One Way Flights to Thailand (from UK)

[mabubba]

From reading online, I think I am going to be ok but I wanted to see if anyone foresaw any issues with flying to Thailand on an one-way flight from the UK. I have a single entry tourist visa and am planning to purchase a one-way ticket to LOS to save some money.

Any advise would be appreciated.

[PeteC]

Your problem won't be with Thai Immigration but with your air carrier from the UK. The real letter of the law to my knowledge is that every foreigner except permanent residents and perhaps O Visa retirees is to have proof of onward travel. It seems that many check in personnel only push this point if you don't have any visa at all, but if you get someone sharp who wants to sell a ticket, they could give you a hard time and make a scene.

Check the cost of your one way against a round trip as many times one ways are more expensive times 2, and in some cases almost as expensive as a round trip.

If me, I would get on-line to Air Asia, Nok Air or similar and buy a cheap one way electronic ticket out to some place like KL, Phnom Penh, Vientiane. Some of those type tickets cost less than 2000 Baht and then at least you have proof of onward travel to satisfy the UK airline. If you don't use it, just throw it away at that price. Pete

[chopsticks]

One-way standard fare tickets cost almost as much as an economy return.
If you were thinking of then buying a ticket to return to UK after you've arrived in Thailand (or another one-way) then beware as they are usually more expensive than in UK. eg. 30 000 + Baht for an economy return from Bangkok to London.

[margaretcarnes]

I met an English lad in November who had flown out of Heathrow to Bangkok on a 6 month return ticket and no entry visa. He got his 30 day entry to the LOS OK but said he was lucky to get out of Heathrow. There was some questioning there apparently.
If you are uncertain about your return date get an open return from the UK - the return date can be changed easily in Thailand at any flight agent. Or get a fixed return date which is within your visa time and extend it same way when there. A fixed return date flight should be cheaper than an open return.
Petes' suggestion of a cheap onbound flight booking is good also. Remember that if you need to extend your stay re-entries to the LOS by land only give a further 15 days and are limited.

[lomuamart]

Cost of flights apart, you should have no problem boarding or getting entry into Thailand on a one way ticket if traveling with any type of visa. It's only if coming without a visa that the airline will cause you problems.
Just to clarify the extension time, your visa can be extended once for 30 days at any Imm office. After that its border runs to get visa exempt stamps which as Mags has said are only valid for 15 days if crossing back into Thailand by land or sea. You'll get the full 30 days at the airport if arriving that way.

[chopsticks]

Regarding Heathrow, if you check-in using the internet beforehand and print out your boarding pass you may avoid the airline staff looking through your passport to see what sort of visa / air-ticket combination you have.

[mabubba]

One-way standard fare tickets cost almost as much as an economy return.
If you were thinking of then buying a ticket to return to UK after you've arrived in Thailand (or another one-way) then beware as they are usually more expensive than in UK. eg. 30 000 + Baht for an economy return from Bangkok to London.

Thanks! I always thought that one-way flights were the same price as return ones or more expensive in some cases. And since I don't usually have need for them, I haven't checked lately. So, I was a bit surprised to find some that are about £100-150 cheaper. But probably not worth it to save a little.

I wouldn't mind an open return ticket, but they must be pricey.

And why is it flights from BKK to the west are more? Seems like they should be the same as a west to east flight...

[margaretcarnes]

And why is it flights from BKK to the west are more? Seems like they should be the same as a west to east flight...[/quote]

Maybe it's a head wind going that way