Originally Posted by
nk15
I don't think it is too unreasonable or that hard to train Gate Agents who work on international flights at major hubs, like ORD, to recognize what a visa looks like for a handful of international destinations. Perhaps they could show them some samples, or do a 5-minute training, or send a memo. It is not that complicated.
They are flying flights to Japan, they know that the country now requires a visa for US citizens, it is not that hard to train your gate agents.
I also assume that the OP was not the only American on that flight to TYO. How did the GA clear everyone else with a visa, and the OP with an ERFS....that should have rung alarm bells.
The tourist visa system for Japan was only in place for a very short period, and it's normally a country with a visa waiver program. I think you underestimate how long it takes for corporate to do a "training program" for anything in particular.
UA will perform the document validity check at the point of first check-in. It's quite possible that OP was the only American in AUS going to Japan that day, and even more likely the only one on that flight departing AUS.