Originally Posted by
Tobias-UK
From what the OP says he needed an eTA number to be inserted into the system (presumably for travel authorisation by the Canadians).
No. BA told the OP that a eTA number was needed (When in fact it was not).
Originally Posted by
Tobias-UK
I'm not familiar with the Canadian eTA process as far as airlines are concerned but it appears that the Canadian Authorities indicate if there is a valid eTA associated with the API found within the PNR. If there is no valid eTA then the passenger is flagged at the conformance stage and not authorised to travel or board the aircraft.
Pure conjecture - specifically the final sentence. Far more likely the agent didn't get beyond a blank screen to check eTA status.
Originally Posted by
Tobias-UK
BA, the OP tells us, contacted the Canadian Authorities to seek advice on whether the passenger was allowed to travel to Canada. The airline relied on the advice given to it by the Canadian Authorities and, with respect, at that point it is irrelevant what the TIMATIC guidance says on the matter.
No. BA told the OP that they had contacted someone for advice. God knows who that was.
Quite possible the conversation was a simple as "I have a German passport holder without an eTA trying to travel to Canada. What should I do?"
Originally Posted by
Tobias-UK
BA contacted the Canadian Authorities for advice, they acted on that advice - what more could they do? What they did do was to put the OP on a flight to BOS at no additional cost to him, they were under no legal obligation to do so, they could quite easily have refused to let him travel at all and told him to sing for a refund.
Again, we have no idea who the agent contacted, what questions were asked or what advice was given.
According to both CIC and IATA the OP should have been allowed to board. The fact that this was re-iterated once the OP made it to Canada is strong (circumstantial) evidence that something went very wrong at LHR and I honestly don't think it's fair to suggest the OP was somehow at fault.