My Onward Ticket
Writer
Former budget-carrier gate ops. 8 years on the "where's your return ticket" line.
Diego worked the gate at a major European budget carrier for the better part of a decade. He's the one who used to tell travellers their boarding pass wouldn't print without proof of onward travel. Now he writes about how to clear that hurdle in two minutes flat.
Immigration officers don't just scan your printout and wave you through. Here are the 7 things border officers actually check on your onward ticket, and what gets people sent to secondary.
Jordan's visa on arrival is easy. The onward ticket check is less forgiving. Seven things every traveller needs to know before flying to Amman without a return booking.
Egypt's check-in desks turn people away for missing departure bookings, not just missing visas. Seven things to know before you fly into Cairo, Hurghada, or Sharm el-Sheikh in 2026.
Chile's PDI enforces the onward ticket rule at SCL airport and land borders. These are the seven facts travellers consistently get wrong before flying into Santiago.
Morocco's exit-intent check catches one-way travellers who arrive at CMN or RAK without a confirmed departure booking. These are the 7 things you need to know before you board.
Kenya enforces the onward ticket rule at check-in and at NBO immigration, independently of your e-Visa. Here are the 7 things that catch travellers out.
Argentina enforces its onward ticket rule at check-in, at immigration, and at land borders. Seven things every non-MERCOSUR traveller needs to know before flying to Buenos Aires.
Ecuador enforces the onward-ticket requirement at every entry point, including land borders. Seven things you must know before you fly to Quito or Guayaquil.
Peru checks for proof of onward travel at check-in, not just at the border. Here are seven things you need to know before your flight to Lima in 2026.
Colombia lets you in visa-free for 90 days, but Avianca will ask for an onward ticket before you board. Seven things to know before you fly to Bogotá or Medellín.
Costa Rica's onward ticket requirement catches more travellers than any other Central American rule. Here's what you need to know before you book your flight to SJO.
Seven differences between a dummy ticket and a real ticket that matter at the check-in counter, the border, and the visa embassy window. Most travellers get at least two of these wrong.