Originally Posted by
rrapynot
Why do people always jump on the visa thing with Brazil? Most of the world doesn't need one. You don't get people reminding everyone about visas on every single fare to China.
American flyers are really touchy about the visa situation in Brazil, because they view it as retaliatory.
And it is.
But it is retaliatory because the US government imposes ridiculously onerous restriction on flyers to South America who transit through the US. (For ex-Asia flights, this is just about the only practical way, unless you can snag a deal through Africa or Australia, or take a 48 hour flight through CDG/FRA/etc.).
So yes, it sucks, call your congressman.