While not a china story, I have to assume the same thing happens all over the world.

I was in at the consulate in New York to get a visa to go to Brazil for a trip a few years ago. It was a Monday afternoon. It was a weekend deal, great rates, half mileage run, half vacation.

2/3 of the people in line, dozens of them, were in line because they were sent back from flights at JFK on Sunday, didn't have a visa, and were denied boarding. Many were not from New York, but were connecting there for their flights to Rio.

I couldn't believe how many people just show up and don't have the visa. Every possible excuse, didn't know I needed one, the airline didn't say I needed one when I got my ticket, I'm gonna sue them, etc.

I have to assume it's the same thing for china, so many people feel their passport is all they need and don't bother getting the facts.

We know it because we have the absolute most incredible resources available, other flyertalkers. I have never had a question that wasn't able to be answered here. But many people don't have that to go to , don't have the intelligence to go to the websites, but do have that american passport, and what else do they need?

Stupid people.