Durhhh ... all they needed to do was issue the BP for DME-IAD in BOS or IAD as I have urged all folks here to
ensure they have secured and in their hand BEFORE they step onto the UA 767 in IAD, and there is then
no issue whatever in DME if you have no checked bags.
Clearly you do not need to "check-in" at DME if you
already have your BP ex USA for DME-IAD.
Of course it would help having print outs .. they
ARE the rules that UNITED and the RUSSIANS use - I've posted them here many times, and suggested EVERYONE doing same day turn prints out both the English AND the Russian versions and take them along. Common sense.
It is the same reason
100s of FT'ers have the
United RULES for RCC admittance printed out, and carried with them - we know more about the actual rules, than most gate Matrons, who delight in inventing their own personal versions.
Actually, I was kind of hoping
I'd have an issue getting boarded ex the USA.
I had planned to politely say
"thank you - what a shame - Oh Well - can you please note your decision in the comments field of my PNR please" if that occurred, and walk away with a wide smile when it was done.
THEN I'd later write a note to the 1K line, insisting they credit the miles, and the double EQM, and the 100% bonus, and the 3000 Russia bonus, just as if I'd taken the flight.
Their agent would be WRONG to have refused boarding, and WHQ would see that, but rather than argue at the podium, (and get nowhere) I'd have been delighted to have an unexpected day of sightseeing in IAD.
i.e. as they do all day long for involuntary re-routes on non UA metal. You get all miles and bonuses
as IF you took those flights. If UA cancels a direct flight to Paris or AMS and puts you on Air France or AA or BA etc via a ticket endorsement, you get ALL the UA miles as if you flew it,
AND all the miles from the other carrier too, if you are savvy enough to claim them.
UA would under these circumstances BOS-DME certainly add all the miles etc with no issue if asked the right way.
I'd not have pushed for a refund. All it means was 24 hours less of sitting in planes in coach. UA may also
OFFER one, or a voucher for the pro-rata, but I for one would not push my luck.
Anyway why you did not simply fly the BOS-IAD section of your ticket, and talk to the
fluent RUSSIAN UA speaking/reading agent on the DME gate there - paid to be there for
exactly this kind of issue, sure beats me.
I can imagine at Fargo ND, or St George UT etc, the agents are not up to speed on the Russia flight and Visa details, but the agents at IAD podium
are as they check these flights in each day. @:-)
There is in fact a
DOUBLE CHECK of your Visa at BP reader as well as at podium, so these girls know EXACTLY what the rules are.
I took DAYS researching this, even posting on Russian Travel boards and it was near impossible to get straight answers, so the only way to be sure was to do it first hand and report back.