Indonesia rejecting worn passports.

[Vanhelsing]

I've just checked in with Air Asia and come through immigration at Perth airport on my way to Medan via Kuala Lumpur.

The Air Asia check-in assistant asked more questions pertaining to my movements than normal while closely inspecting my personal details information page which has slight wear from use with the stitching at either end of the page now showing and pulling away slightly from the spine of the passport The assistant then asked me to follow him to his supervisor where I was again asked about onward fares, return tickets, when was I coming back to Australia etc.

The reason for scrutiny explained to me by the Air Asia check-in supervisor was that Indonesia immigration over the past two days have been rejecting worn and damaged passports and their holders from entering the country. I explained that the Indonesian consulate had only just recently issued my tourist visa and in that process held my passport for a week to do so, and if there was a problem with my document, I would have expected my visa application to be denied. I also added that my regular entries into Indonesia have been free from issue on the passport, and other statements in my defense. I was eventually allowed to check-in and warned I was responsible for any costs incurred for return flights.

 

[Vanhelsing]

Being a dual citizen with a British passport (in good condition), if I were denied entry on my Australian document do you think I could simply present my British alternative? Has anyone switched passports at the immigration counter before, for any reason?

 

[atlantis]

Being a dual citizen with a British passport (in good condition), if I were denied entry on my Australian document do you think I could simply present my British alternative? Has anyone switched passports at the immigration counter before, for any reason?

Theoretically, as long as you didn't received yet an Indonesian entry stamp and that your data are identical in both passport, nothing illegal/forbidden in switching passport.
However, dual citizenship not being recognized for adult Indonesian citizen, be ready to face a pretty surprised (and suspicious) immigration officer. At lower level they sometimes believe that what is not legal in Indonesia (dual citizenship for adult citizens) is not legal anywhere. They may ask you a bunch of questions and insist on the fact that you can not do so but I see no reason for them to refuse you entry.
If you have to do so, be super polite and patient.

 

[Davita]

If you applied for the ticket using one citizenship and passport number and then changed to another at check-in I would be surprised if the airline would permit that. The first thing they ask, when at the check-in counter, is for your passport and flight number.

 

[atlantis]

If you applied for the ticket using one citizenship and passport number and then changed to another at check-in I would be surprised if the airline would permit that. The first thing they ask, when at the check-in counter, is for your passport and flight number.

Check in is outside Indonesia, Davita. The switch wouldn't occur at check in, but upon arrival at the TPI in Indonesia. It's like my kid who goes out of France with his French passport and show his Indonesian passport on arrival in Indonesia at the TPI.

The problem is not the airline company, but Indonesian immigration.

 

[Anglian]

My British passport was picked up at Penang, that the photo had been tampered with, I had to go an see the Head immigration officer, he said it was ok, at Perth airport the girl behind the garuda check in twice now has queried the photo to the point of almost not allowing be boarding,
I eventually had a good look at my passport photo( not the prettiest) I noticed the back of the photo is pink in the photo area, it to me would appear that someone has tried to get the photo off, the only place I can think that my passport has been out of possession is Indonesian immigration, anyway in not going to get a new passport, it gets accepted at the automatic gate at Perth, so if garuda don’t want me to leave I will be quite happy being stuck in australia

 

[Ruserious]

If you applied for the ticket using one citizenship and passport number and then changed to another at check-in I would be surprised if the airline would permit that.

Davita this literally happens every time with dual passport holders. You cant apply for a ticket with 2 passports so you tend to use the one for the country you are in. When you arrive at the other country you can hand over either passport. Sometimes you can show the second passport at checkin (if visa questions arise) but not every time.

 

[Davita]

Davita this literally happens every time with dual passport holders. You cant apply for a ticket with 2 passports so you tend to use the one for the country you are in. When you arrive at the other country you can hand over either passport. Sometimes you can show the second passport at checkin (if visa questions arise) but not every time.

I agree. What I said was if you apply for a ticket it is required to put on the application what citizenship and passport number you will be traveling on.
If you turn up at the airport with another passport the airline will question that. I didn't say you will be refused the flight but it will take some explanation.
In USA it will probably cause a lot of problem under their ESTA system.

Check in is outside Indonesia, Davita. The switch wouldn't occur at check in, but upon arrival at the TPI in Indonesia. It's like my kid who goes out of France with his French passport and show his Indonesian passport on arrival in Indonesia at the TPI.
The problem is not the airline company, but Indonesian immigration.

I read the OP and he said.....'The Air Asia check-in assistant' in Perth...was the one who was concerned about his passport. He asked if he then produced another passport would he be permitted to continue to Immigration...I answered that question.
I cannot believe any airline would allow a passenger to board who did not have the corresponding passport to the one annotated on their files from the application presented on the ticket. I'm not saying it couldn't be changed at check-in but that would be seriously scrutenized for security reasons.
What happens after the flight is not the airlines responsibility unless they have been remiss.

