Unsure about airline visa requurements

[pks555]

I have a five month return ticket from London to Bangkok but the airline have confused me concerning visa requirements  to allow me to board the flight . I will have a 60 day single entry Tourist Visa which I will extend for 30 days then travel to Laos to obtain a new Tourist Visa although I've not booked this trip yet .

Will this be sufficient to enable me to board the flight ?

Any advice would be welcome 

Thank you

[IMA_FARANG]

They should not question you if you have a valid visa.

iI is only those who do not have a visa, that may be required to show an onward ticket out of Thailand  in 30 dayafter arrival. (visa exempt arrival fo 30 days stay).

With a visa they normally will not ask anything.

 

 

[Changwatchap]

The main thing the airlines check is whether you have a return flight. In that case visa validity etc is unimportant, they know you are not going to be a burden to them. 

 

I was refused a flight once from London to BKK because i didnt have a return, once i quickly booked it they let me through. 

 

Once you have a work permit and associated visa, you can get onto flights without a return booked. 

 

That is my experience at Heathrow with Etihad, emirates, and Thai airways, anyway. 

[Fithman]

2 minutes ago, Changwatchap said:

I was refused a flight once from London to BKK because i didnt have a return, once i quickly booked it they let me through. 

 

You were likely attempting to board a flight without a valid visa. 

 

Airlines check using the IATA database which is available to anyone. 

 

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

 

Possession of a valid visa negates the need for a return flight and a work permit makes no difference.

[The Old Bull]

They only need a visa if you book one way because regular travellers especially those going business class could save about 50% by booking a return FROM Thailand . So if they see you going on a single they guess what you are up to and try and stop it.I used to book my returns from Thailand for years but the saving is not much now.

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, The Old Bull said:

They only need a visa if you book one way because regular travellers especially those going business class could save about 50% by booking a return FROM Thailand . So if they see you going on a single they guess what you are up to and try and stop it.I used to book my returns from Thailand for years but the saving is not much now.

 

Actually the real reason why they try and stop you is that they don't want to risk being lumbered with the cost of flying you back to your airport of origin in the event of your being refused entry into Thailand. Having a visa provides them with a cast-iron  guarantee (in their eyes) that this won't happen. 

[Arandora]

4 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Actually the real reason why they try and stop you is that they don't want to risk being lumbered with the cost of flying you back to your airport of origin in the event of your being refused entry into Thailand. Having a visa provides them with a cast-iron  guarantee (in their eyes) that this won't happen. 

Actually the real reason is Immigration Control with part of the process being transferred to airlines with the threat of financial penalties and repatriation cost but it is intended to stop people without a visa or proof of leaving from entering illegally and slipping under the radar i.e. illegal immigrants. 

[OJAS]

2 hours ago, Arandora said:

Actually the real reason is Immigration Control with part of the process being transferred to airlines with the threat of financial penalties and repatriation cost but it is intended to stop people without a visa or proof of leaving from entering illegally and slipping under the radar i.e. illegal immigrants. 

 

Airlines are not focussed on assisting with some Immigration Control master plan but merely in avoiding additional costs to themselves!

[steve187]

17 hours ago, Changwatchap said:

The main thing the airlines check is whether you have a return flight. In that case visa validity etc is unimportant, they know you are not going to be a burden to them. 

 

I was refused a flight once from London to BKK because i didnt have a return, once i quickly booked it they let me through. 

 

Once you have a work permit and associated visa, you can get onto flights without a return booked. 

 

That is my experience at Heathrow with Etihad, emirates, and Thai airways, anyway. 

As long as you have a visa, the airline don't care if you have a return ticket or not,

 

as already posted you were only refused boarding because you didn't have a visa.

[Arandora]

3 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Airlines are not focussed on assisting with some Immigration Control master plan but merely in avoiding additional costs to themselves!

You've missed the point. It was Thai Immigration who placed the responsibility on airlines who of course would want to comply to avoid the financial penalties. But it is a delegation or some would say an abdication of the Thailand Immigration Department's responsibility, as it is in other countries, to ensure that visitors have a valid visa or to seek proof of how and when they will leave Thailand if they don't. Two different reasons but the ultimate responsibility is Thai Immigration.