Will there be issues with airlines and immigration if my wife travels with two passports and a different name on her ticket?

Jul 21, 2022
2 years ago
Steven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So my wife has an Australian passport in her married name and a Thai passport in her maiden name. She would like to leave Australia on her Aust passport and enter Thailand on her Thai passport, then leave Thailand on her thai passport and and re-enter Australia on her Aust passport. This way she would not need a visa to stay longer in Thailand. My question is there going to be any issue with check-in with the airlines and immigration if the tickets and boarding pass is in her married name?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the issue of traveling with two passports that have different names. The wife holds an Australian passport in her married name and a Thai passport in her maiden name. Many commenters shared their experiences traveling with dual citizenship and reassured that as long as she shows the correct passport at the appropriate times (departure and immigration), there should be no significant issues. It was suggested to carry a marriage certificate for clarity if necessary and that airlines may ask for both passports during check-in. Overall, many had successfully navigated similar scenarios without problems.
Steven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone we will give it a go next trip. Cheers 🙂
Kent ********
@NaLaa ****
it depends on the country, but isn't law in many places. I know dual UK/Oz citizens who go to Oz on their UK passports - the advice is to travel on an Oz one, but it is only advice. Similarly, others routinely travel back and forth between the UK and Sweden on the "wrong" passport without issue (although Brexit may make that more awkward). If you are a citizen, passport or not, once you get to the border, it would generally be illegal to turn you away. You might be held up for a while while they verify your citizenship, but I've never heard of it happening #notlegaladvice
Maya *******
@Kent *******
you leave a country with the country passport and enter the other with the other...
Kathalyn *******
Yes. Names must be same as passport.
Chris *********************
@Kathalyn ******
the imagrataion don't want to see your flight tickets
Kathalyn *******
@Chris ********************
At check in , not immigration.
Stuart *********
Absolutely no problem doing that. No issue with name on ticket as they check that at departure so use the name on the departing passport when booking.
NaTasha ***************
I have 2 passports. Law is, you must enter/exit the country on that country's passport (so if you are a citizen of Thailand, you are not supposed to enter or exit thailand on your Australian passport, and vice versa --> though i suppose it is possible to do so, i know someone who did but they were worried about the exit thereafter)..

but yes in regards to the ticket could be problematic. I would get the passport renewed, or call the airliner to see what to do.
Maya *******
I have 2 passports i use it all the time
Wayne *********
@Maya ******
same name in both ?
Maya *******
@Wayne ********
different countries but must enter and exit with 1 to 1 County

A the other European Finland I use to enter Finland Europe and anywhere else
Wayne *********
@Maya ******
my wife does it as well but same name in both passports so they match her flight tickets
Maya *******
@Wayne ********
i just show both passport incase needed
Wayne *********
@Maya ******
Post says passports in different names is yours same name if yes then total different story
Nolan ******
I might be concerned about the name the ticket is in
Steven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nolan *****
yes thats what i was concerned about, but i figure at checkin coming back show both passports to the airline and just the 1 passport to immigration
Martin *******
@Steven ******
I'm a UK immigration officer, and have worked as a Liaison Officer to Thailand. You won't have a problem. It's perfectly normal for a passenger to carry multiple passports like this, something we routinely encounter every day.

It's extremely unlikely that they'll ask to see your boarding pass upon arrival, but if they do it'll be absolutely fine if you show both passports and explain the different names. They won't even blink; I can understand your concern, but I can assure you this is a non-issue, you've nothing to worry about.

But, in any case, the chances of them even asking to see the boarding pass are vanishingly small, so you'll probably only need to show them one passport.
Marc ********
@Steven ******
Have the ticket in her married name.

To check in from Australia show the airline staff the Australian passport.

In Thailand you show the Thai passport to immigration.

Leaving Thailand check in you show the airline Australian passport. Thai Immigration you show thai passport.

In Australia you just show Australian passport alone
Nolan ******
@Steven ******
I’ve had 2 at one point and a pain in the ass they know you have 2
George *************
@Nolan *****
Just show the one correct passport, which varies by situation. The only time you may need to show both passports is at check-in, never at immigration. I agree with your point that it's better, less confusing, less issue raising, to show just one passport.
Christo *****************
Maiden name not same as married name
Christo *****************
I tought ticket must have same name as in your pasport
Steven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christo ****************
yes but i figure check in with one passport and show other passport to immigration, hence the post to see if others have done this 🙂
Duncanc **********
@Steven ******
Immigration also look at boarding pass
Reiwa *******
Any dual citizen can travel to their countries without any problems if they present their passports at the IO.
Sumai ********
None at all I have the same scenario and have been traveling to & fro for 9 years without hassles. The Australian passport is linked by the system to her Thai passport. If she’s not had them linked up just request at check in at the airport in Australia and they will do it at the counter it’s a painless minute but saves hassles to carry papers or explain to others.
Michael ******
@Sumai *******
I tried to have my wife's passport linked and checking staff new nothing about doing it.
Steven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sumai *******
is that to link them with the airline or immigration
Sumai ********
@Steven ******
immigration . I fly Quantas they did mine 9 years ago.
Ludwig ***********
Shouldn’t be a problem. My daughter travels on 2 passports, Thai and German, always uses her Thai passport to exit and re-enter Thailand and her German passport within Europe. The airlines want to see a passport that will be accepted in the country she is travelling to, sometimes you have to show both passports to the airline, no issue.
Wayne *********
@Ludwig **********
same name on both passports not as per the post
Ludwig ***********
@Wayne ********
Airline wants to see the passport with the same name as ticket.
Mani ******
Without immigration stamp from Australia how can she enter thailand
Bobby ********
@Mani *****
Australia doesn't stamp passports, and you don't need an exit stamp from anywhere to enter Thailand. I often switch passports whilst in flight
Mani ******
Stephen *******
Carry a copy of your marriage certificate.
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