15

I've been asked both in Europe (and Tokyo airport while we're at it!) for proof of onward flight. Obviously there are ways to get around this- my particular favorite is to copy/paste a flight itinerary back to the USA into Word and edit in a future date, and no airline or immigration official has looked much further into it than that.

There is a Hungarian saying, "it is better to get nervous than to get scared," which I always think is applicable when it comes to these onward tickets. It's not like there are no insurmountable solutions to the problem so may as well address it.

16

First Andromeda it is not enough to simply say, 'I've been asked'. Asked by who? What is your nationality? What happened when/if you said, 'I don't have an onward ticket?' Those are the questions that have to be answered for your comment to be of any use.

Take this example:
A Canadian flies to France on a one way ticket. The IATA website says: "Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry." Note, it doesn't say you have to have one, it says you COULD be refused entry.

Now imagine the conversation.
I: 'How long do you plan to be in France?'
T: 'I am going to walk the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I don't know how long it will take me.'
I: 'Do you have a return ticket to Canada?'
T; 'No, I have 8 weeks off work and depending on how I do on the Camino, I will buy a return ticket some time before then.'

What do you suppose the Immigration Officer will do? Deny you entry? Let you in? Ask some more questions to determine whether s/he believes you or not? Take a look in your luggage to see if you have hiking boots, a book on the Camino, etc.? Insist on you having a return/onward ticket?

Again, they are not in the business of denying bonafide tourists entry. They have discretion and they are not stupid. I would say it is a pretty safe bet you will be allowed to enter.

It is the AIRLINES that keep insisting on onward/return tickets because they are covering their butts, not yours. Find another airline.

17

I've been breaking the news to my friends/family slowly. I've gotten so many reactions ranging from excitement to jealousy to "you are so stupid" to utter confusion. This is truly going to be very big and life changing. I'm going to start making a very broad itinerary in 2 weeks when my friend flies in from Tokyo. He is gonna accompany me around Asia for a while which will be great.

18

Good for you, I'm doing this about 15+ years into my career and wish I had the courage to do it sooner. Enjoy!

Edited by: hikergirl21