leosmith

What this thread has made clear is that what the airline will do and immigration will do are variable, depending on the route, airline, country, moods of the officers involved, etc. Let me just add to our shared experiences by saying what actually happened yesterday when I flew from Seoul to BKK on Korean Air. I checked in online, then went to the airport. At the airport, the carrier checked my passport and boarding pass them made me tag my own bags at a kiosk. Of course, I needed to show the boarding pass and passport at security and at the gate, but that was it - no ongoing ticket or length of stay questions. At immigration in BKK they wanted to see the boarding pass that I had just used, asked me how long I'd stay and wanted to see my accommodation confirmation. So I wasted $12, but it was well worth the peace of mind.

Just a reminder - I already have this. Technically, I have purchased a reservation for a ticket, or as some say, I have rented a ticket, for this price. I always do this because it is much cheaper than a "normal" cheap ticket (hard to find one for less that $50 ime) or reserving a ticket then cancelling/getting a refund (hard to escape with fees less than $50 ime). Please read before you post - I already have one. Also, I'm not on a round trip ticket. I have an onward ticket 58 days out. no, this is more expensive than what I've already done Per my OP, I have a real ongoing ticket (as opposed to a return ticket) 58 days out. Sorry if it wasn't obvious that l intend to get the extension just before the 30 day mark. Maybe you have some special deal with Expedia, but when I checked into this in the past, the refund/cancellation fees were far more expensive than the $12 I spent. You are right - I should have said that my second question was about Thai immigration, not boarding in Korea. But I do not have a return flight on the same airline; not sure where you go that. I have an actual ongoing ticket out in 58 days on another airline. The rest of what you wrote is probably right; I'll stop worrying about Thai immigration.

Agreed; I bought one already for $12 usd. This return flight is in 25 days. I'm probably overthinking it, but if they ask me how long I'm going to stay, do I say 25 days per that ticket, or 58 days per my condo booking receipt?

I'm a US citizen, going to enter Thailand 2 days from now, by commercial aircraft, planning to stay 58 days, for tourism. I don't have a tourist visa; I plan to extend. I have a real ongoing ticket, but I read a post somewhere of someone in my position recently being turned away by the airline before departure because he did not have an ongoing ticket leaving within 30 days. Am I ok as is - tell them I plan on staying 58 days, and show the ongoing ticket if asked? Or should I claim less than 30 days and get a "best onward ticket" that leaves at that time?

I did it in February; didn't know that it was a temporary covid thing.

I'm a US citizen interested in entering Thailand in December of this year, holiday only. My plan was to get an extension after 45 days, but it seems some sites are saying the exemption is only 30 days now. True or false?

Really? Others have told me it wouldn't be a problem in my case. I've been visiting Thailand as a tourist once a year (except Covid years) since 2003, about 3 months/visit. Never overstayed, and no intention to live here; I'll return to the US after the 45 days.

If I go by air, can I stay in-transit and not pass through customs until I return to Thailand?

Thanks very much for the warning. Ko Lipe and Bali out for sure then.

I'm a US citizen in Pattaya, currently on a 30 day extension to my 45 day exempt stay. I was planning to go to Koh Lipe for a few days via Malasia and return for another 45 days, but those plans fell through, so I'm considering other options. I might end up just doing a very quick border bounce. In your opinion, which is the fastest, which is the cheapest, and which is the most convenient border bounce from Pattaya?

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that he got the extension before the deadline. The TM30 that he planned to use, for the place he stayed over a month, only went to the 2nd, which caused the panic. But the passport was stamped for the 4th, so I guess they were able to use the most recent TM30 and get it done in time (he did it through a service, so not sure exactly what they did regarding TM30s). Thanks for your help!

Is it still possible to pay at immigration when exiting the country (he only needs a few days), or would that make returning in the future difficult?

Just got this question from a friend, US citizen, tourist still in his 45 day exempt period, in Pattaya now: "How bad is it if I apply for the extension a day or two after my entry period expires? Mine expires on the 2nd, but it sounds like the 3rd is the earliest I can apply."

Koh Lipe, not Lepi - typo or a different place? It was a snorkeling paradise in Jan of 2020 - has it changed? Not much else to do there, so I guess I see your point if you don't like that.

I've been to Thailand many times; once per year, 3 months per visit, for about 16 consecutive years before the pandemic. But Nov 9 was the first time I've been admitted here in about 3 years. Why would arriving by land be safer?