I can see them asking for an onward ticket for those with no visas. However, I don't understand why they would want to see a boarding pass for your arrival flight?
The only thing I can think of is perhaps some enterprising farangs have bought cheap o/w tickets to KL let's say, for the special fares, 99 baht etc. After check in, simply walked up to the arrival level and went through immigration again? A cheap visa run?
With as big a S'Boom is, I imagine there are ways to move between levels, perhaps without security observation. Just a thought. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
I think the idea with checking boarding passes on arrival is to do with stopping criminals, terrorists and smugglers from hiding their movements by using multiple passports and claiming to arrive on flights from other destinations.
STEVE G wrote:I think the idea with checking boarding passes on arrival is to do with stopping criminals, terrorists and smugglers from hiding their movements by using multiple passports and claiming to arrive on flights from other destinations.
That one is better than my "out of the box" thinking...LOL. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Big Boy wrote:
I think you'll find that they'll accept an e-mailed confirmation of an e-ticket.
Good idea Big boy, which is Ok as I have future flights already booked, though they all originate in Bangkok. For visitors they will usually have the return flight from Bnagkok already booked but those who are resident here will probably not have their next flight booked.
Hi, Husband and I also arrived on 6th and had no problems, only wanted passport, even managed a smile from passport control after a bit of work and had luggage and out of airport within 30mins from plane. We have used new airport 3 times now and never any issues.
It would appear that it is just bad luck if you get stuck. Maybe they were looking from someone from a specific seat that had perhaps left something on the plane.
Anyway back in UK now worst luck, can't wait for December!
Sitting in Doha departure lounge with the return part of a ticket back to Bangkok.
I haven't got an onward ticket - I work in Doha and have been travelling in and out of Thailand every month all this year. My tickets always start from Bangkok.
I've been arriving on the return portion of tickets like this for years - and never had a problem. I have been asked what I'm doing but I've never been delayed.
I guess I'll see what happens in tomorrow morning when I arrive.
On arrival, 8/6 I didn't see the sign for the boarding pass ticket, so didn't present it initially. Part way through I saw it, and started to dig, but was waived off.
On leaving I gave it to the woman, but she didn't even look at it.
A bit aside, we arrived just before the international university games, and the customs entry booth next to me said diplomatic passengers only on the sign.
I happened to get in the line next to it before seeing the sign, but as my line shortened, so did that line.
When there was one person in front of me, the last person was in line at the diplomatic booth, that person finished just as the person in front of me was called to our booth. Someone from behind me in the line rushed to the diplomatic booth, but, to my surprise, the customs lady told him to get back in line, and waived me over instead.
There is now a sign over the immigration desk that says you must show your boarding card and onward ticket on arrival
I just arrived this morning without an onward ticket but the imigration official didn't ask to see it or my boarding card. I think I'll ask for an onward ticket next time though if it is official.
It should be that you need to show a return, or onward, ticket if you're arriving on a 30 day visa exemption and you're more likely to be refused boarding by the airline than refused entry in BKK.
If you have a proper visa, Tourist or Non Imm, then it isn't necessary. Unless things have changed? But I'm pretty sure they havn't.
I've been thinking about the boarding card. When I arrived back last year on a Non Imm visa, they wrote in my flight number above the entry stamp. Unless they had asked to see the boarding card or ticket, how'd they know what flight I was on? Must admit I'm always a bit tired and emotional when I get back, so passing through Imm at the airport is a bit of a blur.
We had to complete an immigration card which includes inward and outbound flight numbers, maybe this is why they didn't want boarding cards and onward tickets?
Yeah, that's a good point Sam. Most of my arrivals into Thailand are by sea or train, so no flight number. Didn't think of that part of the arrival/departure card.
As far as I can remember there has always been a sign that tells you to show your boarding pass, but only rarely do they bother looking at it or making an issue if you don’t show it. You have to remember that some flights are almost completely full of European holiday makers on two week tours and the immigration staff are bored into a coma after the first twenty or so.
Looking at everybody else's replies, maybe we simply chose a 'Jobsworth' day to arrive at immigration. However, seeing the disruption it caused that day, I'll never fail to have my boarding card with me when I arrive in the future.
After all, its really a cumbersome thing to hold on to.
STEVE G wrote:As far as I can remember there has always been a sign that tells you to show your boarding pass, but only rarely do they bother looking at it or making an issue if you don’t show it. You have to remember that some flights are almost completely full of European holiday makers on two week tours and the immigration staff are bored into a coma after the first twenty or so.
In the last few months I have seen the sign about presenting the boarding card as I have returned from Australia, Iran and Bhutan - but have never had to produce this. Most recently at the end of July. The Cobra Swamp Airport is the only airport (of many) that I have passed through that has required this. I usually just chuck mine away but will keep it now 'just in case'.
It would help if ALL airlines were to make an announcement on boarding that passengers are visiting a strange country with strange entry requirements. Would be more helpful than what we are supposed to do in the event of an emergency.
Pete 
