Back to back ticket

[ap3311]

I've spent the last 3 weeks looking for tickets from the UK-BKK for late July to late August and can't find anything at all that's reasonable aside from stupid flights on carriers like Air Astana...

 

In desperation I tried a few back to back searches, which is where you book a ticket from A to B and then another ticket from B to A inside those dates.

 

Since I'm 99% sure I'm going to go for Songkran next year I've looked booking one ticket UK-BKK-UK from July - late April and a second ticket BKK-UK-BKK August - early April.

 

This is substantially cheaper for the dates in question (coming in around £1050 total on Turkish Airlines/Malaysia Airlines and the flight times are good).

 

Aside from the obvious potential problems with the first airline assuming I'm going to be in Thailand for 10 months (I'll get hold of an AirAsia throwaway ticket if needs be) is there anything else that I need to be aware of? I know the airlines don't like it, but there's no way of them knowing is there?!

[davidge]

As you've already flagged up, I guess the check-in staff at LHR could query you staying so long. You can just show them the ticket out of BKK though, don't see the need to book a throw-away?

 

Otherwise, can't see a problem.

[wingnutv]

They could ask you for your Visa when you board. Its reasonable that they might expect some paperwork if you are to "stay" in a country for 10 months. After all if LoS Immigration denies entry the carrier might be in soup. 

[ap3311]

Yeah I'm aware of the problems with the visa etc, have flown into Thailand plenty of times on a one-way ticket before (just not from Europe).

 

Was just gonna say I'm backpacking if anyone asks and show them a throwaway ticket to Singapore.

[Drewbrogan]

I don't know where you are flying from in the UK but a very quick search gave me Etihad with late July to late August at £680.

 

I suppose it depends what you call ridiculous fares.

[ap3311]

I don't know where you are flying from in the UK but a very quick search gave me Etihad with late July to late August at £680.

 

I suppose it depends what you call ridiculous fares.

 

I would consider that too much. Anything above £650 which is not direct is outrageous imo.

[mmaaarrrkkk]

Have you ever tried a neighbouring country at offer prices? I mean if you see a cheap flight to Phillipines Singapore Vietnam Malaysia etc book it and stay a day or transit rightaway via a cheap airline like Thai AirAsia to Bangkok or Pattaya.

 

Kills 2 birds with one stone as you se another country instead of just Thailand

[hioctane]

Get 2 separate tickets. One of them a refundable return ticket. Cancel when you arrive. 10 month return ticket will definitely raise red flags.

[Harvey707]

No problem at all as long as you have Tourist Visa on initial outbound. Have done similar in the past although not quite as long a gap

[ap3311]

Have you ever tried a neighbouring country at offer prices? I mean if you see a cheap flight to Phillipines Singapore Vietnam Malaysia etc book it and stay a day or transit rightaway via a cheap airline like Thai AirAsia to Bangkok or Pattaya.

 

Kills 2 birds with one stone as you se another country instead of just Thailand

 

Yeah did have a look at all that but Bangkok is virtually always the cheapest place to fly to in all of SEA (have actually done what you've suggested by flying into BKK and then catching AirAsia to other places from there but it doesn't really work the other way round).