I arrive on Sept.30 and have a return ticket booked for mid-March. I intend to enter visa exempt then do border runs or a visa run from a neighbouring country once my 30+30 days are up. Do I need an onward ticket that is earlier than that as a precaution to show at border control when I arrive in BKK? If so, what date should I choose?  

it's not really immigration that worries about the flight out within 30 days of arrival, but the airline may deny boarding.

The airline you travel on to here is more likely to want to see a ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival than immigration.

Land border crossing do not ask for one.

7 minutes ago, Virtualrecluse said:

Do I need an onward ticket that is earlier than that as a precaution to show at border control when I arrive in BKK?

Won't be an issue at immigration when arrive in Thailand.

The airline at departure may request one 

Plenty of threads about your options for onward flight within 30 days. 

So, if Qatar request one, even tho my return is with them in March, I may need an onward ticket with another airline within the 30 days?

I'm arriving 11 Oct with a return 75 days later (45 days visa exempt + 30 days extension)

 

I'm not concerned at all as Airline has a paid ticket should I be very unlikely denied entry ($70 change booking fee)

 

1 hour ago, Virtualrecluse said:

So, if Qatar request one, even tho my return is with them in March, I may need an onward ticket with another airline within the 30 days?

Yes

Book a flight with onwardticket.com the day before you travel, make the flight from Bangkok to Phnom Penh ( for example ) and the booking date 28 days in advance ( another example ).

It will cost you US$14 and using the 48 hours option will lose validity 2 days later so you don’t have to cancel booking. It is a bona fide booking on a bona fide flight and can be checked by airline staff, you can print out details if you want.

 

As stated earlier it is the airline at check in who might request the onward flight details and not immigration in BKK.

15 hours ago, Virtualrecluse said:

So, if Qatar request one, even tho my return is with them in March, I may need an onward ticket with another airline within the 30 days?

@Andrew Dwyer outlined the option of "rent a ticket" and that works fine.

 

Another option is to attend check-in with your return ticket.

If the airline requires an onward flight and is firm you can step away from counter and book cheapest onward flight. approx 1500baht.

Obviously you would require internet access. 

Screenshot of flight with confirmed payment is fine.

As confirmed by you experts, on check-in in Europe I was indeed asked (by Qatar) for a return within the 30-day exempt entrance method I chose to enter even tho' my actual return with Qatar was for March 2023. Fortunately, I had bought a ticket via onwardticket.com.

Issue solved.

Thank you so much

On 9/24/2022 at 7:42 AM, DrJack54 said:

@Andrew Dwyer outlined the option of "rent a ticket" and that works fine.

 

Another option is to attend check-in with your return ticket.

If the airline requires an onward flight and is firm you can step away from counter and book cheapest onward flight. approx 1500baht.

Obviously you would require internet access. 

Screenshot of flight with confirmed payment is fine.

If he has internet access and not in rush to board, he can book a "rent a ticket" from the recommended $14 shop.  A confirmation email shows up almost immediately, and the booking shows on the airline website within five minutes.  (my experience - one data point)

8 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

If he has internet access and not in rush to board, he can book a "rent a ticket" from the recommended $14 shop.  A confirmation email shows up almost immediately, and the booking shows on the airline website within five minutes.  (my experience - one data point)

Yes that would be an option.

I guess the step away book real throw away ticket was a very quick solution.

I just recently booked a ticket Bangkok to Saigon.

Took a minute.