It never occurs to me that the agent will check if I have return or not. I have flown one way to Asia, US and Europe before. Guess I was just lucky.
Agreed that gate agent should have offered alternatives, instead of just saying "can't do it". It is kinda rude to just let the customer hanging.

I remain amused by the attitude of many that (a) "I did not know of that rule, and I didn't bother to check, so it cannot possibly apply to me!", or (b) "I'm quicker, smarter, faster or have done this in the past, so the rule is meaningless and not applicable to me!"

In this life or another the avoidance of Chicken Sh*t rules is practically impossible, even for those who cower under their beds waiting for the flop-flop of black helo blades. But it's not the existence or level of CS within the rule that counts, or the intent of those who composed it (or of those empowered to enforce it). It's there, and as with school zone speeding or purchasing illegal substances from a seller previously unknown, this may be your day in the barrel!

And you really are not alone

The problem is that there are hundreds of rules and regulations. An airline might choose not to be 100% strict as long as they don't suffer. But if immigrations in a certain country enforces rules and fines the airline, you can be sure that the airline will in turn be stricter.

This changes every year and it doesn't make the life of a traveller easier. The best advice is to be sure that you have all papers in order.

/ 17APR09 / 2153 UTC

National U.S.A. (US) /Embarkation U.S.A. (US)
Destination Hong Kong (SAR China) (HK)

Hong Kong (SAR China) (HK)

Passport required.
- Passport and/or passport replacing travel documents must be
valid for at least one month after the period of the
intended stay.

Visa required, except for A stay of max. 3 months to nationals

of U.S.A..
Visa required, except for A max. stay of 2 months, for holders
of a Hong Kong (SAR China) "Travel Pass"
For details, click here
Additional Information:

- Admission and/or transit will be refused to any national
holding a passport issued by Kiribati and endorsed
N-Kiribati or Investor .

- All visitors must hold:
- onward or return tickets, except when in transit to either
mainland China (People's Rep.) or Macao (SAR China);
- all documents required for next destination and sufficient
funds to cover their stay in Hong Kong.

----
It all boils down how the OP can prove that his intend was to transit to mainland China.

As others have suggested OP should have just bought a fully refundable ticket out of HKG on the spot and be done with this.

1) Write on a piece of paper. "If I am refused entry into country X because I do not have an onward ticket, I agree that carrier Y is not responsible and I will pay all possible costs including fines and repatriation" sign it and hand it to a manager.

2) In that same situation, ask to buy a full fare refundable ticket to Manila, Taipei, Shanghai, or wherever and then refund it.

You also may want to have it notarized.

Tough to do at the check-in counter.

Our airline actually has pre-printed "FOI"s (Form Of Indemnity) at the checkin counter for situations like this. Fill it out, sign it and off you go.

Only had one person ever deported after filling out an FOI form and it turns out he had a previous history of criminal activity in the destination country so would have been inadmissable even with a return ticket. He paid up for his return flight without any hassles.

UA was within their rights to deny boarding. Airlines are fined heavily if they transport a pax who doesn't have the proper docs. It is incumbent on the traveler to educate themselves with the immigration policy of their destination, and to make sure their affairs are in order.

Of course, the OP could do something strange and unusual these days, and perhaps just make sure that they are in compliance with entry rules for their destination. I don't know...just a thought.

Now, you are just talking crazy....

I wonder how much the fine is for an airline that is fined for the compliance violations? Anyone know?

Wharvey, Good question, the answer for HKG is:

- Passengers arriving without the required documents or with
incomplete or expired documents, may be refused entry and a
fine of HKD 10,000.- will be imposed on the transporting
carrier. The carrier will be responsible for returning
passenger to point of embarkation or place of origin.

Again, this sort of thing is quite easily avoided if you have your brains about you.

Thanks Hfly,

WOW... higher than I expected. I know if I was an airline employee I would NEVER want to have a passenger returned on my watch!

I am also surprised at how little preparation some people do before international flights. A number of years ago when I was going to Shanghai, there was a person who was not allowed to board. He was shocked that he needed a visa to be in China.

1290 USD at current exchange rates.

I do wonder, though, why the valid PRC visa wasn't enough proof for UA you wouldn't be staying in HKG.

From the rules

There'd have been your argument if you'd been forced to put up a fight.

Two very easy solutions

1. As mentioned earlier buy a full fare refundable ticket out of the country. Usually it will be most economical to buy this to a neighboring country.

2. If you go in and out of the destination country often, carry a bus ticket to a bordering country in your wallet. In my experience these usually cost around $10. This does not have to be from the city you land in, just between two border cities.

Based on personal experience of a co-worker, you will likely not be allowed to purchase a return ticket if stopped at immigration entering your destination.

Good point, just pop into TST East and but a RT ticket to Lo Wu and keep it in your wallet. Should be enough to satisfy the rules to the letter.