Just wondering... Like to have a assist from an expert here. For a future Expat like me, My plan is to stay over for 9/10 months every year in Patts. What kind of flight should i book at first, One way flight, then book a return flight in Pattaya when coming back to my home country. Or book return flight in Ireland. But i cannot book a return flight online bookings because the return date is too far off for most online flight booking..

Book a return from your home country. I've found return flights from BKK to the UK are more expensive than the UK to BKK. With some airlines you can book an open dated return or with others you can change the flight times but beware of the costs of changing a ticket.

 

To check for yourself try putting random dates in skyscanner for a return journey say LHR - BKK and then do the same for BKK - LHR. There's usually a big difference.

 

It also depends on your visa as most airlines won't let you fly one way on a tourist visa/waiver issued on arrival - I think you need a one year visa "O" "B" "ED" etc.

Book a return from your home country. I've found return flights from BKK to the UK are more expensive than the UK to BKK. With some airlines you can book an open dated return or with others you can change the flight times but beware of the costs of changing a ticket.

 

To check for yourself try putting random dates in skyscanner for a return journey say LHR - BKK and then do the same for BKK - LHR. There's usually a big difference.

 

It also depends on your visa as most airlines won't let you fly one way on a tourist visa/waiver issued on arrival - I think you need a one year visa "O" "B" "ED" etc.

Many Thanks for you information.. I plan to get a retierment visa cos i am over 50s, So i would try to check out the best options to fly one way or the return. Thanks again for your time.

Open return ticket is what you want

Open return ticket is what you want

That cant buy online only in Travel Agency shop ?? Is that right ?

Book a return from your home country. I've found return flights from BKK to the UK are more expensive than the UK to BKK. With some airlines you can book an open dated return or with others you can change the flight times but beware of the costs of changing a ticket.

 

To check for yourself try putting random dates in skyscanner for a return journey say LHR - BKK and then do the same for BKK - LHR. There's usually a big difference.

 

It also depends on your visa as most airlines won't let you fly one way on a tourist visa/waiver issued on arrival - I think you need a one year visa "O" "B" "ED" etc.

Much cheaper to book it from home!

I would have thought one way fares would be more expensive than a 12 month open end ticket?

Wow.  I don't know about travel to Ireland but to the states round trip fares are cheaper originating in Thailand.  Weird.  So if you were a yank I'd advise buy a one way, and start getting RT from Thailand.

 

On airlines and one way travel I can't remember but I did once before.  On a tourist visa.  But maybe things changed and I better check it out before I buy a ticket.

Try dial a flight. They can let you know !!

Try booking a one-way over, then book round-trip from LOS to IRL and back to LOS again with your next booking.

I moved to Thailand last year from USA. Now live (based) in Pattaya(very happily too). I arrived in BKK with a one-way ticket and a 60-day visa. Went to immigration in Pattaya/Jomtien and converted the 60-day visa to a 1 year retirement type O visa. The cost was about 3,800 pesos(roughly) for everything and it was really easy to do...no sweat! When I want to leave Thailand on a trip I'll purchase a ticket for wherever it is that I'm going and exit Thailand with a Re-entry permit(obtained easily at immigration office). That way my 1 year Retirement Visa stays intact when I come back into the Kingdom from my trip. I have been travelling all over the world for a number of years now(retired)and I have not ever once purchased a round trip ticket anywhere....ALWAYS one way tickets, because I usually don't know exactly how long I'm going to stay at any given place. By always having a one way ticket it leaves me free to go to the next destination whenever I decide to and also gives me the freedom to search out the very best flight prices since I'm not locked into any time constraint. This is just how I operate and what works for me...I'm about freedom to go and come wherever I want whenever I want and I've had zero glitches doing this for a number of years now, and I've been to a hell of a lot of great places. Good luck and happy travels!!