I note the OP asked the question on his post # 2 so I will say I have no idea what Immigration would do. My response was to if he checked-in on one passport then switched to another (even assuming Immigration allowed) when he got to the gate, and his new passport did not did not comport with the airlines computer info, he could get a red light.
This has nothing to do with immigration but a lot about security.

 

[Ruserious]

Davita I still don't understand your logic.

At checkin the agent is worried about whether the arrival immigration will accept the worn passport. Traveller then says, no worries i have dual citizenship and here is a different passport.

Same issue as my kids at the airport checkin with Indonesian passport (one the flight is booked with as it is the departing passport). Checkin agent then says "aha what about the Esta" so then we produce the UK passports with Esta registered.

Same thing. No problem during check-in. Dual passports are frequently required and understood by check-in counters and by all but very junior immigration agents.

 

[snpark]

You would use the same passport at check in, immigration, gate etc and then use the other one once you land from then on
(obviously) (or not)

 

[waarmstrong]

Ah, for the simple life of one passport per family member.

 

[Davita]

Davita I still don't understand your logic.

At checkin the agent is worried about whether the arrival immigration will accept the worn passport. Traveller then says, no worries i have dual citizenship and here is a different passport.

Same issue as my kids at the airport checkin with Indonesian passport (one the flight is booked with as it is the departing passport). Checkin agent then says "aha what about the Esta" so then we produce the UK passports with Esta registered.

Same thing. No problem during check-in. Dual passports are frequently required and understood by check-in counters and by all but very junior immigration agents.

Exactly what I've said. Your child checks in with the passport and citizenship as recorded when booking the flight and put into the airlines security system. The child then travels on that passport and citizenship. No problem.
Showing the check-in that the child has dual and can therefore enter UK or, in your example, a UK passport with ESTA registered for USA.....then that's not a security problem for the airline. It's much like me showing I have my Kitap to enter Indonesia and don't need a return ticket. If, at the other end, Immigration have questions that isn't the airlines responsibility...they have done due diligence.

If you had booked the tickets using the child's Indonesian citizenship and passport then fronted up and gave them the child's UK passport and citizenship...check-in will not permit that as it would be a breach of security...it's as if another person is travelling. I didn't say it couldn't be sorted out...but it would take a supervisor to ensure the original person and passports were in compliance and they would need to upgrade their information on the passenger manifest to reflect the flying passenger's real information.

 

[William King]

I had an Australian agent scrutinise my passport with a monocular eyepiece one time...at check in at Jakarta. Apparently we was checking worn passports were authentic.

 

[vocalneal]

Why would someone not take proper care of a government document issued to them. Do you stick in in your back pocket and sit on it for 5 hours? Don't most? people have a fancy leather wallet to keep it in. It is supposed to last 5 or maybe 10 years?
Sorry no empathy.

 

[Anglian]

Why would someone not take proper care of a government document issued to them. Do you stick in in your back pocket and sit on it for 5 hours? Don't most? people have a fancy leather wallet to keep it in. It is supposed to last 5 or maybe 10 years?
Sorry no empathy.

Sorry guilty, my passport when I travel is always in my back pocket, for many, many hours sometimes, the nice UK gold coat of arms emblazoned on the front cover has long gone, bit of a problem really it has another 4 years to go, now will I survive to 84, no problems so far, but if I renew at 84 means it will expire when I’m 94, I think that’s pushing it a bit

 

[Vanhelsing]

The woman who processed me at Indonesian immigration couldn't have cared less.

 

[Ruserious]

Why would someone not take proper care of a government document issued to them

When I was a bit younger I spilt a lot of beer on mine in USA proving I was over 21. Some placed even didn't exept UK passports and wanted only a 'texas' driving licence......

 

[Anglian]

When I was a bit younger I spilt a lot of beer on mine in USA proving I was over 21. Some placed even didn't exept UK passports and wanted only a 'texas' driving licence......

Know the feeling, I tried to buy petrol once but the chap wouldn’t except my English credit card, so I showed him my passport, still refused saying “ I’m not having that foreign money “

 

[vocalneal]

Sorry guilty, my passport when I travel is always in my back pocket, for many, many hours sometimes, the nice UK gold coat of arms emblazoned on the front cover has long gone, bit of a problem really it has another 4 years to go, now will I survive to 84, no problems so far, but if I renew at 84 means it will expire when I’m 94, I think that’s pushing it a bit

I renewed mine. Did i want 5 years or 10 years. I said 10. But it still comes with the same number of pages. FFS!

 

[snpark]

I renewed mine. Did i want 5 years or 10 years. I said 10. But it still comes with the same number of pages. FFS!

Like when I order pizza, I said I'm on a diet, I can't eat 8 slices by myself, so just cut it into 4 instead