I'll gift $1000 for the first volunteer to verify this, for the culture of our FB group. Visa exempt denial = free flight out, free detention as long as you stick to the cheatsheet. Shouldn't cost more than a day or two, many elephant panters live on less in Thailand. The truth is hilarious and deserves to spread.

Right, the appeal process is a waste of time (by design), nobody should bother with it. There is a real liability difference between visa exempt denials and visa denials. That's key!

As mentioned this only works for visa exempt denials, as the airline took on the risk here. 🙂

You're not seeking to overturn denial, just get out and re-enter with fast track. That's how they make $.

My brother got out of Phuket the same day after telling the airline he'd put them on blast on Twitter (now X) for trying to manipulate him. He signed nothing, paid nothing and was promptly flown to KL, then entered through BKK with fast track only 3 days later.

He said a Russian with a massive bruise on his head had been in there for a week already. It really depends on your game. Bozos always pay.

@Chris ********

: of course they can say that, but Thailand won't hold you that long as long as you don't sign the form.

Thailand will pressure the airline twice a day (or more) and as long as you don't look like an idiot they know they'll eventually end up paying more for the detention room than if they'll just put you on the next flight somewhere. Can even be KL, etc. Doesn't have to be home.

Can't recommend if you're traveling with family (more leverage for airline), but if you want to see how the system works then you can verify this for yourself. False niceness ends, gloves come off and you'll learn a lot about the world in a day or two.

If you'd known your rights and stood your ground, the airline would have flown you back to France for free. Only denied passengers with a visa have to pay their own flight, visa exempt is the airline's responsibility.

Of course the friendly airline people make it sound like it's not, but you can tell them it's BS. Thailand will pressure them to get rid of you. Even detention room is on their dime as long as you don't sign the form they ask you to sign. Good way to save $1500. 💸

@Carlos ******************

: if you sign, you agree to pay for the costs of the detention room and return flight. Else Thailand will ultimately pressure the airline to get rid of you on their dime and you can save a few hundred bucks. Never sign.

Only if the airline let you onboard for visa exempt, btw. If you have a visa, it's always your cost and the airline goes blame-free. Spread the word.

@Jason ******

: that's because you're expected to pay for fast track and border run services by then, no more freebies. That's how it works.

@Tod ********

: in some cases you can still pay 10-20K on the spot and be let in, but this depends on the airport and time of day. I can confirm it worked in Phuket in 2024, but best arrange upfront.

Either way, there's always a way.

@Tod ********

: then why aren't they ever cracking down on border bounce and fast track services openly sold by agents in every corner of the country? They're the exact same service and override the very same thing they're supposedly trying to get rid of. And you believe it?