Oh no! Entering the Phil without a ticket out (more oh no)

[Tomasb]

When I arrived at the SFO airport ticket counter for EVA, the Taiwanese national airline, the agent told
me that I needed a return ticket from the Philippines before I could board their flight, which had a stop in Taipei.

So I could continue on to Manila. I then booked a return flight with United and put the reservation details on my phone, which was accepted by the agent. I cancelled this reservation several minutes later without additional charge. United policy allows you to cancel any flight within 24 hours without any cancellation fees or other charges.

Hah!

No. I live here because I have work assignments that kept me here for much of the time although I am now content to remain here by choice.

I have learned to side-step all the problems and crises that are well-documented on these pages, and when I do experience any SNAFUs I have learned to endure them and move on.

Those who come for 2 or 3 week monger vacations experience the best of times and the worst of times (apologies to Dickens).

[Red Kilt]

Did you get a prison sentence of 19 years?

Hah!

No. I live here because I have work assignments that kept me here for much of the time although I am now content to remain here by choice.

I have learned to side-step all the problems and crises that are well-documented on these pages, and when I do experience any SNAFUs I have learned to endure them and move on.

Those who come for 2 or 3 week monger vacations experience the best of times and the worst of times (apologies to Dickens).

[PirateMorgan]

Did you get a prison sentence of 19 years?

[Red Kilt]

So the whole story is. When I was in L. A. I called and asked Phil Air if I could fly on a one way ticket. They said yes.

At the airport the airline said no and that I had to buy a ticket out (Honk Kong) which was refundable)$475.

Sorry Pirate.

I have lived here for 19 years now and you have ALWAYS needed a valid return ticket to travel to the Philippines.

Here is the Bureau of Immigration website entry".

9. What are arrival requirements for Philippine-destined alien tourists?

9.1. For aliens with diplomatic or bilateral agreements with the Philippines:

Unexpired passport;
Unexpired entry visa; and
Validly-issued return ticket.

Non-visa required aliens shall be admitted an initial 30-days.

9.2. For aliens without bilateral agreements with the Philippines:

Unexpired passport;

Unexpired entry visa; and (Philippine Foreign Post (PFP)-listed highly restricted aliens shall secure visa only at the PFP in their country of origin or legal residence.)

Validly-issued return ticket.

You can never believe what desk clerks say in a foreign port about the Philippines. They are mostly wrong. Always check on website of country you are visiting.

I had wrong advice about not needing a visa to go to Mongolia. I was told I didn't need one. When I went online I found I did need one as displayed on numerous website.

[Goferring]

This is yet another scam for entrapping foreigners. Philippines is one of the few countries that play this angle. Pillippine airlines checking staff are heavily encouraged at airports to try and catch people without a return ticket so they can sell a juicy full priced exit ticket. Before issuing a boarding pass for flights to the Philippines. At times, they even tried with me even though I had an exit ticket!! Quote: is this a return ticket?? One even tried to say because I arrived in Manila and exit was Cebu, the exit ticket is not valid!!

No need to buy or print anything. I always just have an onward ticket's details typed into my phone or ipad calendar complete with a realistic looking booking code. Just show this to who ever asks and say its an e-ticket. I've never been asked for more regardless of if this is a real ticket's details or not. I hate carrying paper copies of everything so this also works for getting thru security to enter the airport front gate.

[Fastpiston]

You probably could have bought a throw away Cebu Pacific ticket to Singapore for less than $50.

This is yet another scam for entrapping foreigners. Philippines is one of the few countries that play this angle. Pillippine airlines checking staff are heavily encouraged at airports to try and catch people without a return ticket so they can sell a juicy full priced exit ticket. Before issuing a boarding pass for flights to the Philippines. At times, they even tried with me even though I had an exit ticket!! Quote: is this a return ticket?? One even tried to say because I arrived in Manila and exit was Cebu, the exit ticket is not valid!!

[GoodEnough]

So the whole story is. When I was in L. A. I called and asked Phil Air if I could fly on a one way ticket. They said yes.

At the airport the airline said no and that I had to buy a ticket out (Honk Kong) which was refundable)$475.

Today in Cebu I went to Phil Airlines to get a refund and they said NO! Not without showing another ticket out of the country.

This saga is not over. (They did quote me a price of $300 for a one way ticket to Thailand. I'd swim first.).

You probably could have bought a throw away Cebu Pacific ticket to Singapore for less than $50.

[PirateMorgan]

So the whole story is. When I was in L. A. I called and asked Phil Air if I could fly on a one way ticket. They said yes.

At the airport the airline said no and that I had to buy a ticket out (Honk Kong) which was refundable)$475.

Today in Cebu I went to Phil Airlines to get a refund and they said NO! Not without showing another ticket out of the country.

This saga is not over. (They did quote me a price of $300 for a one way ticket to Thailand. I'd swim first.).