You're at the Fiji flight desk and the agent wants proof you're leaving. Fix it now: pull up your outbound booking reference on the airline's website and show the screen. That one move solves most cases. The rest of this guide covers what to do depending on how much time you've got before your flight.

A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. It's the thing the agent is asking for.

If you have a week or more

This is the easy window. Use it.

First, read the official picture. The UK government publishes travel advice for Fiji with an entry requirements section. Read it for your own passport, and check the date it was last updated.

Second, book your proof. A verifiable onward booking, matched to your passport name, takes minutes. Choose an exit date inside your planned stay.

Third, check the airline can see it. Open the carrier's manage-booking page and type in the reference and your surname.

Fourth, think about the exit date. Pick one that sits inside the stay your entry conditions allow. A date that's far too early looks odd, and one that's far too late can cause its own questions. Check both against the government page from the first step.

Action: Do all four today, then print the itinerary.

If you have 24 hours

Narrow the list. You don't have time for research, so go straight to the checks that stop people at the desk.

Compare the name on your booking with your passport, letter by letter. A shortened first name is the usual culprit. If it's wrong, ask your provider for a reissue right now.

Then retrieve the booking on the airline's site. If it doesn't load, don't wait for morning. Ring your provider tonight.

Next, charge your phone and save the PDF offline. Airport Wi-Fi fails at the worst moment. A saved copy doesn't need a signal. Put the printed copy in the same pocket as your passport.

Action: Confirm name and retrieval before you sleep. Our guide to checking in with a dummy ticket explains what agents see on their screens.

If you're at the airport with 2 to 3 hours left

Stay calm. You've got time to fix most things.

Agents check IATA's Timatic database to see what your passport needs. They're covering the airline, not judging you. So answer the question they actually asked.

Say: "I'm leaving on the date on this booking." Hand over the itinerary. Let them open the reference.

If the reference doesn't load, ask for a minute and message your provider from the queue. Don't argue.

One more thing. If you're connecting, the second airline may ask again. Keep the same documents handy and show them the same way. Don't switch to a new booking mid-journey unless you have to, because a changed name or date creates fresh questions.

Action: Show the reference on the airline site first, the PDF second.

If the desk says no

This is the tight spot. Slow down.

Ask one clear question: "What exactly do you need to see?" Sometimes it's a different kind of proof. Sometimes it's a name correction. Sometimes the agent just wants a supervisor to approve it.

Short sentences help. Be polite. Ask for the supervisor if the first agent can't resolve it.

If you plan to leave by land, say so, but expect pushback. A bus plan can't be checked on a screen. Our walkthrough on leaving by land at check-in covers that case.

Action: Ask what they need, then fix that one thing.

If they've already refused you

Breathe. This isn't the end of the trip.

Separate two decisions. The airline decides whether it will carry you. Immigration decides whether you can enter. Don't mix them up when you talk to anyone.

Ask the agent what changed their mind. If it's a document, you may be able to supply it. If it's a rule, ask whether another route or another day would work.

Keep your documents together. Take a photo of the refusal reason if they'll give you one.

Talk to the airline's own staff before anyone else. Their desk or call line can often see notes on your booking. Keep every message short and factual: your name, your flight, the document in question. Long stories slow people down.

Action: Get the reason in plain words, then decide: fix, rebook, or reroute.

Frequently asked questions

Does Fiji require an onward ticket?

It depends on your nationality, and rules change. Read the current government advice for your passport before you book.

Can I use a bus or boat as proof?

Airline desks usually can't verify that. A flight booking they can look up is safer.

What if my booking disappears overnight?

Ask your provider to reissue it. Do that at home, not at the counter.

Sort the booking, check the name, and you're done. Get your onward ticket now.