I moved to Thailand last year from USA. Now live (based) in Pattaya(very happily too). I arrived in BKK with a one-way ticket and a 60-day visa. Went to immigration in Pattaya/Jomtien and converted the 60-day visa to a 1 year retirement type O visa. The cost was about 3,800 pesos(roughly) for everything and it was really easy to do...no sweat! When I want to leave Thailand on a trip I'll purchase a ticket for wherever it is that I'm going and exit Thailand with a Re-entry permit(obtained easily at immigration office). That way my 1 year Retirement Visa stays intact when I come back into the Kingdom from my trip. I have been travelling all over the world for a number of years now(retired)and I have not ever once purchased a round trip ticket anywhere....ALWAYS one way tickets, because I usually don't know exactly how long I'm going to stay at any given place. By always having a one way ticket it leaves me free to go to the next destination whenever I decide to and also gives me the freedom to search out the very best flight prices since I'm not locked into any time constraint. This is just how I operate and what works for me...I'm about freedom to go and come wherever I want whenever I want and I've had zero glitches doing this for a number of years now, and I've been to a hell of a lot of great places. Good luck and happy travels!!

Thanks for your useful tips... 60 day Visa is the right one to start and go convert that to retirement Visa when the 60 days visa is nearly expired. 3,800 pescos (2,600 bt ? )...

I booked with Emirates and you can change the return date on the ticket cost me 70 quid I believe - can do for upto 1 year.  This was 2 yrs ago so you might have to double check.

As Xe

 

I booked with Emirates and you can change the return date on the ticket cost me 70 quid I believe - can do for upto 1 year.  This was 2 yrs ago so you might have to double check.

As above

 

Definitely book direct with airline and not with an agency, had major troubles trying to get home from Los during the protests a few years back. TRying to rebook a flight with an airline when you booked online via an agency(expedia) is a nightmare.

I booked with Emirates and you can change the return date on the ticket cost me 70 quid I believe - can do for upto 1 year.  This was 2 yrs ago so you might have to double check.

 

 

As Xe

 

As above

 

Definitely book direct with airline and not with an agency, had major troubles trying to get home from Los during the protests a few years back. TRying to rebook a flight with an airline when you booked online via an agency(expedia) is a nightmare.

Nice one boys..... Will take that into my head...

Wow.  I don't know about travel to Ireland but .......................................

 

 

Try booking a one-way over, then book round-trip from LOS to IRL and back to LOS again with your next booking.

 

As already stated, fares from Thailand back to UK are significantly higher than the other way round.

 

Very roughly, think 600 quid from UK versus 800 quid from Thailand.......just paid 41,650 Baht Thai Airways non stop in June.

.

Hi Jockyking - I am facing same issues..... the airlines sell cheap 30 day tickets - 600+ GBP- Some do 90 day tickets and some open 1 year tickets - beware the prices to change the return dates.

 

When enquiring about one way expect a visa debate - they almost insist you have visa before willing to sell, however this is not required to travel as you get 30 day on arrival and can do the rest once here.

 

I just purchased 90 day ticket from UK with EVA for 718GBP and was quoted an additional 70 to change return date . Thai Inter quoted  over 1100 GBP for 1 year open  - not sure if date change was 150 extra or free - they seem to change their rules frequently.

 

This was based on a phone call with Trailfinders UK not an on-line search.

As already stated, fares from Thailand back to UK are significantly higher than the other way round.

 

Very roughly, think 600 quid from UK versus 800 quid from Thailand.......just paid 41,650 Baht Thai Airways non stop in June.

.

 

 

Hi Jockyking - I am facing same issues..... the airlines sell cheap 30 day tickets - 600+ GBP- Some do 90 day tickets and some open 1 year tickets - beware the prices to change the return dates.

 

When enquiring about one way expect a visa debate - they almost insist you have visa before willing to sell, however this is not required to travel as you get 30 day on arrival and can do the rest once here.

 

I just purchased 90 day ticket from UK with EVA for 718GBP and was quoted an additional 70 to change return date . Thai Inter quoted  over 1100 GBP for 1 year open  - not sure if date change was 150 extra or free - they seem to change their rules frequently.

 

This was based on a phone call with Trailfinders UK not an on-line search.

Thanks Edge and Bob... Lots of useful info from here. Just wanted to prepare for  for myself. Will check all the options across the board. It pays  to shop around..