Rant: People keep booking flights on the wrong days for visa runs

I've seen at least three people in Bangkok this month book their exit flight for a 30 day tourist visa extension on day 29. Immigration here often wants to see an onward ticket within the initial 30 day stamp, not the extended period. A friend got turned away at the airport check-in desk and had to buy a new ticket on the spot for $150. Does anyone have a clear rule of thumb for this, or is it just airport roulette?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_walker1mo ago

Wait ARE YOU SERIOUS?? $150 for a new ticket on the spot?? That's insane, I would be so mad if that happened to me. Honestly the rule of thumb I always go by is book your exit flight within the first 30 days no matter what extension you're planning. Like just set it for like day 28 or 29 of your original stamp and then change it later if you need to, it's way less risky. Some airlines are super strict about it and others don't even check, but why gamble when tickets can cost that much? I've heard people say that immigration doesn't really care about the onward ticket once you're in the country but airlines check it before you even board and they'll straight up deny you. Your friend got super unlucky though, that's rough.

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shaneb161mo ago

Right, that's exactly it. Everything's about covering yourself for that one moment where the system checks you, and people who slip through just got lucky that time.

leelewis13d ago

Piled onto that same situation myself once in Bangkok. Had a cheap onward ticket booked for day 29 but my flight got delayed and I missed it, so I was stuck at the check in counter with no valid outbound. They made me buy another one right there on my phone for $120. Never again, I keep a screenshot of a refundable ticket on hand now and just cancel it after I land. What's your backup plan if you ever get caught without one?