Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Onward tickets Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
johnbrighton 06:48 UTC 02 Dec 2008 | How strict are islands in the Pacific regarding Onward tickets? Thanks John |
wksamoa 19:54 UTC 02 Dec 2008 | At least in Samoa they are very strict. But what reason could you tell them why you do not have an onward ticket? Proof of plenty of money (like a platinum credit card) and a suit&tie attire might convince them that you're not going to stay even when you do not have an onward ticket at hand. Do not rely on that though. | 1
wave2angela 05:16 UTC 03 Dec 2008 | I frequently fly to different South Pacific countries to join yachts, I often fly in and sail out of a country. For this I ALWAYS have a 'crew letter' from the captain stating this is what I will be doing. It is at the point of departure that trouble is most likely to occur. On presenting a one-way air ticket, I have ALWAYS been asked the appropriate questions and ALWAYS have to show proof of how I will be leaving the country to which I am headed. Sometimes they even take copies of my paperwork, to cover themselves. Last trip to Vanuatu, I had pre-arranged that country's paperwork and this was requested at the arrivals counter in Vila, and the special fee paid on the spot. I'd never take the risk, hoping it would be OK. | 2
greggig 15:24 UTC 03 Dec 2008 | The answer to your question is: THEY ARE VERY STRICT, everywhere. I'm just back from a trip to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Samoas, and every time I was checking to get on the plane going to the next island, they wanted to see the proof of my onward ticket. They put your next destination in the computer and the custom agent knows it when you arrive in the next country. This anecdote tells it all: In Nadi, Fiji, I was checking in to go to Apia, Samoa. My next trip after that was Pago Pago, in American Samoa, to catch another plane a couple of hours later going to Hawaii. In the checking counter in Nadi, they wanted to see the plane ticket from Apia to Pago Pago. As I did not print it, I showed my ticket from Pago to Hawaii, but they still want to see my onward ticket. Luckily, I convinced the agent to come to see my proof of purchase in an Internet booth at the airport. So, if you don't have an onward ticket, you'll get stuck where you are. | 3
ozziegiraffe 09:46 UTC 04 Dec 2008 | Greggig, you were lucky the airport you were in had an internet booth. I know there isn't one in Honiara, and I suspect there aren't in many Pacific countries. | 4
raro 22:33 UTC 11 Dec 2008 | Very strict in the Cooks. If you don't have an onward or return air ticket when the plane lands in Rarotonga, you will be put right back on that plane before it departs (assuming you aren't a local, etc.). In fact, Air NZ probably wouldn't have let you on the plane before it departed for the Cooks, unless you showed them the onward or return ticket. They get fined about $10,000 if they drop someone off that doesn't have that ticket (except for locals, etc.) | 5
johnbrighton 11:24 UTC 26 Dec 2008 | Thanks for all the info. Are there any island groups that you don't need the dreaded onward ticket for? What about New Caledonia? That's part of France,but I suppose it has different rules. Thanks John | 6
wksamoa 12:03 UTC 27 Dec 2008 | New Caledonia is not part of France. Even as a French Citizen you can only go there with a valid passport (unlike traveling i.e. from Paris to Lille). And everybody entering the territory needs, of course, an onward or return ticket. And just to mention it - when visiting France from overseas you would need an onward ticket too. But what is your point anyway? What is so difficult with that ticket? You will have to leave anyway (from anywhere in the South Pacific) - so what is the problem with having to have a ticket for that already? No airline will let you on a plane without it. | 7
raro 23:08 UTC 30 Dec 2008 | One could theoretically purchase some point-to-point tickets in advance, and then aplly for refunds if not used later on. But as wksamoa and others have said, you do need to leave each country at some point, so why not get the onward ticket in advance??? I don't see any other option, unless someone is meeting you with a yacht. | 8
johnbrighton 03:11 UTC 21 Jan 2009 | I'm British & don't need an onward ticket to visit France. Neither did I when I visited Reunion & Mayotte last year.These are over-seas depts. of France with a similar standing to New Cal. | 9
greggig 21:12 UTC 22 Jan 2009 | We just tell you that before you go, for example, from Hawaii to French Polynesia, from this place to New Caledonia and from this place to Vanuatu, like I did, they always ask you for an inward ticket when your are boarding. So, if you prefer not to buy an inward ticket, it's your choice, but you risk being stuck there. | 10
wksamoa 07:20 UTC 23 Jan 2009 | #9 Reunion is indeed an overseas department and a part of France. But New Caledonia is not - it even has an own citizenship. So what works in Reunion will not necessarily work in New Caledonia. It is not a similar standing as you assume. Of course as a Briton you do not need an onward ticket to enter France, including her overseas departments. And I did not say that either - I said 'overseas visitor' (US, AUS, CAN etc.) Or do you feel 'overseas' already because of the Channell ;-)? | 11