Originally Posted by
GS8101
I never understand why GA has to check passports again. Maybe you don't look like someone from the (your so-called decent) county?
heehee
Don't think that was an issue!
Originally Posted by
flyingnosh
That doesn't change anything. Everything happened the way it should. The agent taking boarding passes noticed that OP presented a passport from country X, and the agent didn't know for sure what the Singapore entry requirements are for citizens from country X. That's what triggered the look-up in the computer system.
I think it was Canadian entry requirements they were concerned about.
Originally Posted by
denuaflier
All you needed was a passport check stamp on your boarding pass.
Do they do that at EWR? A check-in agent will have to check your travel docs there in many cases (like this one), but can't remember a stamp...
Originally Posted by
zrs70
If I read the OP correctly, he already complained and got 5K miles. So I'm not sure where he is going with this. Perhaps the tread title should be, "UA listened to my complaint and gave me compensation. Thanks, United!"
I just think how the situation was handled was very annoying. It's a different environment vs. ASPAC region for sure.
I agree UA made an effort with recovery here.
Originally Posted by
rankourabu
The OP was flying EWR-YYZ - Like it or not, its mandatory to present a passport at the gate for cross-border flights, its not a UA-only rule
It doesnt matter if you are from a 'decent' country or not.
oh the humanity... bin space on a E145 (which there isnt any for seat 2A anyway)
I think you must be right - I've flown between the US and Canada a few times over the years, and the process can be a little bit different.
ERJ-145 - that's a fair comment re bin space ^
Originally Posted by
bmwe92fan
After 911 - Status and booked cabin are basically irrelevant when flying from the US (YMMV). And when you are transiting a THIRD country to get to your destination I've found that this is normal these days when the originating country is the US - I have taken this exact routing many times and now ALWAYS go to the gate in advance and ask if they are doing a doc check if I don't get the stamp at the lounge....
You need to understand that the US - Like Israel and a few other countries - now operate under a very different set of security protocols than the rest of the world - and when Japan or HKG or SIN has its buidlings destroyed by terrorists and thousands of citizens die perhaps they will "tighten" their security protocols as well - until then I keep my mouth shut and understand that this is the price I have to pay for travelling interntionally from the US and for having the priveledge of being able to live here.
Yes, I have flown on LY and been to TLV. It can be interesting, and I appreciate ethnic profiling etc. is a must for them.
Now, it is a slightly different thing being inconvenienced by a gate agent at EWR vs. someone from shin bet / LY security doing their jobs. I did not get the impression this check was handled too professionally.
As for Singapore, these issues are taken very seriously.
Originally Posted by
Shareholder
Actually, as Rankourabu noted, it is standard practice on flights to Canada from the US that all passports are checked prior to boarding, agents generally make an announcement to go to the counter to have them checked. This is irrespective of the country that issued your passport. Since I do such flights on UA, AC and AA just about every month, I always ensure I get to the gate from the lounge prior to the boarding time and go to the counter to show my passport (Canadian...and proud to let anyone know that rather important fact the OP seems overly reluctant to reveal). OP may have been using the UC and missed the gate announcement about having their passport checked at the counter, thus incurring the check as he boarded.
So this is actually a normal procedure for such transborder flights and had nothing to do with the nationality of the OP or his passport. Much ado about nothing!
I certainly had my passport available upon boarding. It is just the fact that a passport issued by Finland (let's be clear about that then) apparently was a concern for the gate agent.
Originally Posted by
horse glasses
What exactly is "a pretty decent country"?
In this context, I would assume there are not many citizens of Finland who are in e.g. Canada or the US illegally at the moment.