When the wheels start falling off, they all fall off.

[SlowlyMan]

Not the kind of trip report we all prefer to read. But still, it's some useful information.

The flights from Chicago to bkk on ANA were uneventful. But both the 777 and 787 are showing there age. ANA was the cheapest option on this route. The staff at every step except Chicago, were excellent. But they need to replace the seats. 

The fun started when I landed at bkk. We parked on the tarmac, and bussed to the terminal. Never an enjoyable experience.

I had booked fast track. The day before departure, they sent me a email indicating the can no longer meet at the gate. They can no longer hold a sign with my name. They sent a poor quality photo of a bench near gate 5. Told me to meet my escort there.

In the terminal I start looking for this bench. The only bench I saw had a homeless looking guy sleeping on it. So I kept walking until I ran out of terminal and retraced my steps. This time the homeless guy was sitting up so I asked him. Sure enough. He is my escort. He was wearing a ragged t-shirt and jeans. If they aren't going to hold up a sign, the least they can do it have the guy look official, instead of looking like bum.

So, anyway he gets me to the fast track lines. They are 20 deep at each station. The guy says, busy today sorry about that. Then walks off.  Kinda defeats the purpose for fast track if you need to wait a half hour anyway. 

I get to the officer. He is looking at my papers carefully. Then he says I can not enter Thailand because my return flight is after the visa expires. I tried to explain I will get a 30 extension and leave long before it expires. He asked if I have the extension with me. Of course I didnt. He said I need to go back to USA. So, I asked him to get a supervisor. She took her merry time coming over. Spends 5 seconds looking at the papers. Rolls her eyes and stamps me in for 60 days. They send me on to baggage claim.

It's now about 90 minutes since the plane landed. I find my belt. It's stopped the last bag sign is lite. My bag is nowhere to be seen. There are no bags to be seen. . I'm thinking, great. Someone stole my bag or the airline lost it. I go to the office. The lady was actually very nice and makes a few calls. My bag is in suitcase jail. Someone will bring it to me, and so they did. Whoo. That's a relief.

So, now it's about 2 hours since arrival. I'm sure nam's driver has abandoned me. I head to door 3 and there she is. All smiles with a sign and my name. Whoo, again. Yes I tipped her well. She did intereigate me a bit. She wanted to see the confirmation email and my passport. She checked both and took my photo. Something must have happened with another passenger to warrant all this scrutiny.

On our way traffic was light and we made good time. She drops me at Amber. Now, I had prebooked and pre paid for 40 days starting a day before arrival. Knowing it would early morning and I wanted a room to collapse in. I also emailed the manager reminding him I would be a late arrival. The reception girl was looking and looking but couldn't find a reservation. She called the supervisor. He said I was a no show, so they canceled my non refundable booking and rented the room. I was NOT happy. 

He said someone had checked out during the night. When the cleaners come in, he will have them clean that room first. And so they did. I had a nap on a chair, went up to the room and collapsed.

I found out later, they were over booked. A tour bus came in with more people then they should have. They were doubling people up and my room was empty, so they used it. Thai logic I guess.

Anyway, I hope that's the end of problems for this trip. 

[Thomaz73]

18 minutes ago, SlowlyMan said:

he says I can not enter Thailand because my return flight is after the visa expires. I tried to explain I will get a 30 extension and leave long before it expires. He asked if I have the extension with me. Of course I didnt. He said I need to go back to USA. So, I asked him to get a supervisor. She took her merry time coming over. Spends 5 seconds looking at the papers. Rolls her eyes and stamps me in for 60 days. They send me on to baggage claim

You got lucky here. You most definitely need onward travel within whatever period you stamp in for. It's just rare they actually check that. Might make you feel a bit better about your tough day

[simon6666]

22 minutes ago, SlowlyMan said:

Then he says I can not enter Thailand because my return flight is after the visa expires. I tried to explain I will get a 30 extension and leave long before it expires. He asked if I have the extension with me. Of course I didnt. He said I need to go back to USA. So, I asked him to get a supervisor. She took her merry time coming over. Spends 5 seconds looking at the papers. Rolls her eyes and stamps me in for 60 days.

You got very lucky here. They had every right to refuse you.

Bless these kind Thais and their generous hearts.

[forcebwithu]

Surprised they let you board in Chicago without proof of onward travel out of Thailand before your visa expires. If you were refused entry, that's on the airline to get you back to the US and they would be facing a fine for transporting you to Thailand without that proof.

[Thomaz73]

2 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

Surprised they let you board in Chicago without proof of onward travel out of Thailand before your visa expires. If you were refused entry, that's on the airline to get you back to the US and they would be facing a fine for transporting you to Thailand without that proof.

In my experience, most airlines don't check if you have a visa. But likely do if your aiming for a visa exemption. 

[AngelCty2Nit]

1 hour ago, SlowlyMan said:

I get to the officer. He is looking at my papers carefully. Then he says I can not enter Thailand because my return flight is after the visa expires. I tried to explain I will get a 30 extension and leave long before it expires.

 

9 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

Surprised they let you board in Chicago without proof of onward travel out of Thailand before your visa expires. If you were refused entry, that's on the airline to get you back to the US and they would be facing a fine for transporting you to Thailand without that proof.

exactly.....positively.....most certainly

 

The check is in the mail....

I won't come in your mouth....

Can you imagine the CHAOS that would happen around the world if an immigration officer let everyone in with the story... 'don't worry, let me in now and I'll take care of it later'

If you got past THIS, then you are indeed lucky....this time. I would be better prepared next time...

Enjoy your trip, you're certainly off to an auspicious start.

Cheers

Edited December 14, 2023 by AngelCty2Nit

[forcebwithu]

14 minutes ago, Thomaz73 said:

In my experience, most airlines don't check if you have a visa. But likely do if your aiming for a visa exemption. 

