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Not Allowed to Fly with a One Way Ticket! Why!?
So you're at the ticket window.. excited and apprehensive about the 14 hour flight to China and eager to shed the weight of your luggage in place of a hard waiting room seat.. You heft your luggage unto the scale, 49.9 lbs, Whew! That was close! Not so lucky with the next one though, 51 lbs, you're gonna have to dump out some of those textbooks you were bringing for the children..
You hand the ticket clerk your confirmation # and passport..
"I'm sorry miss, but we cannot allow you to board this flight on a one way ticket. "
What! How could this be!? I mean, why would your travel agent have issued you the one way ticket and the airlines forbid you to check in? It doesn't make any sense! And now if you want to go on your trip, you're going to have to dig deep and pull out your emergency cash to fund getting there.. you plead with the ticket clerk to let you on board.. you try sweetness.. shouting.. apologies.. But they're not letting you on the plane.. People behind you are starting to roll their eyes and tsk their tongues, pressing you to make a decision.
What went wrong?
Earlier this year, United was awarded a coveted route from Dullas Washington DC to Beijing China. Shortly afterwards, the Chinese government placed a condition on air carriers making them liable and responsible to absorb the cost of flying back any person coming to China who overstays their visa or is found to be working illegally, and who arrived on a one-way ticket.
What does this mean?
In a nutshell, air carriers are scrutinizing visas like never before.
Will it happen to me?
It doesn't happen to everyone, but you should be aware that it can happen.
If you have a Z - Working Type Visa, then you also were given two documents. One from the Public Security Bureau, and the other from SAFEA. One illustrates the term off your employment and where you are to be employed, the other illustrates you qualify for Foreign Expert Status, the SAFEA standard for the position you accepted.
People with Z visas will not generally experience this problem at the check-in counter and if you do, its a good idea to have those documents with you. Usually it is an inexperienced ticket agent who does not know the difference between an L. F. or Z visa.
Teaching on a Tourist or Business Visa
For those ESL teachers seeking employment in China and are going the route of taking a TEFL program in China, or going out on a L or F visa. You will most certainly be at risk of being rejected for boarding, and there is no amount of crying or pleading your case that will get you through the door. Plan ahead, prepare for this situation now, and above all - MAKE SURE YOU OBTAIN A LEGAL WORKING VISA.
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