Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Air Canada | Aeroplan
Reload this Page >

AC staff at SFO allegedly asked a 12yr old to remove her hijab before boarding

AC staff at SFO allegedly asked a 12yr old to remove her hijab before boarding

Old Aug 6, 2019, 4:22 pm
  #31  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 17,954
Originally Posted by canopus27
You don't think that identifying someone is part of a security process?
They did not say it was to identify her and violated their own policies by having her unveil in a public place, despite multiple requests from the girl for privacy.
RoxyMountain is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 4:23 pm
  #32  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Originally Posted by 5mm
Canadian rules/laws require all pax to show ID at the gate for all flights into Canada or inside Canada. Canadian security rules are stronger than the USA's. I don't believe you that you have board flights into Canada without and gate ID check.


Originally Posted by canadiancow
I believe him, I just think it was against the rules.
I thought it was against the rules, too. So I asked someone we both know who is familiar with the rules. He explained that TSA check IDs before security in the US, therefore gate checks of ID are not necessary; this is different from “not performed” or “not common.” He went on to explain that flights to Canada require a “DOCS OK” check prior to boarding the aircraft. This check, as many of you already know, doesn’t necessarily have to happen at the gate; it can happen at the check-in counter. Therefore, it’s entirely possible that my ID was not checked at the gate and that it wasn’t against the rules.

For anyone who remains skeptical, feel free to visit https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/.../FullText.html — the “Identification — International Flight” section is the relevant one.

Also, @HerpaYvr — I lol’d




canadiancow likes this.

Last edited by ffsim; Aug 6, 2019 at 4:29 pm
ffsim is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 4:44 pm
  #33  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, hhonors Gold
Posts: 3,417
Originally Posted by ffsim

I thought it was against the rules, too. So I asked someone we both know who is familiar with the rules. He explained that TSA check IDs before security in the US, therefore gate checks of ID are not necessary; this is different from “not performed” or “not common.” He went on to explain that flights to Canada require a “DOCS OK” check prior to boarding the aircraft. This check, as many of you already know, doesn’t necessarily have to happen at the gate; it can happen at the check-in counter. Therefore, it’s entirely possible that my ID was not checked at the gate and that it wasn’t against the rules.

For anyone who remains skeptical, feel free to visit https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/.../FullText.html — the “Identification — International Flight” section is the relevant one.
You are correct about the fact that in the US they do document checks against ID at the TSA screening and in Canada they do it at the gate, so for a security perspective they've done the proper screen. Document checks clear a flag that shows you have valid id and you are right they can be done before boarding or at check-in. However, for immigration purposes Air Canada and all other airlines operating international flights from the US do a verification on boarding to confirm that they are actually transporting the authorized passenger or they would risk fines for transporting someone without proper authorization. Some checks are more cursory than others, but it would be pretty dumb to just let anyone with a valid boarding pass on to an international flight without confirming that they meet the entry requirements and the only way to do that is matching the id to boarding pass.
yyzgigi is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 4:44 pm
  #34  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
'Security' seems to be invoked very rapidly whenever an airline employee isn't getting their way and without a statement from an actual government agency I wouldn't attach much meaning to it beyond "you (the passenger) are annoying me".

Once I was boarding a flight from YVR and when I encountered those FAs who stand at the entrance of the aircraft to tell infrequent flyers which aisle they should turn down, I said, as I have done hundreds of times, my seat number and that I knew where it was. Within 15 seconds I was being threatened with arrest for security violations and not showing my boarding pass.

Anything can be "security" when an airline employee needs to feel empowered to bully someone.
eigenvector is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 5:12 pm
  #35  
Original Member
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
I'm pretty sure somewhere in Air Canada's tarriff it states something like

"You must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing a hajib on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
KenHamer is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 5:13 pm
  #36  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
Originally Posted by eigenvector
'Security' seems to be invoked very rapidly whenever an airline employee isn't getting their way and without a statement from an actual government agency I wouldn't attach much meaning to it beyond "you (the passenger) are annoying me".

