Originally Posted by
flyerCO
Just because another airline allowed you to fly to HKG doesn't mean AC wasn't correct in denying boarding. The fact you were allowed into HKG also doesn't mean they weren't correct. There's a difference between an agent feeling all is in order and allowing entry and you meeting every technical detail.
CX being based in HKG is likely to have a better feeling/relationship with HKG immigration than AC.
Ummm…no.
HKG sets the rules; AC has to follow them. If the exact same document is acceptable to the Hong Kong government, but is unacceptable to an AC agent, AC has made an (explicitly) incorrect decision by not following the rules.
AC cannot “correctly” deem a document that has been deemed valid by the HK government, as invalid, any more than it can “correctly” deem a document that the HK government deems invalid, as valid.
Airline agents are not supposed to make these decisions based on how they “feel”. They have to apply the rules as they are written by the government(s). Inadequate training/familiarity with the rules is not an excuse for resorting to random interpretations or feelings.
The same rules apply to all airlines. If AC still doesn’t understand them, or hasn’t trained it’s staff properly, that is an AC issue.
Will note again that the documentation was acceptable to one AC agent (at SEA), but not to another. One of them was incorrect by definition.
Originally Posted by
flyerCO
AC staff att SEA don't deal with a flight to HKG. It is possible they let you board because they believed you were good, but knew YVR would verify.
I've checked in for flights to ATH before. Agents had no clue a PLF form was required. Agents at connecting city did.
Thats incorrect. They’re supposed to check all documents at the origin airport, not the connecting airport. Ask anyone who’s ever flown an EU (or any) sixth freedom how stringent they are about this at origin airports.
It’s the same for domestic - international connections in Canada - docs are checked at check in, or at the gate (if you bypass check in) at the origin airport.