Hey so yesterday when i was checking in for my flight HK-AMS-LHR, the check in agent suddenly stares at his screen and asks me, “do you have a visa for London”.

I laugh a little and answer no cuz I’m a euro and don’t need one. He, however, insists and says i need a visa for the UK because according to his screen they have received a notice that citizens from my country now need a visa.

Flabbergasted, I proceed to show him the gov.uk website where it clearly says that i don’t, but alas, he stands firm and i need a visa. (I think he was new. He looked quite young too so who knows.)

In any case, his colleague comes over and checks my passport and tells him he looked up the info for the wrong country and all is resolved with an apology and tix quickly printed. I’m not fussed. Thought it was quite funny.

But this got me thinking. What if a less astute passenger just accepts what is presented as fact? Will they be denied boarding because some kid wasn’t paying enough attention in geography class? Who will be held responsible?

oh and the Lufthansa flight was cancelled and I think that’s the reason i got upgraded to fancy class for all those who decided to transit via AMS instead. So all in all quite a positive experience.