What issues have travelers experienced with their Thai DTV and airline check-in procedures?

Onward tickets are suitable for such purposes - real flight bookings that are temporarily transferred to you for 1-2 days. They only cost a few dollars and eliminate the need to purchase a real departure ticket, that you won‘t use:

I always fly non stop , Eva air , thai Airways, never been asked about visa , also 1 way ticket .

I had a guy. Air India. Asking for a return flight details. I said. I’m staying for how ever long. Shown my DTV. He didn’t have a clue. Then a colleague nodded at him. It’s ok.

Absolutely insane

I got my DTV in November 2024. Mine says:

"GBR

United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories"

Flew/entered on it twice, no problem. I have never mentioned the DTV to the airline.

Qatar is the worst for thing

Why does the airline care about what type of visa you have?

Airlines use "Exclusion of Liability" clauses in their Conditions of Carriage, stating passengers are responsible for entry refusal costs (fines, return flights) due to invalid documents or immigration denial, and the airline isn't liable for related losses, but passengers denied involuntarily (not due to their fault) on overbooked flights are usually entitled to compensation and care under consumer rules, unless it's for valid reasons like failure to meet check-in deadlines or safety issues. These clauses shift responsibility for documentation and compliance to the passenger.

Key Points on Airline Liability & Exclusion

Passenger Responsibility: You're generally responsible for having proper visas, passports, and complying with destination country laws; failure to do so means you bear the cost of fines, detention, and being sent back.

No Refund: The fare paid for the original ticket is usually non-refundable if entry is denied.

Document Issues: Airlines aren't liable for consequences from your expired/invalid documents or failure to get necessary permissions.

Safety/Security: If denied boarding for safety reasons (intoxication, security risk), the airline isn't liable.

When You Might Get Compensation (Not Exclusion)

Involuntary Denied Boarding (Overbooking): If you have a valid ticket and are denied a seat on an overbooked flight (and you didn't volunteer), you're usually entitled to compensation and care, as consumer rules often override airline exclusion clauses in these cases.

Airline Fault: If the airline makes an error (e.g., double-booking without proper procedure), you may have recourse.

What to Do

Check Before Travel: Always verify entry requirements for your destination country and airline policies.

Understand Conditions: Read the airline's Conditions of Carriage (usually found online) for specific exclusion clauses.

Know Your Rights: Research passenger rights (like EU261 or similar) for denied boarding due to overbooking in your region.

Qatar Airways are delightful in the air but a little shambolic on the ground.

Not the same situation, but I too had a run-in with Emirates whereby they weren’t going to let me board a flight from UK during Covid in 2022 because I wasn’t vaxxed, even though I had all the proper medical/test paperwork, documents, etc. The supervisor had to intervene (it turns out that the young girl at check-in had a “personal opinion” about anyone not vaxxed and decided that SHE didn’t want to let me fly!) Just mentioning this because sometimes airline staff can be misinformed or have a personal opinion which they then project that onto the traveller. Regarding the Visa, sounds like you ran into someone who didn’t know their job.

Mine just says United Kingdom but I got it August 2024.

this dtv is sounding like an absolute nightmare with incompetence. and immigration really don’t care you just done £1500 a pop on flights i’m behind g to have second thoughts on what visa to get now. i know i

only reading the bad stuff but there seems to be plenty of it

There is typically an option to sign a liability form that you take full responsibility if you get denied entry and the airline is not responsible for your removal. What airlines are concerned with is being liable for your return home if they've let you board without checking if you have a visa or visa-free entry.

The whole situation sounds weird and seems like inexperienced ground staff.

It actually shouldn't say the overseas territory bit. When you apply there is different options for a UK passport including the overseas territory part and it's up to you to enter the correct one

Get them to check Timatic - the system Airlines use to check for Visas regulations.