[levi0515]

I purchased a one-way ticket through Expedia travel as I have done so for 2 years to Bangkok, Thailand from Nashville, Tennessee. All was well until I arrived in Chicago (ORD) to change planes for flight 9 to tokyo Japan. As I prepared to board I was told by the lady at the gate that I could not board the plane unless I purchased a ticket to leave Thailand in 30 days.I was told I could get a refund minus $50.00 processing fee after I arrived. I explained to her that I never purchase a round-trip ticket because I have never had to present a round trip ticket before going to Thailand. And also I apply for a retirement visa also known as a non-immigrant O visa before my 30 day tourist visa expires. This requirement to have a round trip ticket was not posted and is not posted anywhere at the time of purchase for this trip. They sent me to the ticket counter and told me they had an immigration official from thailand on the phone to speak to me. The person on the phone told me that he was a Thailand immigration official and that I must purchase a ticket out of Thailand to be admitted into thailand. I was told to purchase a ticket to viet nam (Ho Chi Mihn City) for $240.90.
I called Expedia and they told me they could not do anything about this. I purchased the ticket because my wife and son live in Thailand. As soon as I arrived at the airport in Bangkok, I went through immigration without any question from immigration about my length of stay or if I had a round trip ticket. I even asked an immigration officer if I needed a plane ticket to leave and I was told by immigration that there is no such requirement to enter the country.To me this was like extortion because I have to wait up to 2 months before I get the refund and I will only get $200.00 back. I will not use expedia or fly Japan Airlines again.

[mars6423]

this doesn't have to do with the airline, they were doing what they are meant to be doing, it is known that you need to have a roundtrip ticket to places in which you need a visa, so that they know your not going to stay there illegally

yeah they dont always check, but this time they did, and they were following the countries (thailands) guidelines of stay, the airline didn't make this rule, they are just obliging by the rule

i dont know if it says this on expedia but you can find this on the international airlines websites (BA, Singapore airlines, Cathay, Thai, Japan, etc)

it is your responsibility to have the necissary requirements met, such as paperwork and ticket to leave the country or proof that your going to be staying longer etc

[Silent Bob]

Levi, first your complaint is moot with expedia because their job is to sell tickets not keep track of what's in your passport. 2nd - you've traveled to bangkok before and you state you have a visa, was the visa expired? If you have a visa then they cannot make you buy a return, unless of course you actually need it. 3) If this ever happens, ask for a "Timatic copy" of this rule (Learned this from a Brazil excursion... and also PHX and others have stated this, so I read, I learn). That way you can show this to customs, though that might open up a can of worms you might not want opened.

Finally, it's ALWAYS better safe than sorry. You don't wanna be deported for something as simple as a ticket that could have kept your butt in the country as opposed to being escorted right back out of it.

[The_Judge]

Sorry, SB. Even with a valid visa, timatic still says a return ticket is necessary to enter the country. Rule very rarely followed by agents but it is the correct procedure.

If a passenger doesn't have a visa (or does for that matter) what's not to keep him from staying in the country illegally? Even having a return ticket doesn't ensure the passenger will leave but it's more insurance for that country than not having a return ticket. Almost all countries have this rule in place but as I said, it's rarely enforced by agents or immigration of the country you're entering for that matter.

[levi0515]

Well, thanks all who replied to my complaint. I am now better informed and can now admit my ignorance of this rule of the airlines. It seems immigration in thailand was not aware of this. I will be sure to apply for a longterm non-immigrant o visa before I leave next time. Also my apologies to Japan Airlines for puttin up such a fuss. It was the first time I was told to buy a ticket in the 5 trips I have flown here to thailand.
Thanks again all.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by levi0515

Well, thanks all who replied to my complaint. I am now better informed and can now admit my ignorance of this rule of the airlines. It seems immigration in thailand was not aware of this. I will be sure to apply for a longterm non-immigrant o visa before I leave next time. Also my apologies to Japan Airlines for puttin up such a fuss. It was the first time I was told to buy a ticket in the 5 trips I have flown here to thailand.
Thanks again all.

And you still DON'T GET IT. It's not an airline rule. These are requirements of some country's immigration laws. The fact that they don't ask for or check for a return or onward ticket is irrelevant. The fact is they could ask for proof of a return or onward ticket and if you fail to produce such proof they may refuse entry to the country, send you back where came from on the next flight and fine the airline which allowed you to travel there without proof of the ticket. The airline checks to see if you hold the ticket so that they aren't fined and don't have to incur the expense of transporting you back perhaps displacing another passenger from that return flight.

[mars6423]

phxflyer, at this point the OP understands the mistake and knows what needs to be done, its not important to tell the OP that he doesn't get it, in this situation it wouldn't matter, if he can show that he has the correct paperwork than there will be no problems at all just clarification

the fact that it isnt the airlines rule doesnt make much of a difference in this circumstance, even though it is a government rule not airline rule, he said that he apologizes to the airline for the fuss so he knows that he was incorrect and that he will avoid the mistake next time

[levi0515]

I still have not received the refund since requesting on 9 Oct 2009. The airline claims to have issued one in November. the Issue is now being investigated by my bank.

[The_Judge]

Thanks for coming back for the update. This has been 4 months and the refund is looooong overdue. Hopefully your bank can straighten it out and you can come back over here and buy me a beer.

[jimworcs]

After all the bank investigations, you will find out what you already know..they didn't actually make the refund. If it is JAL, you better get it quick.. they are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

[The_Judge]

Their stock was worth 8 pennies yesterday. Bankruptcy is only days (weeks) away. This once incredibly powerful carrier has really fallen.

[levi0515]

Still no refund and I have faxed all the proof to my bank. Where are my rights? Is the corporate world made up of thieves?

[jimworcs]

JAL is now in administration, similar to US Chapter 11. The restructuring is government supported. It is not clear which creditors will get paid and which will not..however, you should continue to pursue your claim, writing to the main offices.

I am afraid, the intricacies of Japanese bankruptcy laws are somewhat beyond me, but JAL will re-emerge. American Airlines and Delta are both seeking to provide financial aid to them, AA to keep them in OneWorld and Delta to entice them over to Skyteam. It is possible therefore that there may be some effort made to maintain customer relations and meet their obligations to customers. Suppliers however, are almost certainly screwed.

[levi0515]

Well I have finally received the refund from my bank for the full amount of the ticket. i am glad it is over. I will certainly check the airlines before I fly back to America. It is funny how fast these people can get your money and how slow they are to give it back.

[Gromit801]

Of course. Business is designed to take your money, not give it back.

[jimworcs]

Decent and honest businesses take your money and provide a fair service for it... businesses which are

designed to take your money, not give it back

without providing the service paid for, are little more than thieves.

[levi0515]

I Got the full refund from JAL credited to my bank, March 3, 2010. 5 months later. I had to contact my bank with a dispute of charges to get anything done, I will not use this airline again because of the way they handled this problem. I am grateful to my bank for resolving this problem. My advice to others is to use your bank cards and not cash if you want refund problems to be solved.

[Gromit801]

Levi, I'd like to thank you for posting the end result of this. So many never do. Glad you got your refund, though it took entirely too long. Maybe something to do with JAL's financial troubles?

[The_Judge]

To be blunt, he's lucky he saw the money at all. They filed the equivalancy of bankruptcy but that was fairly recently. They had several months beforehand to get the customer his money back and failed. I'm happy the little guy got some redemption finally and 5 months to see it is pathetic. JAL used to be a great airline but probably better to avoid it until they stabilize.