Taiwan Luthiers wrote:I have heard that airlines will check them and won't let you board unless you have a return ticket if you're going without a visa, because the airline has to return you at their expense if you have been denied entry or something.
Airlines are subject to enormous fines for carrying a passenger to a country for which they do not hold proper documents, which includes a "return or onward" ticket.
Passengers are routinely denied boarding if they don't have a "return or onward ticket". A visitor to every country I ever worked with in my 20 years in the travel business, not only Taiwan, needs a "return or onward ticket", according to their own laws. As a matter of business, airlines don't want that risk.
I've never, ever been asked to produce one by an immigration officer, nor have any of my clients ever reported to me they were asked by immigration, but airlines ask. I am always asked by the airline at check-in if they can not see the return ticket in their computer. I worked 5 years for AA in MIA, and it was their policy.
Are there cases when the airline won't ask/require it? Of course. A carrier based in the country to which you are traveling is more likely to let it slide because their own government is less likely to fine them. Airport agents sometimes overlook the rule.
Do you want to take the chance? Up to you, but understand the risk that the airline won't board you.
