Can AirAsia deny boarding in this case?

[ubonjoe]

My investigations say you need 6 month validity , I think you are saying you need 6 month validity and the thai consulate says you need 6 month validity( although you say Amsterdam consulate is wrong?) . I think we all agree he needs 6 months validity if he wants to go home via BKK.

I never said 6 months validity was needed when entering Thailand. I trust the info on the IATA data base info over an honorary consulates website information.

I did say he would need 6 months validly to counter your suggestion of getting a transit visa,

Also your suggestion he could get an extension of his passport is wrong as stated by others.

[thepool]

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My investigations say you need 6 month validity , I think you are saying you need 6 month validity and the thai consulate says you need 6 month validity( although you say Amsterdam consulate is wrong?) . I think we all agree he needs 6 months validity if he wants to go home via BKK.

A person with sufficient passport validly to cover a proposed stay will be allowed to enter Thailand .

[CNXBKKMAN]

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My investigations say you need 6 month validity , I think you are saying you need 6 month validity and the thai consulate says you need 6 month validity( although you say Amsterdam consulate is wrong?) . I think we all agree he needs 6 months validity if he wants to go home via BKK.

A person with sufficient passport validly to cover a proposed stay will be allowed to enter Thailand .

Just to be clear what validity does a Dutch passport holder need on his passport to enter Thailand and get 30 days on arrival without a visa.? My advice is 6 months validity. Ubonjoe is saying ...." I never said 6 months.." And the pool says he only needs "sufficient" which is not really an answer but quite a good joke. My inputs are only my interpretations only and trying to help the op to get to the bottom of it.

[Mario2008]

You have been given the link to the IATA database, which lists the requiremetns. The information in there is what the airlines depends on when mking a decison to let you board or not and in (more than) 99% of cases accurate.

For visa exempt entry for a Dutch National the passport must be valid for the intended duration of stay (of 30 days).

[djhotsox]

Yes they can.

If the country you are visiting requires the passport holder of your country to have at least 6 months remaining in their passport, the country you are trying to enter may refuse your entry.

AirAsia is just covering their arse in case they send you back, they do not want to pay the airfare to do so.

If you were flying back to your own country it's no problem. The problem arises trying to enter Cambodia. If they refuse you and send you back the Thais have the right to refuse you also....you will end up like the guy in the Tom Hanks movie stuck in the airport!

AirAsia will require you to sign a letter to say that you will pay all expenses incurred if refused entry, that's all.

Make sure you show up in Cambodia with the onward ticket to show Immigration there though.

[CNXBKKMAN]

Thank you Mario and apologies to ubonjoe I got it wrong. It's crystal clear on that star alliance link. I don't know what I clicked on earlier but it did not present the info in as clear. It seems Bod is fine.

[thepool]

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Thank you Mario and apologies to ubonjoe I got it wrong. It's crystal clear on that star alliance link. I don't know what I clicked on earlier but it did not present the info in as clear. It seems Bod is fine.

Good to see an apology.

Thank you

Experienced contributors here rarely if ever give bad advice and if a question is asked about which little or nothing is known that is acknowledged.

It is the inexperienced who jump into deep water and then discover they cannot swim !

[yankee99]

Although its been 4 1/2 years I can say that Cathay pacific would not let me board to enter Thailand as I had less then 6 months on my USA passport.

[ubonjoe]

Although its been 4 1/2 years I can say that Cathay pacific would not let me board to enter Thailand as I had less then 6 months on my USA passport.

The rules may of been changed since then. But I once entered the country with a passport that had lees than 6 months remaining well before then.

[Maroon Watcher]

International Law States you cannot leave any country (Including your own)
unless you have 6 months left of passport ON RETURN.

(They should Not let you board, but the world is not flat
and people have returned without a passport but don't try your luck)

I confirmed this recently for Philippines -
if required, you can extend the passport rather than renew.

Best contact your own embassy - Not Thai immigration

[ubonjoe]

International Law States you cannot leave any country (Including your own)

unless you have 6 months left of passport ON RETURN.

