Pre departure online tests not being accepted by BA at LAS and JFK
Dec 13, 2021, 10:59 pm
#92
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Adorabella My heart goes out to you. In the 20+ years since I have been here have I read such a dreadful story. It is the stuff of nightmares. I detest all the threads about compensation which so often seem money grabbing to me but you are an absolute example of why it must exist. The least, the vey least that BA should do is pay every penny that this escaped cost you. They should have senior Management in LAS tout de suite to start getting to the bottom of this. I sincerely hope that you got the name of the witch that was able to whip a card from a tester from her pocket like that. You were absolutely at her mercy. May I say that my husband was in the Police all his working life at a fairly high level. I have just read your story to him amd his exact words were « Someone’s on the take » You my poor love are a victim and you houle have justice. You did nothing wrong. I’d get a good lawyer on to this as it is so serious. I have never counselled such action before.
i do wonder if BA had any idea of what was being perpetrated in their name. I hope that if everything that we have heard is found to be true by enough complaints that the handling agent company is fired on the spot and American asked to handle the ground handling arrangements with immediate effect. I wonder that poor Adorabella did not lose her wits.
I’m await developments with interest and sympathy.
Dec 13, 2021, 11:01 pm
#93
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Dec 13, 2021, 11:44 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2017
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In writing to BA, at least for the purposes of compensation, I would be highly inclined not to mention your mask situation or your PTSD. Not that you've done anything wrong, but rather because I'd worry that the reader's eyes would hit "mask" (or "exemption") and immediately conclude, "Another unhinged anti-mask rant." Never mind that your case actually has little to do with that. And noting your PTSD might leave a casually sexist reader to conclude it's just another "hysterical" passenger.
Unfair? Of course. But, for purposes of this letter, I think it would be helpful to keep the reader focused on the relevant issues so they realize you have a serious, meritorious claim for compensation.
(I would, however, note that the check-in agent was quick to give you a card for a specific off-airport, in-hotel testing provider. I wouldn't include any speculation about it, but I'd leave it there in case your complaint gets referred to a higher-up. They might be inclined to investigate whether their LAS staff may be moonlighting.)
Unfair? Of course. But, for purposes of this letter, I think it would be helpful to keep the reader focused on the relevant issues so they realize you have a serious, meritorious claim for compensation.
(I would, however, note that the check-in agent was quick to give you a card for a specific off-airport, in-hotel testing provider. I wouldn't include any speculation about it, but I'd leave it there in case your complaint gets referred to a higher-up. They might be inclined to investigate whether their LAS staff may be moonlighting.)
Dec 13, 2021, 11:50 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Posts: 2,447
This is patently false. It shouldn’t be, but sadly it is.
Other countries can and do impose their very own restrictions for travel from said countries point of origin, irrespective of the destination requirements. I encountered this late November in Kenya,(prior to Omicron, so that wasn’t a factor).
Despite US regulations and policies outlining that rapid tests and online tests are acceptable do fly to the US, Kenya itself has imposed a stricter policy that requires a PCR test to leave the country regardless of your destination/residency.
As such, rapid tests are not even available within Kenya. Test results were screened for PCR NAT specific verbiage, a TT number (trusted traveler number only obtained via PCR through a locally approved lab), and a QR code linking to the lab results.
Again, I think it’s absurd and what you are saying SHOULD be true. In practice it is not and I’d urge anyone to very carefully check their destination and origin requirements for both inbound and outbound. It could be an expensive lesson otherwise.
Other countries can and do impose their very own restrictions for travel from said countries point of origin, irrespective of the destination requirements. I encountered this late November in Kenya,(prior to Omicron, so that wasn’t a factor).
Despite US regulations and policies outlining that rapid tests and online tests are acceptable do fly to the US, Kenya itself has imposed a stricter policy that requires a PCR test to leave the country regardless of your destination/residency.
As such, rapid tests are not even available within Kenya. Test results were screened for PCR NAT specific verbiage, a TT number (trusted traveler number only obtained via PCR through a locally approved lab), and a QR code linking to the lab results.
Again, I think it’s absurd and what you are saying SHOULD be true. In practice it is not and I’d urge anyone to very carefully check their destination and origin requirements for both inbound and outbound. It could be an expensive lesson otherwise.
There's likely some ground staff corruption going on at LAS. I don't say that lightly.
Other countries, such as Kenya, will indeed have different policies. The USA, at present, does not have requirements for departure testing and has no authority over the test required to enter the UK.
Dec 14, 2021, 12:41 am
#96
Join Date: Nov 2010
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What you suggest is sensible but I wouldn’t want to let the treatment regarding the exemption go completely. Is it possible to lodge 2 separate complaints? One would seek an apology for this issue and hopefully some retraining. The other would seek the full IDB compensation and hopefully cause management to have a close look at exactly what went on. Would 2 separate complaints be handled separately or would they get conflated and muddy the waters? Experienced FTers will no doubt advise.
Finally, none of this is legal advice, and I'm hardly an expert on these matters. I encourage the disserved passenger to consider a consultation with a competent attorney.
Dec 14, 2021, 1:45 am
#97
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Dec 14, 2021, 2:26 am
#99
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What I see here is an out of control team on the take with management either complicit or impotent as to what is happening on their watch. I hope this ends with a criminal investigation and more so hope that the result is made public.
Dec 14, 2021, 2:42 am
#100
Join Date: Nov 2010
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And the home made sign at LAS was out again 6 hours ago.
https://twitter.com/Stick2323/status...K4lSv3IpA&s=19
https://twitter.com/Stick2323/status...K4lSv3IpA&s=19
Though "Connex Flt — Fully Vaxed" has a rather Hemingwayan succinctness.
Dec 14, 2021, 4:02 am
#101
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Doubtless. However I would bet the one thing that the poor OP cares about with that airport is when it beneather the wings of the aircraft flying her away.
Dec 14, 2021, 4:13 am
#102
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I would avoid the Klarity Health test certificates like the plague (pardon the pun). The fact that you will use self provided tests (even NHS LFT which are not meant for travel purposes) then video yourself taking the test to gain a certificate seems open to massive abuse.
Dec 14, 2021, 4:20 am
#103
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Dec 14, 2021, 4:25 am
#104
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I think there's three separate things here:
1) The Ground staff in LAS are potentially corrupt.
2) BA cannot control the ground staff in LAS.
3) BA has reacted appallingly to the first two. At least at this point they should have admitted something was wrong. But their agents are backing the ground staff, and staring down completely valid complaints from passengers in LAS,
1) The Ground staff in LAS are potentially corrupt.
2) BA cannot control the ground staff in LAS.
3) BA has reacted appallingly to the first two. At least at this point they should have admitted something was wrong. But their agents are backing the ground staff, and staring down completely valid complaints from passengers in LAS,
Dec 14, 2021, 4:31 am
#105
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Why is it so difficult to pick up a phone to the LAS station manager and discuss this to put them right? I really don't want to start sounding like a conspiracy theorist, but it is getting increasingly hard not to start asking whether one or more of your three points is actually true Smid.
I hope everyone who is affected absolutely takes BA to the cleaners on this and recovers all expenses and gets IDB.
I hope everyone who is affected absolutely takes BA to the cleaners on this and recovers all expenses and gets IDB.
Last edited by KARFA; Dec 14, 2021 at 4:49 am Reason: grammar