cabron wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:38 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:00 pm That's quite an ordeal, sorry to hear that.

The sometimes rough treatment of my passport by airline clerks and immigration officers sometimes has me worried, too. Other than that, there really isn't enough time for it to get worn out, as it's full after 2-3 years and needs to be replaced well ahead of its expiration date.

Assuming that this "laissez passer" is a form of emergency passport, I'm surprised that using it would make you ineligible for visa exempt entry to Thailand. Maybe because it's issued by an embassy other than your own? Who told you that?

The Thai embassy would probably give you either a transit visa or a tourist visa. A tourist visa would be preferable, as it would allow you to stay in Thailand for 60 days, with an option to extend by another 30 days.

All that being said, the AirAsia guys might have actually done you a favor. If Don Mueang immigration had denied you entry, you'd be in an even bigger mess.

The passport stamps is gradually being phase out around the world. In a near future the entry and exit stamp system will be something from the past.

Yes I guess it's only a question of time that a passport doesn't need visa pages anymore at all. But here in Southeast Aaia things seem to take a bit longer than elsewhere.

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:25 pm

cabron wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:38 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:00 pm That's quite an ordeal, sorry to hear that.

The sometimes rough treatment of my passport by airline clerks and immigration officers sometimes has me worried, too. Other than that, there really isn't enough time for it to get worn out, as it's full after 2-3 years and needs to be replaced well ahead of its expiration date.

Assuming that this "laissez passer" is a form of emergency passport, I'm surprised that using it would make you ineligible for visa exempt entry to Thailand. Maybe because it's issued by an embassy other than your own? Who told you that?

The Thai embassy would probably give you either a transit visa or a tourist visa. A tourist visa would be preferable, as it would allow you to stay in Thailand for 60 days, with an option to extend by another 30 days.

All that being said, the AirAsia guys might have actually done you a favor. If Don Mueang immigration had denied you entry, you'd be in an even bigger mess.

The passport stamps is gradually being phase out around the world. In a near future the entry and exit stamp system will be something from the past.

Yes I guess it's only a question of time that a passport doesn't need visa pages anymore at all. But here in Southeast Aaia things seem to take a bit longer than elsewhere.

Hong Kong being the positive exception.

truffledog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:42 pm Today I was denied boarding an AA flight from PP to BKK with flythrough to Hatyai. The guy at the check-in counter (drop off baggage) checked as usual my passport (5y old) and complained a small fracture (2cm) of the main page.

All in all this overly dutyful (cambodian!) guys at AA have cost me more than 500 US. Damned if I will fly them ever again.

Yeah, that sucks mate.

It bothers me how much power those often jobs-worthy cnuts have. Never (yet) been denied boarding but have been forced to book return flights when it's not necessary and sign waivers that the airline isn't responsible if I get denied entry etc.

Last time to VN from SR (a while back) the guy would not accept a bus ticket I had booked (knowing I mightn't use it) out of Saigon. "Fly in, must fly out." What a crock of shit. Wasn't sure when I was heading back so didn't want a return. Forced me to book an overpriced return there and then the little fkr. In VN, no mention of wanting to see a return ticket, just a very nice immigration chappie who was happy to chat about my trip.


I suppose they're covering themselves against the fullest interpretation of the law (which probably isn't applied as fully to those of us who have European / American / OZ passports and are white - we've all seen the Africans getting different treatment at PNH right?)

Thing is, if you get stroppy with them they can deny you boarding. Not suggesting that's what cost you TD but I bet some of them enjoy their little power trip and their company will always back them up

The airlines (aka the gatekeepers) have their own agendas, namely not having to return people for known immigration infractions. Perhaps they get fined for each passenger that gets bounced back, as well the the flight. Even if they did actually call Thai Immigration, I suspect the attitude of whoever has to make a decision is to say NO; why take the chance?

The pervasive attitude of self-preservation and ass-covering on both sides of the equation, and the rigid adherence to petty bureaucratic rules leads to a complete lack of consideration or empathy for the consequences heaped upon the poor sod in the middle.

Good luck getting any recompense from AA. The staff member who screwed you over has probably already been allocated their employee of the month points. The couldn't care less about us, we are just self-loading cargo.

While it's a PITA, airlines get fined for any passengers that they carry without proper/acceptable documentation, and it's generally a lot more than $500. That would probably be applicable on this case. A 2cm tear is certainly enough for many airlines to refuse carriage, that's nothing new or unusual.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:11 pm My UK passport, issued in 2017 is pretty well worn, nearly full. And the first visa that was inserted (for Saudi) was the last time it worked in the scanners reliably. The Saudi embassy had nailed a processing slip inside, which punched a staple through the antenna wire. The front cover is worn free of any distinguishing marks, and I’ll probably need to replace it for lack of space for new visas.

But it’s still serviceable. Just sometimes it needs a visual check and swipe by borders staff. I generally only travel on my Irish passport.

My previous Irish passport had a crack in the laminated photo/data page, and occasionally received extra attention.

I’m surprised that the check in folks didn’t simply enquire of the border/immigration staff at PP, whose opinion is a little more ‘qualified’. It seems overly zealous. But, they were probably exercising the full authority of their position to safeguard the airline, and not overly familiar with passports. Extra caution about you being denied entry, and having to bring you back, where you might be denied entry. You could have done a Nasseri/Tom Hanks!

Just as background:
this is from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice page:
"Thai immigration authorities are known to adopt a strict approach to accepting damaged passports. Irish citizens are advised to renew their passport before travel to Thailand should it have any damage as Thai Immigration may refuse entry otherwise."

Also, the UK Embassy in Thailand has the following warning on its Facebook page:
"You can’t use a damaged passport to leave Thailand. Keep yours safe and dry during Songkran. Find out about Emergency Travel Document. https://bit.ly/1bDqeL7"