@Gary ********

It is required by law, and you are an idiot.

@Jarek ***********

Then they would not have qualified for the ED visa in the first place. So, what is your point? Someone had an _illegal_ visa and then gets denied an Elite Visa? Obviously. Someone has a valid ED visa and later wants an Elite Visa and can pay, he gets denied? UNLIKELY. Extremely unlikely.

@Rafael ******

Perhaps you should read the links you post.

@Andreas ********

I do not need to know the IATA rules. If you know them, why not post an excerpt? Fact is: if Thai Airways is flying you back from where ever you came from: they put you into a first class seat and charge you for it. Or did you answer to the wrong person and mixed something up?

@Peter *********

It is not "by some airlines" it is by law. Big difference.

You are from Netherlands? I suggest to check what requirements a Thai has to fly there ... and then ask your self: why would the opposite around be different?

@Andreas ********

It is actually worse. What is more likely? The plane has an empty "economy class" seat, or an empty "first class seat"? I never heard that the airline is fined. It is technically definitely not the airlines responsibility to make sure you have a ticket. BUT: it is their responsibility yo fly you home. Anyway. The worse part above is: you budgeted a one way flight for peanuts, you get denied entry and get flown against your will back where you came from with a one way first class ticket. A one way first class ticket from BKK to GDG or FRA is about $5000 - $10,000. And the passenger has to pay that later ... the airline will confiscate your car, house or first born to get the money back :P

@Christopher *****

Wow ... you wrote a single sentence and made 4 mistakes in it. Taxes, is on INCOME. Moving your own money from A to B is not INCOME!

@Steve *********

No idea what you mean with "no interest". The banks here pay interest. It is just not a lot. And with our days world wide low interest "season" you likely lose more money by an international transfer than you gain by having the money outside of Thailand.

@Rob ****

he meant monthly income.

@Nongnuch *******

"It is much easier to apply for the 90 days Non-Imm-O retirement visa in his home country, " in Germany it definitely is not easier. And for some odd reason" I assumed the "home country" process is everywhere the same?