(They should Not let you board, but the world is not flat

and people have returned without a passport but don't try your luck)

I confirmed this recently for Philippines -

if required, you can extend the passport rather than renew.

Best contact your own embassy - Not Thai immigration

There is no such law that states you need 6 months on your passport to travel. If you think there is then please find it and post it.

The Philippines does require 6 months remaining on a a passport to enter.

Most countries including the Netherlands do no extend passports.

[thepool]

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Although its been 4 1/2 years I can say that Cathay pacific would not let me board to enter Thailand as I had less then 6 months on my USA passport.

You were being subject to the "Airline" rules ---------maybe not the same as required for entry to Thailand.

Many (most) countries require a 6 month passport validity as a pre requirement for entry. Thailand , I suspect is among the very few who do not insist on this condition.

[gleeglee]

They can refuse to board anyone, for any reason. The question is, will they? What Air Asia Bangkok says and what their staff in Phnom Penh will do are not necessarily the same thing. I generally find them more flexible in PP than in Bkk.

That you have an onward ticket to the Netherlands should help. Suggest when you board, you show the onward ticket and tell them your destination is the Netherlands. If you are checking in luggage, make sure you have anything you need prior to arrival in the Netherlands with you in your carry on, in case they are able to check your luggage through (they probably will not be able to, but just in case).

No guarantee, but my guess is you'll be able to board.

It is the Airlines responsibility and is a massive fine for them if they allow you to fly.

[plazot11]

You could print out the info you will get by entering the required info on this webpage that will give info from IATA database, http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/.

This is the website I checked before and convinced me not to worry.

So, basically AirAsia is in the wrong according to the rules of Thai Immigration, or do I miss something?

The website above has the entry requirements for all nationalities going to all destinations and transit points enroute. Depending on the passport held and where you are going it can be very clear or quite complicated and you have to read and reread the paragraphs. It's legal stuff. It's in English and you may be non native English speaker trying to understand the "mumbo jumbo" like the air Asia staff.

The requirements say for a Dutch passport destination Thailand "passport must be valid for intended length of stay". So easy the passport is valid for the 1 day stay before leaving plus you have the onward ticket . The next bit says "normal passports , emergency passports....must be valid for at least 6 months...." Which seems to contradict the first information. It's not clear whether its just the emergency passport/ travel documents have to be valid for 6 months or whether this is a requirement for a normal passport as well?

KLM will know the exact answer, a decent Dutch travel agent will know , possibly there is a Dutch government website with travel advice for its citizens will have the the correct interpretation also. There should be a Thai government website with clear entry requirements also. If you don't meet the entry requirements you normally will denied boarding and its you own fault.

From an air Asia's perspective you give them usd100 for an ticket and if they take you somewhere with wrong documents they get fined usd xxxx. So they make a big loss and some check-in agent is looking for a new job! This is why they seem super cautious or fearful of letting you on the flight.

Bod I just went on the royal thai consulate Amsterdam website and clicked on the visa info and its in Dutch but I think it says you need 6 month validity to get 30 day on arrival. You might need a new passport. If I were in your position however I may consider saying to air Asia that you have an onward flight and you will remain airside at BKK airport "in transit" and therefore won't be "entering Thailand". This will only work if you have no baggage! Or go to the thai consulate in Phnom Penh and ask for a transit visa this may have more relaxed requirements? Or see if Dutch consulate will extend you passport? Or get new passport from them?

Good Advice. Beware Air Asia staff make up their own rules when they do not understand. They do not know what is an Australian Temporary Resident Visa Sub Class 461 and refused to allow my partner to board. She missed her flight. My partner refused to leave the airport and finally an Immigration Officer listened and understood a 461 visa and called the Air Asia Manager to fix the problem. Air Asia booked her on another flight but refused to accept they were in the wrong. AIR ASIA ARROGANCE IN THE EXTREME. We now refuse to fly Air Asia.

