For almost all conventional travellers, who travel with return tickets or have onward flights, this requirement presents no problems.

However, for the tiny percentage of nomadic, meandering souls (especially backpackers), who wish to remain free from the constraints of a planned itinerary and hop around the planet using one-way tickets, this requirement can be onerous.

How to remain flexible, with a fluid itinerary, while satisfying a requirement which forces you to commit to a firm departure date?

Onward Travel Hack

One travel hack is provided by Priceline.com, and other Expedia companies, who offer a free 23-hour cancellation window on certain tickets.

A Priceline.com ticket, with the free 23-hour cancel option highlighted.

If, for example, you’re flying into Thailand on a one-way ticket and need to provide proof of onward travel you could purchase a cheap one-way flight to nearby Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) with the free cancel option.

Such a ticket should be purchased just before you depart for the airport, as you will have just 23-hours to cancel the ticket from the time of purchase. 

Flight ticket purchased through Priceline with the ‘Cancel Your Flight’ option clearly shown.

You can then use this legitimate ticket as proof of onward travel!

Once you reach your destination, you then simply login to your booking and select the ’Cancel Your Flight’ option.

The full cost of the flight will be refunded to the credit card which was used to book the flight.

Once you reach your destination, you can simply cancel your Priceline flight ticket.

You are now free to continue your travels and organise your departure at a later date.

Of course, this hack only works provided you will have entered your destination within 23 hours of ticket purchase – beyond that, you will be penalised for any changes or cancellation.