Asked for an onward ticket at check-in? What to do in the next 10 minutes

Stay calm - this is fixable

Agents ask because your destination requires proof of onward travel, and the airline is responsible if you're refused entry. They're not accusing you of anything; they need to see a confirmed booking leaving the country within your permitted stay.

The 10-minute plan

1. Ask what they need. Usually: a confirmed flight out of the destination, in your name, within your permitted stay.
2. Check boarding cut-off. Ask how long you have before the counter closes.
3. Choose a route. A short hop out of your destination to a neighbouring hub, dated inside your stay.
4. Book a verifiable reservation on your phone - it takes about two minutes and arrives by email with a PDF.
5. Show the PDF and booking reference. If the agent wants to check, they can look it up on the airline website.

Tips that save time

• Use the passenger name exactly as on your passport.
• Turn on mobile data if airport Wi-Fi is slow; the PDF is small.
• If email is slow, open your order page - the PDF downloads there too.

Next time

Check your destination's rules before you buy a one-way ticket - see our country guides.

If you're refused boarding anyway

Sometimes boarding closes before you can sort things out, or the agent won't accept what you show. If that happens:

1. Ask what the airline will do with your ticket. Rebooking on a later flight is often possible, sometimes for a fee.
2. Note the agent's reason and the time. If you believe the decision was wrong, contact the airline's customer relations afterwards.
3. Check your travel insurance - some policies cover missed departures, but refusal for missing documents is usually excluded.

Already arrived and asked by immigration?

Officers can ask for onward proof on arrival too. Answer calmly and show what you have. If you don't have onward travel yet, explaining your plans honestly - and offering to show a reservation - is far better than improvising.