[shaurene]

The thing is you are flying to your country so it will be ok there will be no rule to have your passport valid for 6 months, if you are coming from Holland to Thailand that is different you will then need valid passport for 6 months.

[Thighlander]

Seems like you will need a visa for Cambodia. Why not apply online? It was surprisingly efficient for me. I even sent in the photo to see if it would work and they got back to me in one day...no pompom. I had some &lt;deleted&gt; with ual telling me I couldn't board because I needed a visa to transit through Beijing....Not!

[ubonjoe]

The thing is you are flying to your country so it will be ok there will be no rule to have your passport valid for 6 months, if you are coming from Holland to Thailand that is different you will then need valid passport for 6 months.

As has been written several time in this topic. For a person from the Netherlands only passport validity for length of stay is needed not 6 months.

[rudolfvaselino]

Officially your ppt has to be valid for 6 months.

"......Ten minste zes maanden geldig zijn bij inreis en bij een lang verblijf geldig zijn gedurende de

hele periode van het verblijf...." (http://cibtvisas.nl/).

I often had to enter wrong dates in the Air Asia website and it never gave me problems. Like my company pays my tickets but when taking my 5 year old child it is impossible to make a separate booking for him (which I can't claim at our company). Air Asia doesn't give children reduction anyway so many times I made my son 'older' when making the booking online and with Air Asia web-check in.

Once you are onboard, the Thai Immigration will not deny you entering if the ppt is not valid for more than 6 months.

Especially if you can show you elave the Kingdom within a few days.

No worries, just perform a web check in and make your ppt a few months 'younger'.

[ubonjoe]

Officially your ppt has to be valid for 6 months.

"......Ten minste zes maanden geldig zijn bij inreis en bij een lang verblijf geldig zijn gedurende de

hele periode van het verblijf...." (http://cibtvisas.nl/).

I often had to enter wrong dates in the Air Asia website and it never gave me problems. Like my company pays my tickets but when taking my 5 year old child it is impossible to make a separate booking for him (which I can't claim at our company). Air Asia doesn't give children reduction anyway so many times I made my son 'older' when making the booking online and with Air Asia web-check in.

Once you are onboard, the Thai Immigration will not deny you entering if the ppt is not valid for more than 6 months.

Especially if you can show you elave the Kingdom within a few days.

No worries, just perform a web check in and make your ppt a few months 'younger'.

You should go back read all the previous posts and the info from the the IATA data base that says six months is not needed.

[Jonmarleesco]

I believe there is a 6-month validity requirement when applying for a visa, which I imagine would be irrespective of your nationality. For an Air Asia flight, I have no idea, but perhaps they are applying the visa rules.

[thurien]

<How can I solve this problem?>

@bod: get yourself a new passport

[bra]

For a start Air Asia is not a member of IATA, so the IATA information does not apply. The Thai embassy Web Site in Australia states that for visa exempt countries (Australia, The Netherlands, US etc, or for those applying for a Visa, 6 months passport validity is required. This is a quote for the Tourist Visa Exempt

"Important note for TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

- You are recommended to have A ROUND TRIP AIR TICKET within the period for each entry to prove the departure from Thailand".

- Please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months.

So the OP DOES need a passport with 6 months validity. Air Asia are correct, and can refuse to carry you. If you are refused entry into Thailand they are obliged to take you back - and meet the expense if you don't.

Either get a new passport or don't make a stop over in Bangkok. If you are in transit at the airport (don't go through immigration) you don't need any visa of any sort will be OK.

Of course many posters have "gotten away with it" but there is no certainty.

[ubonjoe]

<How can I solve this problem?>

@bod: get yourself a new passport

There is no problem. Your passport validity if fine according to the IATA data base.

Link I posted earlier on Air Asia website .http://www.airasia.com/ot/en/passport-and-visas.page

Use this link that is posted on that page

For more information, read more at

IATA Travel Centre - Passport, Visa & Health travel document requirements

Enter the required info and you will get this using a passport validity of 5 months (I used Aug. 31st, 2014 for validity date)

Summary

Yes, The documentation you hold is sufficient based on your details and the itinerary provided.

