There's a big difference between ALL nationalities are checked for visa requirements AND any nationals NOT eligible for 30 days visa exemption have the necessary visa prior to departure.
But what happens in practice at one airport may not necessarily happen at another. We all know that.
friendly-checkingirl, your input has been very valuable, so I'm not intending to offend you, just to clarify matters.
So, if I now understand you correctly, you WILL allow people with a UK passport (or any of those countries on the 30 day visa exempt list) to board a flight to Thailand if they have a one way ticket but no visa, as long as their passport has the required 6 months? If so, does the airline therefore have the nod from the Thai Govt to do this, because obviously you are not going to allow it off your own back and risk a fine of $3000 - $8000 per passenger? And if so, why is your airline at your base better informed than other airlines? Shouldn't they all have exactly the same information? As I understand Thai Immigration rules, the 30 day visa-exemption applies only if the pax can supply evidence of onward travel, and since this is never checked on arrival in Thailand it surpises many that quite a few airlines have been policing this themselves at check-in for the flight to Thailand. If you are correct, then they should not be doing this.
What am I missing here?
I understand about the passport validity rule and it amazes me that any pax would still turn up with one that doesn't have at least 6 months.
BangkokBoy and Westwood I don't know what is is you don't understand. I don't know how to re-phrase without just repeating myself so I'll just answer your questions.
So, if I now understand you correctly, you WILL allow people with a UK passport (or any of those countries on the 30 day visa exempt list) to board a flight to Thailand if they have a one way ticket but no visa, as long as their passport has the required 6 months?
Correct.
If so, does the airline therefore have the nod from the Thai Govt to do this, because obviously you are not going to allow it off your own back and risk a fine of $3000 - $8000 per passenger?
All airlines are treated equally. My point exactly that the onward requirement is not checked at immigration and airlines will be informed prior to this rule suddenly being enforced.
And if so, why is your airline at your base better informed than other airlines? Shouldn't they all have exactly the same information? As I understand Thai Immigration rules, the 30 day visa-exemption applies only if the pax can supply evidence of onward travel, and since this is never checked on arrival in Thailand it surpises many that quite a few airlines have been policing this themselves at check-in for the flight to Thailand. If you are correct, then they should not be doing this.
All airlines have the same information, how they use it and why some are making this check is their choice but it is not necessary, as you have already understood the rule is not enforced at immigration.
Can somebody please tell me which airlines these are ??????
I repeat, no airline will risk the huge fines. We rarely get fined and then only because someone has missed a necessary visa prior to departure or passport expiry date but never because someone has no onward / return ticket even though this check is never made.
Additionally I think that because most passengers do have an onward / return ticket, it is very easy to assume that this has been checked whereas in reality it has not. Just because you present a ticket doesn't mean anyone looks at it.
I can see my experience is not going to be of any use to you here, I am not encouraging anyone to break any rules and you should all check-in as you see fit. I do however think you would all have an easier time of it if you stood at our counters :-)
Edited by: friendly_checkingirl
I don't know what airlines flying out of the UK check for onward travel, but I frequently fly to Thailand on Air Berlin, and I know for certain that they do check. I once had to convince a check-in agent that February had 28 days. :-D
And we've had numerous reports here and on other travel forums of pax denied boarding for not being able to prove onward travel, particularly with US and Australian carriers.
Maybe THAI can afford to be more lenient BECAUSE they're the flag carrier?
I'm flying with air India and have a visa, I spike to the embassy at hull & they said with a one way ticket & a visa this is fine..does everyone think this is correct?
Yes! The visa means the airline is not bound to comply with the regulations for visa exemption ie proof of onward travel.
Maybe THAI can afford to be more lenient BECAUSE they're the flag carrier?
billp We are not briefed to check onward / return tickets irrespective of whether the flight is with our own airline or THAI. This leads to the conclusion that the airlines simply do not run the risk of this particular fine at this present time. I don't think leniency enters into the equation when huge fines are at stake.
By the way, googling trying to find this rule you are all talking about I looked here
http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/newversion/visa/visa_exemption.html
At the risk of splitting hairs, the requirement is that the onward / return ticket to leave Thailand within 30 days is obtained but it does not state this has to be obtained necessarily BEFORE departure.
23# friendly checkin girl does specify she works at a European hub and these are the EU checkin rules.
As usual there is a great deal of urban legend and confusion probably brought about by the changes in rules by Thailand's immigration in 2006. I am not able to find this rule about onward travel and assumed it existed because of the number of agreeing members of TT.
It would explain why so many keep saying they have never been asked for their onward ticket?
26# I dont think you're splitting hairs checkin girl - I think you have resolved the confusion
Re #26 I think that may just be a sloppy translation out of Thai. The regulations posted by the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull are crystal clear, however:
Any person intending to enter Thailand under the ”Visa Exemption Rule” for a stay of either 30 days or 15 days must:-
...
hold a confirmed flight ticket to show they will be exiting Thailand within 30 days or 15 days of entry, as applicable.
Persons who do not meet conditions ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ and ‘d’ above must expect to be denied entry to Thailand under the ”Visa Exemption Rule”. They may find they will not even be allowed to board their flight to Thailand.
Accordingly persons who can not meet all of the above are advised to obtain a visa appropriate to their purpose of visit and length of stay.
(See: http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads-and-visas.aspx)
billp does your consulate trump my embassy :-) I think under hierarchy rules I win :-)
Seriously though I suspect the Thai government realised a long time ago that this is a rule that is impossible to enforce. Just because someone has an onward / return ticket it is absolutely no guarantee that they will use it and leave the country in a timely manner. It's a total waste of time which I suspect is why it has become obsolete. Although a number of airlines realise this it seems others simply haven't. All I can say is choose your airline carefully.