Once I was boarding a flight from YVR and when I encountered those FAs who stand at the entrance of the aircraft to tell infrequent flyers which aisle they should turn down, I said, as I have done hundreds of times, my seat number and that I knew where it was. Within 15 seconds I was being threatened with arrest for security violations and not showing my boarding pass.

Anything can be "security" when an airline employee needs to feel empowered to bully someone.
I agree. Quite often they tell me to go to the wrong aisle or turn in the wrong direction get quite upset when I tell them it’s to the left or the next aisle. One has to obey....
lallied is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 5:31 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,815
I still feel this is a tempest in a teapot.

Hey, 40 years ago a Florida cop gave me a hard time for no particular reason. Threatened me.....I managed not to go to the media about it....
flyquiet and 24left like this.
mapleg is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 6:00 pm
  #38  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Originally Posted by yyzgigi
However, for immigration purposes Air Canada and all other airlines operating international flights from the US do a verification on boarding to confirm that they are actually transporting the authorized passenger or they would risk fines for transporting someone without proper authorization. Some checks are more cursory than others, but it would be pretty dumb to just let anyone with a valid boarding pass on to an international flight without confirming that they meet the entry requirements and the only way to do that is matching the id to boarding pass.
”Pretty dumb” or not, I’m telling you this is exactly what happened with me — there was absolutely no ID check whatsoever at the gate. I could’ve been wearing a hijab, a niqab, a turban or anything in between; no one wanted to see my ID during the boarding process, despite me holding my passport open to the ID page. I found that strange, and looked into it. I’ve also shared what I learnt — with citations — up thread.
ffsim is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 6:04 pm
  #39  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
Originally Posted by RoxyMountain
the AC staff told the kid that she needed to remove her scarf for "security reasons", not to identity her. Forcing her to do it in a public space is unacceptable.
I think the sister tweeted that the passenger said that the agent said....

​​​​​Just saying...
DrunkCargo is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 6:20 pm
  #40  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,166
I would like to add to my earlier comments. I have now seen the interview with the girl in question and now do think why the AC agent wanted to see her face without the Hijab. She had her passport picture without the hijab. Now if this was a 12 year old girl and traveling with a group That means an escorted adult is with the group and to remove her from the group and do it individually is simply not acceptable. Furthermore privacy is of paramount importance and if she has requested as she says in her interview then it should have been done in private.
The main purpose is verification of the passenger and the documents and hence I also do not see how it cannot be done without asking her to remove her Hijab. The videos of her wearing the Hijab and traveling through is also online and you can see her complete face in the videos.
Davvidd is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 6:26 pm
  #41  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Originally Posted by dav662
The main purpose is verification of the passenger and the documents and hence I also do not see how it cannot be done without asking her to remove her Hijab.
The legal requirement, per the law I linked to upthread, is:

Verification of name — boarding pass
  • 5 (1) An air carrier must, before issuing a boarding pass to any person who appears to be 18 years of age or older, verify the identity of the person by comparing their name with the names of listed persons.
I know kids — girls in particular — tend to look older than they used to “in our day,” but there’s a massive spread between a tween and a “person who appears to be 18 years of age or older.”

I’ll also take this opportunity to add to my previous comments; if the story is true, this is harassment, pure and simple.
ffsim is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 7:27 pm
  #42  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,166
Originally Posted by ffsim
The legal requirement, per the law I linked to upthread, is:
I know kids — girls in particular — tend to look older than they used to “in our day,” but there’s a massive spread between a tween and a “person who appears to be 18 years of age or older.”

I’ll also take this opportunity to add to my previous comments; if the story is true, this is harassment, pure and simple.
I do not think she was even a teen. I think it was reported that she was 12 years old. I entirely agree with you on this if this is true.
Davvidd is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 7:43 pm
  #43  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
Originally Posted by dav662
I do not think she was even a teen. I think it was reported that she was 12 years old. I entirely agree with you on this if this is true.
Tween, not teen.
ffsim likes this.
MSPeconomist is offline  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 7:47 pm
  #44  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,284
Not that 12 or 13 really makes a difference here.
ffsim likes this.
canadiancow is online now  
Old Aug 6, 2019, 7:48 pm
  #45  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,166
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
Tween, not teen.
It was informal for teenager.
Davvidd is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.