I've been queried several times on my return from trips back to the States. A few times it had to go to a supervisor, but I chalk that up to the person at the check in counter at MKE having limited experience with international travelers with extensions to stay. Never any drama as I understand why they're being careful.

Edited December 14, 2023 by forcebwithu

[speedtoy]

1 hour ago, SlowlyMan said:

Rolls her eyes and stamps me in for 60 days.

Holy crap.

[Thomaz73]

4 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

I've been queried several times on my return from trips back to the States. A few times it had to go to a supervisor, but I chalk that up to the person at the check in counter at MKE having limited experience with international travelers with extensions to stay. Never any drama as I understand why they're being careful.

Fair enough. Only travelled to from the US one time (wasn't asked.) Mostly from Denmark or SEA countries. Almost always with a visa and never asked to show my onward travel. 

[AngelCty2Nit]

Ofc there are so many variables: chosen airline, departure point, and the biggest factor: the agent youre dealing with.

I have no idea the percentages, but my guess is lots of time people are passed through without issue.

That doesnt changed the fact that if you have a 30 day visa and a 45 day return you are in the wrong and subject to refusal to board.

With cheap throw-away and rental tickets available, why risk it?

I had a rental ticket ready on my phone when I travelled here, didnt even have to pay/confirm it UNTIL I was queried, which I was. When the agent asked me to confirm onward travel, I literally opened my phone, hit PAY (about $12USD at the time iirc), and was immediately given a confirmed reservation which I showed to the agent....deal done.

Edited December 14, 2023 by AngelCty2Nit

[Kale]

3 hours ago, Thomaz73 said:

You got lucky here. You most definitely need onward travel within whatever period you stamp in for. It's just rare they actually check that. Might make you feel a bit better about your tough day

This is the first I have heard of immigration checking that but a lot of airlines will.

Edited December 14, 2023 by Kale

[Thomaz73]

12 minutes ago, Kale said:

This is the first I have heard of immigration checking that but a lot of airlines will.

The airlines do it because it's an immigration requirement. If an officer decides to grill someone, it's one of things they can ask for. 

[Leo_Bia]

5 hours ago, SlowlyMan said:

I get to the officer. He is looking at my papers carefully. Then he says I can not enter Thailand because my return flight is after the visa expires.

Did he ask to see your outward flight?

[RomaBob]

Re Amber ' He said I was a no show, so they canceled my non refundable booking and rented the room. I was NOT happy.'

I would have been pissed off too, I doubt they reimbursed you for the lost day and inconvenience. I recall they once wanted a five hundred baht 'payment' to let me into a room a couple of hours early. 

[splitpin]

Do USA citizens get 60 days on arrival?

[Thomaz73]

1 hour ago, splitpin said:

Do USA citizens get 60 days on arrival?

No. 30 without a visa. 

[Joeleg]

Wow 

• first the airline boarding clerk at Chicago did not check despite a WW immigration requirement and the airlines get penalised for it.
• Fast track did not work at all
• Immigration supervisor exceeded her authority with no valid reason given
• 40 days pre-booked and pre-paid and room given away

 

 

[ronthebrummie]

I’m out in Feb for 6 weeks and I’ve applied for a 60 day waiting approval ATM

[bgtp]

Last time I traveled on a tourist visa, the airline wanted to see proof of onward travel within 60 days at check-in. Previously, I had never been asked to show this when I had a valid tourist visa. A friend of mine flew over this past August on a tourist visa. Thai immigration asked him for proof of onward travel which he had. He’s the first and only person I know personally who has been asked for this by Thai immigration. Sure the risk of it happening to me might be low, but I like to eliminate any potential hassles when on vacation even if it means spending a little money on a throwaway ticket. Others like to tempt fate. Looks like the OP won one wrt to being allowed in, and lost one wrt to the hotel situation. Hope things are a lot smoother for you from here on out.

[SlowlyMan]

17 hours ago, Thomaz73 said:

You got lucky here. You most definitely need onward travel within whatever period you stamp in for. It's just rare they actually check that. Might make you feel a bit better about your tough day

I know that's the rule. But I've done it this way for years. It's never been an issue until it was. If the super hadn't bailed my out I would have purchased a cheap onward to avoid getting sent back. 

[SlowlyMan]

16 hours ago, forcebwithu said:

Surprised they let you board in Chicago without proof of onward travel out of Thailand before your visa expires. If you were refused entry, that's on the airline to get you back to the US and they would be facing a fine for transporting you to Thailand without that proof.

ANA asked if I had a visa, and if I have return passage booked. They just took me at my word. They didn't ask fot documents. ANA use a rental staff from other airlines instead of ana personelle. They had the typical Chicago, don't give a crap attitude. 

[SlowlyMan]

12 hours ago, Leo_Bia said:

Did he ask to see your outward flight?

Yes

[SlowlyMan]

6 hours ago, Joeleg said:

Wow 

• first the airline boarding clerk at Chicago did not check despite a WW immigration requirement and the airlines get penalised for it.
• Fast track did not work at all
• Immigration supervisor exceeded her authority with no valid reason given
• 40 days pre-booked and pre-paid and room given away

 

 

Thanks for the recap. Wish I hadn't been living with no sleep in 30 hours

[SlowlyMan]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the total failure of fast track. I wonder if it's another turf battle over who can provide the service.  It's a valuable service, but I won't be using it again until it goes back to the way it was. 

[david_vr]

I used a paid fast rack service last year but got lucky / unlucky in that the lines were empty so it was pretty much a waste and was stuck waiting for the baggage along with everyone else. Decided not to bother for future trips, also the guy i had at least had a suit on but pretty much had to jog to keep up with the guy and sped off towards immigration.