[CNXBKKMAN]

I think the IATA info is correct. They monitor passport visa requirements to a fine degree daily for all passports for all destinations and transit points daily. It's their business. However it wouldn't surprise me if the check-in staff made a mistake.

One thing is certain is when your passport approaches the final 6 months validity it's time to get a new one to give you a stress free life and worry free check-in.

[callcharlie2001]

Regarding entering Thailand, remember that Air Asia flies into Don Mueang, while KLM flies out of "swampy", so he will need to enter the country to change airports.

[ubonjoe]

For a start Air Asia is not a member of IATA, so the IATA information does not apply. The Thai embassy Web Site in Australia states that for visa exempt countries (Australia, The Netherlands, US etc, or for those applying for a Visa, 6 months passport validity is required. This is a quote for the Tourist Visa Exempt

"Important note for TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

- You are recommended to have A ROUND TRIP AIR TICKET within the period for each entry to prove the departure from Thailand".

- Please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months.

So the OP DOES need a passport with 6 months validity. Air Asia are correct, and can refuse to carry you. If you are refused entry into Thailand they are obliged to take you back - and meet the expense if you don't.

Either get a new passport or don't make a stop over in Bangkok. If you are in transit at the airport (don't go through immigration) you don't need any visa of any sort will be OK.

Of course many posters have "gotten away with it" but there is no certainty.

Just more outdated and incorrect info from a embassy website.

Beside the 6 months passport error it states you need a round trip ticket which is wrong. You only need an onward ticket.

They may not a member of the IATA but they do have a link on their website for a IATA for travel document info.

[iamariva1957]

Your passport's issuing country has its own rules about its citizens ability to travel within the valid dates of its issued passports. They do not come under the rules of the countries you are visiting or traveling through and there are international agreements in place that state as much.

Yes, there is a 6-month validity requirement here in SEA (and some other countries). But seeing as you have an outbound ticket within the expiration date of you passport you should have no trouble. The 6-month rule is a 'standard'... but not really an issue unless you are applying for a Visa of any kind or Visa Exempt anywhere. For that is what the 6-month 'rule' is in place for. But if you are here, then there is no issue even if stopped at a check point (as long as you are not in Over Stay and have the proper arrival card with the required Depart-By-Date stamped on it.

Airlines can try and play immigration officers for other countries, but they do not have the authority to deny you entry into the country of your destination or disallow you to board based solely upon the expiration date in your passport. As I said... they can try but you have the right to ask to sign their waiver which will release them from any responsibility.

Do not let the airlines play God.

[bod]

I'm the OP, and one of the previous posters brought me to this idea. I don't like to lie, but to avoid possible trouble : what if I change the expiry date of my passport at the "web check-in" of AirAsia, so it will have a validity of more than 6 months.. Then, at the check-in counter of AirAsia, an employee probably would have a quick glance at my passport, and hand over the ticket. In case he/she would notice the difference of the date on my passport and the date on the web check-in, I could tell the employee that by accident I filled in the incorrect date on the web check-in. It could happen to everybody. If the employee then would argue about the expiry date of my passport, I could show him the IATA website, which would prove that I'm allowed to enter Thailand even with a passport with less than 6 months validity.

I'm the first one to admit that honesty is one's best weapon but I could have mistakenly filled in the wrong passport date.

Good idea, or not so good? What do you think?

[DB2]

I flew air Asia, from Macau to Thailand with only 4 months left on my UK passport( forgot to check it), at air Asia check in they would not let me fly at first I showed them my return ticket was 18 days from arrival in Bangkok back to the UK, they said OK but i must sign a form absolving them of responsibility if the Thai immigration would not let me in, no problem when i arrived at Thai immigration.

[BWPattaya]

Don't bother doing the online check in for PP. Last month I couldn't use it. I had it printed out but security won't let you past until you go to the check in desk. I doubt that they will prevent you from boarding as you have an onward flight withing 24 hours to your home country.