You're flying to Laos and the airline wants proof you'll leave. Fix it first, read the reasons later. The UK government's entry page for Laos shows the current visa and passport conditions, and you should open it now. Then pick the section below that matches how much time you have.

A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. That's what you need.

If you have a week or more

You're in the best position. Use the time.

Open the UK foreign travel advice for Laos. It covers visa and passport conditions for UK passport holders. Other nationalities should check their own government's advice.

Next, ask your airline what it asks for on your route. Airlines work from IATA's Timatic data, and their staff follow what it shows.

Then book your exit proof. Choose a departure from Laos that fits the trip you'd describe aloud. Wattay in Vientiane and Luang Prabang are the obvious airports for an air exit.

Action: Book a verifiable reservation today, then check its status three days before you fly.

If you have a day

Less time, same job. Cut the research and do the essentials.

  1. Check the entry page for your passport.
  2. Book an exit that leaves Laos on a sensible date.
  3. Match the name to your passport exactly.
  4. Save the PDF to your phone.
  5. Print a copy.

Don't overthink the date. Pick one that sits inside whatever stay the entry page allows, and one that fits your route.

Action: Get the booking confirmed and the reference in your hand before you go to bed.

If you're at the check-in desk

Stay calm. Short sentences help here.

Tell the agent you have an onward booking. Show the reference. Let them look it up. That's what a real PNR allows. A made-up PDF can't be checked, and agents know it.

If you haven't got one yet, ask how long you have before the desk closes. Then book on your phone, right there. A reservation can be issued in minutes. Get Dummy Ticket sends the confirmation by email, so keep your inbox open.

Don't argue about the rule. The agent didn't write it. Ask what document they need, and give them that.

Action: Book on your phone, show the reference, and ask the agent to re-check the system.

If you're arriving by land

No airline desk, but officers can still ask how you'll leave. A land crossing doesn't remove the question.

Have a clear answer ready. A verifiable exit booking gives you something to show. Pair it with an accommodation record whose dates agree.

If the officer asks why you booked a flight you may not take, tell the truth: it's your proof of a way out. Keep your tone plain. You're not hiding anything.

Action: Keep the booking open on your phone, offline, before you reach the border post.

If they've already refused you

This is the hard one. Slow down.

First, ask what exactly was missing. Was it the exit proof, the visa, or something else? Don't guess. A supervisor can often tell you.

Second, if the gap is an exit booking, get one now. Ask whether the airline will let you try again on the same flight, or whether you need a later one. Policies differ, and you'll need to ask.

Third, keep every document and note the time. If you need to talk to the airline later, a record helps.

This is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. For your own case, ask the airline or the relevant embassy.

Action: Ask the supervisor what is missing, fix that one thing, and request a re-check.

If you only have an hour

Somewhere between a day and the desk, there's the hour before you leave for the airport. Use it well.

Skip the long reading. Open the entry page, scan for anything about your passport, and close it. Then book the exit reservation. Check the spelling of your name twice. Check the date once.

Next, send the confirmation to yourself in two places. Your email app and your phone's files. If one fails, the other won't.

Last, charge your phone and pack the printout. Airport wifi is slow when you need it most.

Action: Book, double-check the name, save two copies, and leave for the airport.

Before your next trip

Rules vary by passport, and they change. A friend's experience last month isn't a guarantee for you.

Check the official page close to your flight date. Check the reservation status the day before. Keep a printed copy. That's the routine.

If you'd like to see how the same checks work in a heavily travelled destination, our guide on whether Thailand needs an onward ticket walks through it. And to compare a reservation with a paid fare, see our dummy ticket or real ticket checkpoints.

Short on time? Book your onward reservation now.