UN diplomat beckons KLM for discrimination duel
May 7, 2012, 12:58 pm
#1
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UN diplomat beckons KLM for discrimination duel
"A top UN official, who missed a high profile meeting in Brazil after he was stopped from boarding a plane, has looped Royal Dutch Airline KLM in a legal duel that is expected to define the boundaries of discrimination at airports"
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Johan
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Johan
May 8, 2012, 12:11 am
#2
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Sounds like a case of DYKWIA. Playing the race/religion card seems like a desperate attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill.
I'm sure he doesn't mind that kind of segregation for first/business class vs economy passengers.
Citizens of the EU and US queue separately at KLM’s departure gates.
May 8, 2012, 12:22 am
#3
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Originally Posted by wikipedia
A United Nations Laissez-Passer (UNLP or LP) is a travel document issued by the United Nations under the provisions of Article VII of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations[1] in its offices in New York and Geneva, as well as by the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The UNLP is a valid travel document, which can be used like a national passport (in connection with travel on official missions only). As with national passports, some countries/regions accept it for entry without the need for a visa (e.g., Kenya, United Kingdom, Schengen Area, Lebanon, etc.), while most require a visa before it can be accepted for entry to the country. This is regardless of the nationality of the UNLP holder.
Most officials hold a blue UNLP, which is similar in legal status to a service passport (however, diplomatic status may be conferred on the holder if the visa issued in the UNLP is a diplomatic visa).
A red UNLP is issued to particularly high officials, and depending on their rank, this may confer diplomatic privileges and the red UNLP may therefore be similar to a diplomatic passport.
The UNLP is a valid travel document, which can be used like a national passport (in connection with travel on official missions only). As with national passports, some countries/regions accept it for entry without the need for a visa (e.g., Kenya, United Kingdom, Schengen Area, Lebanon, etc.), while most require a visa before it can be accepted for entry to the country. This is regardless of the nationality of the UNLP holder.
Most officials hold a blue UNLP, which is similar in legal status to a service passport (however, diplomatic status may be conferred on the holder if the visa issued in the UNLP is a diplomatic visa).
A red UNLP is issued to particularly high officials, and depending on their rank, this may confer diplomatic privileges and the red UNLP may therefore be similar to a diplomatic passport.
May 9, 2012, 4:22 am
#4
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I suspect most people would be irritated if they were barred from travelling by airline staff, just because the staff member at question did not recognize the travel document.
This is not unique to JKIA btw, I have heard some real rubbish being spouted by KL / subcontracted staff at LHR and AMS when they haven't recognized a travel document. The lesson is proper training.
This is not unique to JKIA btw, I have heard some real rubbish being spouted by KL / subcontracted staff at LHR and AMS when they haven't recognized a travel document. The lesson is proper training.
Last edited by JOUY31; May 9, 2012 at 4:47 am Reason: ending quote clause corrected for clarity
May 10, 2012, 11:50 pm
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May 10, 2012, 11:54 pm
#6
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Or could it be that the airline is forking out way too much money for people who try and enter a visa required country without a valid or false visa/document? When it comes to checking travel docs, I actually think that check-in and boarding staff are very vigilant as it can easily be tracked down to who didn't check properly which can lead in losing your job.
May 11, 2012, 12:23 am
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We only know one side of the story, and which has at least one incorrect statement to make the case of discrimination (a special line for EU and US pax - I never seen this happen at NBO or somewhere else).
I have to say that I have seen many that believe their certain status in this world allows them to be rude and misbehave inproperly. I don't want to say this is the case, but it again we don't know any of the facts, only a newspaper article (and we have seen many of those pass by too - too eager to report stories without presenting all the facts).
I have to say that I have seen many that believe their certain status in this world allows them to be rude and misbehave inproperly. I don't want to say this is the case, but it again we don't know any of the facts, only a newspaper article (and we have seen many of those pass by too - too eager to report stories without presenting all the facts).
May 11, 2012, 11:25 am
#10
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People make mistakes, for any reason. It is absurd of the diplomat to blow this up unnecessarily and to play the race card. No doubt should KLM apologize and show give some sort of compensation, but what that guy wants is frankly over the top.
May 12, 2012, 7:20 am
#12
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Agree - Doubt it was race - think it was nationality. If he would have had a EU passport they wouldn't have refused boarding.
May 12, 2012, 7:51 am
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How could they determine he wasn't a EU national before asking him for his passport? He was traveling on a UN LP, which is like a passport but doesn't mention nationality of the traveling person (it mentions "United Nations" and the issuing agency). So, while he was holding a regular travel document, as his aide was, he was asked to justify his nationality. Why? If, as you say, he would have boarded if he was a EU or US national, the agent assumed he wasn't a US/EU national on basis of.. his skin colour? I can totally see why he felt discriminated on ethnic grounds when asked to produce another travel document (not useful for traveling since he wouldn't have a Brazilian visa on it) on top of his own, before his nationality was known.
May 12, 2012, 11:04 am
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Whether the LP is Red or Blue, if it contains a visa to enter the destination country, or, if the destination country accepts a UNLP as a valid travel document for official missions, the Airline staff should consider it as a valid and should not interfere with the official's travel. If there were no grounds to not let the Official travel (Usually, a suspicion of a fake travel document is not a valid reason until the suspicion is proven to be true), there is a violation of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of Specialized Agencies, Article 8, Section 27.
May 13, 2012, 8:41 am
#15
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Whether the LP is Red or Blue, if it contains a visa to enter the destination country, or, if the destination country accepts a UNLP as a valid travel document for official missions, the Airline staff should consider it as a valid and should not interfere with the official's travel. If there were no grounds to not let the Official travel (Usually, a suspicion of a fake travel document is not a valid reason until the suspicion is proven to be true), there is a violation of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of Specialized Agencies, Article 8, Section 27.
However, KL may well be in breach of the contract for transportation for denying boarding to an individual notwithstanding the fact that the individual had appropriate travel documents.