Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Ask us anything. Cambodia Expats Online has a huge community of long-term expats that can answer any question you may have about life in Cambodia. Have some questions you want to ask before you move to Cambodia? Ask them here. Our community can also answer any questions you have about how to find a job or what kind of work is available for expats in Cambodia, whether you're looking for info about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or anywhere else in the Kingdom. You're also welcome to ask about visa and work permit questions as well, as the immigration rules change often, especially since COVID-19. Don't be shy, ask CEO's community anything!
User avatar
FreeSocrates!
Expatriate
Posts: 506
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 5:14 am
Reputation: 1
Location: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
Canada

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by FreeSocrates! »

Maybe I've been in Cambodia too long, but you could also make a fake ticket:

http://omatic.musicairport.com/

My friend used to get his travel agent to print him fake tickets.
The cedar roasted asparagus has good chew. I don't know how to enjoy it, so I'll Instagram it instead.
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

FreeSocrates! wrote:I've also heard of people signing contracts or forms saying the Airline won't be held financially liable if you get sent back out. So you can try to get them to do that too as a last resort.
Yeah... I had to do that with China Southern (worst airline in the world BTW, never fly with them). The only reason they let me do that is because I already had a ton of Cambodian visas in my passport. I now always try to not let them expire if I go back to the west... As Giblet said, more and more airlines do it. One option is to buy a cheap one-way Air Asia ticket to Bangkok (or be ready to buy one quick at the airport by checking out what dates are cheapest). I did that once, but I actually wanted to do a short stint in Bangkok so the money wasn't "lost". The whole concept is stupid because:
A) They don't know Cambodian immigration (visa on arrival).
B) Have they never heard of using buses to cross borders?! It's a big backpacker destination so it's so stupid. Almost everyone takes the bus to Vietnam/Thailand.

So anyways, you have a few options:
1-Just go for it and hope for the best (and look at a few cheap options with AirAsia or Angkor Air/Vietnam Airways beforehand as backup)
2-Book a cheap flight somewhere (one-way if you don't plan on going)
3-Book a bus ticket to Vietnam as OD suggested (perhaps the best option if you're worried about it).
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
User avatar
FreeSocrates!
Expatriate
Posts: 506
Joined: Fri May 23, 2014 5:14 am
Reputation: 1
Location: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
Canada

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by FreeSocrates! »

4) Bring fake ticket or itinerary which I know for a fact works... ;)
The cedar roasted asparagus has good chew. I don't know how to enjoy it, so I'll Instagram it instead.
User avatar
Joon
Expatriate
Posts: 568
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 3:02 pm
Reputation: 3
Location: M'Penh.
Cambodia

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by Joon »

Philippine Airlines requires a return ticket.
I was at check-in at PPIA but I had only my one-way itinerary to Manila through Singapore (PNH-SG, SG-PH) because the person (in Jakarta) arranging my flight was still booking the return ticket.
Even though I have a French passport which doesn't require a visa to land in the Philippines, I still needed a ticket to prove that I wouldn't overstay my trip. Fortunately I could check my e-mail and print out the e-ticket for the return.

In another experience, way way back in the early 2000, my sister didn't have a visa on her French passport for Cambodia and she had only a one-way ticket with Air France. They wouldn't let her go, so we had to purchase a return ticket with Air France at the counter (and it was something like 17,000 francs, a small fortune at the time), but we were assured that we could cancel it and get reimbursed. Which happened with no problem.

In another occurrence, from Jakarta, the clerk at the check-in counter was a bit overzealous. I have a permanent Visa K on my French passport and in spite of explaining him, he asked me if I had a resident permit (which I don't). He asked his supervisor who eventually told him to check me in.
Disclaimer: I don't actually look like my avatar.
aussieexpat1068
Tourist
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:47 pm
Reputation: 0
Australia

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by aussieexpat1068 »

Thanks to all to have replied to my OP. Being forearmed with info from other expats is always a valuable source as it was during my time in Thailand. I did encounter a similar incident in Sydney when trying to return to Bangkok and had to answer some questions with the hostess regarding my ticket. It took her a little time to comprehend that the ticket I had was in fact a return ticket to Thailand after I had come home for a two week stint. I had to explain my non-immigration "O" visa to her and explain that I was married to a Thai and that I was actually living in Thailand and had been doing so for the previous 12 months. I had never encountered it in the 12 years of traveling there before whether it was alone or with my now divorced wife. I had read about this scenario with Cambodia and after reading some of the replies to my post it appears not to be an uncommon formality. I appreciate airlines not wanting to be liable for a non financial passenger when flying them home due to refused entry in countries that allow you to obtain a visa on arrival and also not having time to be across every countries immigration rules. It just appears to be an anomaly so buying a cheap ticket or signing a waver might just save the hassle.
User avatar
General Mackevili
The General
Posts: 18400
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 5:24 pm
Reputation: 3397
Location: The Kingdom
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by General Mackevili »

Couldn't you also pay for a fully refundable ticket and cancel it?

That would be legit.
"Life is too important to take seriously."

"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."

Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? Need advertising? CONTACT ME

Cambodia Expats Online is the most popular community in the country. JOIN TODAY

Follow CEO on social media:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Google+
Instagram
User avatar
StroppyChops
The Missionary Man
Posts: 10598
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 11:24 am
Reputation: 1032
Australia

Re: Return ticket out of Cambodia.

Post by StroppyChops »

Paid $160 for two budget flights out of Bodge on our way in, just to be sure, was not asked to show them. Nonrefundable, but at least we've now got tickets to DMK in 10 months.
Bodge: This ain't Kansas, and the neighbours ate Toto!
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], newsgatherer, Ot Mean Loi and 450 guests