Your flight to Hong Kong boards soon, and the desk wants proof you're leaving. Don't panic. A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. Here is what to do, sorted by how much time you have. Each window ends with one action.

If you have a day or more

Start with the facts. Entry rules for Hong Kong depend on your passport. Read the official page for yours. Britons can use the UK government's Hong Kong entry requirements, and other governments publish their own.

Then ask your airline what it checks. Many carriers verify an exit plan at check-in because they may have to carry you back if you're refused. The IATA Timatic reference is what many of them use.

Now plan the exit. Pick a destination that fits your trip. Make sure the dates sit inside the stay you expect to be allowed. Use your passport name exactly.

Action: write down your exit city, date and passport name, then arrange the booking.

If you have a few hours

You can still fix this. Keep it simple.

Arrange the reservation first, then check three things. The name matches your passport. The dates make sense. The confirmation email has arrived with a code you can search.

Next, save the PDF to your phone and make sure it opens offline. Airport wifi is unreliable. If there's a printer at the airport, print one copy.

Don't wait until you're in the queue. Our guide to fixing a dummy ticket hold when the clock is running explains why a held reservation has a limited life, so you want it live when the agent looks.

Action: confirm the code, save an offline copy, then walk to the desk early.

If you're at the desk now

Stay calm. Short sentences work best.

Say where you're flying. Offer the booking. Answer only what's asked. Don't explain your whole itinerary.

If the agent can't find the record, give your surname and confirmation code and ask for a second search. Systems lag. A missing record is often a lookup problem, not a refusal.

Be accurate about what you hold. Say you have an onward booking. Don't claim it's a flight you've paid for and will definitely take if that isn't true.

Action: hand over the code and surname, then wait for the second search.

If the agent says no

Ask what exactly is missing. Is it the booking, the name, or the date? The answer tells you the fix.

If it's a name mismatch, you need a corrected reservation. If the date is wrong, you need new dates. If the agent wants a different kind of proof, ask what the airline accepts and whether a supervisor can confirm.

Keep your tone level. Desk agents apply airline policy and rarely change it on the spot. Argue the point afterwards, in writing, with the airline.

You may also need to rebook the flight to Hong Kong if you miss it. That is a separate matter from your onward proof.

Action: ask for the specific reason, then fix that one thing.

If they've already refused you

Step away from the desk so the queue can move. Then act in order.

  1. Ask for the refusal reason in writing or a note.
  2. Check the official entry page for your passport once more.
  3. Fix the single issue. Name, date or route.
  4. Ask about the next available flight and the change fee, if any.

Don't buy a second ticket in a panic. A calm hour gets you further than a rushed purchase. Our piece on whether an airline will cancel a held onward ticket covers what can happen to a reservation while you sort this out.

Action: get the reason, fix one thing, then ask for the next flight.

After you land

Keep the booking until you've cleared entry. You may be asked about it again, and you may need it for your next flight out.

Plan the next hop now. A trip that ends at Hong Kong needs its own exit proof when you leave for the next country. Repeat the same steps, in the same order.

Action: save every document in one folder, offline.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dummy ticket accepted everywhere?

No. Acceptance depends on the airline and the destination. Ask your carrier before you fly.

How early should I arrange it?

Early enough to be live on the day, and early enough to correct a typo. A few days ahead is sensible.

Do I need a hotel booking too?

Often an airline or officer asks about both. They're separate questions. A first-night booking is usually enough to show you have somewhere to go.

When you need one, get your onward booking from the booking page and keep the code on you.