I have first hand experience with a TIP ticket I flew in April 07 so I will pass on my experience here. The ticket was on Emirates stock and one other star alliance carrier RT, and it was paper issued in the USA. I am a US citizen and obtained a entry visa just in case. Here is my story and YMMV.
I arrived in TIP on BA my bag was only tagged to TIP and I needed to collect my luggage and check in with Emmirates. Well trying to clear customs was not going to happen for me I was escorted to 3 stations then to an office. They took my passport and my paper ticket and then escorted me to what I call the holding cell LOL it really is the gateside secured area of the airport. There is a snackbar but without local currency no way to purchase anything,and without my boarding pass i was unable to get into the lounge on three tries. I asked if they would call down to Emirates and no luck. I sat around for 4 hours and then 30 minutes before take off they come upstairs with all the passports and boarding passes. I standed in the long line to get on my plane. I now had to get my luggage I told my problem to the F purser and they went and had someone make sure my bag got loaded but it only got checked to DXB and not BKK my final destination due to checking in the bag late..LOL. The TIP airport is not someplace you want to be stranded and I must say it was not a comfortable experience there.
MY trip was hassle free once I left TIP. Would I go back and do it again, I don't think so,it is a place where you could very easily be in limbo for a long time.