Originally Posted by
HowieLI
To Fellows FlyerTalk Forums Members,
We planned a sporting trip from USA to the Russian Federation at the end of August and booked flights on United with a layover on Brussels Belgium onto Moscow. Some of the members of the sporting team have encounter denial of boarding pass at check-in locations due to IATA miss information stating that “Nationals of USA must arrive on a direct flight from USA.” Does anyone know how to compel IATA to remove their FALSE and misleading information regarding the direct flight?
We have Called Russian Embassy at multiple occasions and consulted with US Embassy in Moscow they are not aware of the direct flight restriction. Therefore, we know that the direct flight restriction is FALSE.
If you use the IATA Travel Centre link and pretended traveling from USA to Russian Federation. You will get a warning about the direct flight requirement. The issue is Airline gate agents looked at IATA as an authoritative guide related to all things travel. Some gate agents will simply denial the issuing of boarding pass and force customers to rebooked last minute direct flight or cancel trip. All based on FALSE and misleading information provided by IATA TIMATIC system.
Any Fellows member that has dealing with IATA or have worked at Airlines please help. Time is of the essence.
I’ve tried the following.
1. Contacted IATA – no positive acknowledgment on the issues.
2. Contacted United – the reservation desk has generated an internal memo to IT without positive result yet.
What else can we do??
Thanks in Advance for your time
Howie Li
I am sorry but its not the Travel Agent ,Booking Agency's and even the IATA website's responsibility to know the entry requirements of the country. This is why you call up the Embassy before booking a trip and see the requirements online. I have had to call the Brazil Embassy to get the Visa entry information. At the end of the day the airline can and does deny boarding for these types of incidents as its incumbent on the passengers to have full and accurate information. A Travel Agent can only advise you but its best to Google online what the entry requirements are. The entry requirements can change many times before a trip.
For instance your Passport needs to be valid for 6 months after you return trip. Russia requires a Visa and can also require a Negative PCR Test and they can even add a "Fit For Travel" document signed by a Doctor. Immigration is separate from Travel Booking agencies. I could book a flight to a Country that does not welcome US Citizens does it mean that I can fly there? Yes Does it mean that I will be allowed to enter there? No.
During the COVID shutdown Air France had flights to and from SFO I as a US Citizen could be denied entry into France. Yes I could easily book this flight but France could deny me entry if I did not have the proper documentation to enter!
Some countries can even impose a policy stating that US Citizens will not be allowed to transit through the country. Yes a flight operates from Europe via that country to another country and EU Nationals can be allowed but not US Citizens or vice versa.
Point is just because you can book a flight does not mean you can enter a country.
In the OP's case here the IATA website provided False information about the requirement for a Direct Flight here again it is incumbent to know the entry requirements before purchasing a ticket and not to book with a Travel Agent or other service who does not know the requirements. As you can see Travel Agents and websites are not the Russian Government nor are Airline employees they can only advise and deny you boarding so as not to encounter a fine for transporting a passenger who does not have sufficient travel documents and an airline has an obligation to transport a deported passenger back to the Origin of that flight per the Government agreements but the traveler can be asked to cover all expenses.