My Onward Ticket
Airline staff at Ryanair, Wizz Air, and AirAsia run documentation checks on one-way passengers because IATA inadmissibility rules make the carrier liable for repatriation costs if you're denied entry. A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR reservation held without full fare payment, used to satisfy that check. There are exactly seven things agents look at. Know all seven before you queue.
Here's a quick-reference table before we unpack each one:
| Check point | What fails | What passes |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger name | Nickname, spelling error, wrong name order | Exact match to passport |
| PNR status | UN, XX (cancelled or expired) | HK, TK (confirmed) |
| Route logic | Departs from wrong country | Departs from destination country |
| Date window | Exceeds maximum visa stay | Falls within permitted stay |
| Carrier | Fictional or defunct airline | Live IATA member carrier |
| Document format | Search results screenshot | Full booking confirmation with PNR |
| Booking status | Waitlisted (HL, HN) | Confirmed (HK) |
1. Your Name Doesn't Match the Passport
Name mismatch is the most common failure, and agents catch it in under five seconds. Your onward ticket must show your name exactly as it appears on your travel document: same spelling, same order. "Diego M." isn't the same as "Diego Marsh." "MARSH/DIEGO" and "Diego Marsh" may look equivalent but a system mismatch will flag them.
If you booked your dummy ticket under a nickname or a middle name you don't travel under, fix it before you reach the desk. Most providers update the name field on request.
2. The PNR Is Dead
Dead PNR. Boarding denied. It's that simple.
A PNR goes dead when the booking expires, the flight is cancelled, or the reservation lapses because a ticket was never issued. On an agent's terminal, you'll see status codes UN (unable to confirm) or XX (cancelled) instead of HK (holding confirmed).
Check your PNR on the operating carrier's manage-booking page the night before you fly. If it shows anything other than confirmed, you need a replacement before you leave for the airport. Our explainer on what an onward ticket actually is covers PNR status in detail.
3. The Route Makes No Sense
Your onward ticket must show travel departing from your destination or from a transit point on your route. An agent checking you in for a Bangkok flight won't accept a Heathrow-to-New York ticket as proof you'll leave Thailand.
The rule is straightforward: the onward ticket's departure airport must be in the country you're entering, or at a transit stop before you leave the region. An agent at a Budapest gate once flagged exactly this with a passenger who had a transatlantic booking and no departure out of Thailand.
4. The Departure Date Blows Your Visa Window
If your visa allows 30 days and your onward ticket is dated 45 days after arrival, that's a flag. Some check-in agents calculate this on the spot. On Scoot flights from Singapore to Jakarta, I've seen agents reject tickets dated beyond Indonesia's 30-day visa-on-arrival window. They're protecting themselves from liability as much as they're enforcing rules.
Match your dummy ticket date to a date within the allowed stay period. If you're unsure of your maximum stay, see our breakdown of the top countries requiring onward proof and their stay rules.
5. The Carrier Doesn't Exist in Timatic
Airlines use IATA's Timatic system to verify entry document requirements and to cross-reference carrier validity. If the airline on your onward ticket isn't in the registry, the agent gets a warning flag.
This is how agents catch counterfeit tickets listing fictional or defunct carrier names. Real dummy tickets from reputable providers use live IATA carriers: AirAsia, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and others with active schedules and valid GDS records.
6. You're Showing a Screenshot of Search Results
Screenshots of Google Flights, Skyscanner, or any aggregator are not booking confirmations. They have no booking reference, no passenger name, no PNR. Agents decline them immediately.
I've watched someone at Gatwick try to pass off a Kayak screenshot as an onward ticket. It took the agent about four seconds to decline it. A valid document shows: passenger name, booking reference (PNR), carrier name, flight number, departure and arrival airports, and departure date.
7. The Booking Is Waitlisted or On Request
A waitlisted booking (status HL or HN in GDS) isn't confirmed. An "on request" booking isn't confirmed either. Agents trained to run live PNR checks catch both.
Your onward ticket needs HK status before you check in. If you're using a dummy ticket service, confirm this is the status your booking will carry. A waitlisted cheap fare won't serve as proof any more than an expired one will.
The simplest way to clear all seven checks is to book a verified onward ticket through My Onward Ticket and receive a confirmed PNR in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do all airlines check for an onward ticket at check-in?
No. Checks are concentrated on routes into countries that require proof of onward travel as a condition of entry. Domestic flights and intra-Schengen routes rarely see this check at the desk.
How do agents access my onward ticket PNR if it's on a different airline?
They use the airline's departure control system, which connects to the main GDS platforms (Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo). If your ticket is on another carrier, the agent enters your PNR code manually or uses a cross-carrier look-up. The check takes under 90 seconds.
What if I'm transiting through a country with onward proof requirements?
You may need to show onward proof from that transit country, not just your final destination. Check entry requirements for every country on your itinerary where you'll clear immigration, not just the last stop.
Is a dummy ticket legal to use as onward proof at check-in?
Yes. A dummy ticket, properly booked with a live PNR on a real IATA carrier, is a legitimate booking record. It satisfies the same GDS look-up an agent runs on any other ticket. It's not a fabricated document: it's a real reservation you hold.
Can I use a dummy ticket if my visa requires proof of return travel?
That depends on the visa class. Some visas, such as certain UK Standard Visitor visas, require evidence of return travel specifically, not just onward travel. An onward ticket to a third country may not satisfy that requirement. Read the visa conditions carefully before you travel.