a visa in your passport already then normally this is OK. Showing sufficient funds is not enough. You must be able to show either a pre issued visa or an onward ticket out of Thailand.

As has already been said, check with the airline and dont rely on advice in public forums, or you may well be very disappointed when your denied boarding.

rolly · #8 17-02-2007, 04:36

For sure, if I missed my tour I'd be out another £850 so ill definitely check with my airline and maybe even see if I can book a flight out of thailand that has a flexible departure date just to be safe.

Cheers for the info everyone

Nicke · #9 17-02-2007, 04:53

Malaysia Airlines ask me every time at check-in now when I return to Thailand and have to show them my business visa and then they give me the green light.

Has been like this for the last 9 months.

I dont know what happens if I dont have a visa.

stevem · #10 17-02-2007, 05:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

Malaysia Airlines ask me every time at check-in now when I return to Thailand and have to show them my business visa and then they give me the green light.

Has been like this for the last 9 months.

I dont know what happens if I dont have a visa.

You'll have to buy a ticket from Phuket to somewhere (international) before they check you in

Mac · #11 17-02-2007, 06:17

I am about to fall foul of the new visa rules. Three trips in six months. Admittedly for holidays and short duration (10 days each) but three 30 day visas...

I spoke to the consulate in hull and was advised to apply for a non-immigrant multiple entry O Visa even though I am clearly on holiday. Take no chances they said... Specifically a visa on arrival should only be issued with a return flight booked..

Just to let you know..

Mac

LivinLOS · #12 17-02-2007, 15:43

The 3x 30 day stamps doesnt mean you have used all your 90 days.. its 90 days incountry not 3 stamps.

My brother has perhaps 6 stamps since Oct going in and out to Bali and UK..

S1MON · #13 17-02-2007, 16:47

I noticed last time that immigration has written the amount of days each trip next to the stamp in my passport, i remember people saying that it would not be possible to look back and count but i guess this makes it pretty easy for them.

I had 5 weeks off a while ago, Air France was not going to let me on the plane as they thought i was in the country for 31 days, not the 30 which i was allowed, on recount they found that it was 29 nights or something like that and finally let me on, it did scare me a bit.

MajorTom · #14 17-02-2007, 17:54

Was in Cambodia with Bangkok Air, October last year.
When i returned to Thailand they stamped me in just as usual. Was never asked for a return ticket to anywhere. I had no Visa.

rolly · #15 17-02-2007, 18:22

Its another £400 to get to nz from bangkok, I don't really want to book my flights now since im not even sure if I want to go straight home, im flying with eva air so will give them a call later on, on a side note has anyone ever photoshopped someone elses itinerary and passed it off as their own?? I could quite easily do this so long as they only visually check it...

steve w · #16 17-02-2007, 18:37

ask your airline if they can recommend any options,you can usually change most tickets for around £50.
as they say its then make your mind up time.

LivinLOS · #17 17-02-2007, 19:31

My buddy has a local travel agent write him a letter stating that he was to collect his outbound tickets from thier office.. after doing a couple of these he then got one with no date on..

Its really easy to edit the HTML emails from tiger air or Air Asia that show bookings..

My brother was stopped once and just said I have a booking on air asia, booking ref JX67052 r similar.. its a ticketless airline so hat stumped em..

rolly · #18 22-02-2007, 18:07

Hey all

Returning to this topic again, I've since spoken to some travel agents at intrepid travel and they suggested since I don't have an onward flight I should be prepared to bribe the airport guards in thailand, anyone have experience with this?

I also called the thai embassy here in london and they said I wouldn't be allowed in without a visa or onward flight and they suggested I get the 2 month tourist visa, so my question is if I get the 2 month tourist visa, once it runs out can I then do a border run and come back in on the 30day on-entry visa that you get 3 of??

My 3rd option is to buy a ticket to manilla for £80 which I have no intention of using just so I have an onward ticket.

Cheers for any wisdom out there.

faultytowers · #19 22-02-2007, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolly

they suggested since I don't have an onward flight I should be prepared to bribe the airport guards in thailand,

Do you really want to risk either going to jail or being sent straight out the country on the next flight.

Not really good advice from a travel agent.

MajorTom · #20 22-02-2007, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolly

so my question is if I get the 2 month tourist visa, once it runs out can I then do a border run and come back in on the 30day on-entry visa that you get 3 of??

Yes you can. You can also extend your 2 month tourist visa with 30 days without leaving the country.

rolly · #21 22-02-2007, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by MajorTom

Yes you can. You can also extend your 2 month tourist visa with 30 days without leaving the country.

oh great, I think thats my safest bet, cheaper than buying an onward ticket s well, just over 1 week to go, wippee!!

cheers

stevem · #22 23-02-2007, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolly

Returning to this topic again, I've since spoken to some travel agents at intrepid travel and they suggested since I don't have an onward flight I should be prepared to bribe the airport guards in thailand, anyone have experience with this?

What guards are there to bribe, someone knows nothing about what they are talking about. Dont believe travel agents, you have the correct answer from the embassy.