Originally Posted by bobnick
The Formula One driver Takuma Sato was turned away from Brazil on Wednesday as he didn't have the necessary visa - he somehow managed to get on the plane in London; perhaps the BA Gate/Lounge Agent wasn't paying too much attention if he'd earlier used SSCI!
Poor guy was going to be in Sao Paulo for less than 24 hours anyway, and took the return flight he was booked on anyway to go back (same aircraft he went out on I believe). At least he got the miles.
This might be a case of nationals of the country not necessarily needing visas for Brazil. Sometimes, tourists do not need a visa but people coming to work etc. do. Airlines aren't able to make that sort of distinction, as they can't interrogate all pax as to the purpose of their trip and then decide whether you need a visa, plus any such system is likely to get it wrong often.