Reading through Sabre's documentation I found that you can send an SSR message (whatever that is) to the airline with code DEPU--"deportee - unaccompanied."

This is in the same category of code that gets sent to the airline for requesting special meals, wheelchair assistance, passport information, and seat requests.

So what would happen to me if I put DEPU in the PNR for my NYC-ATH-TLV-NYC trip in November?

Short of that, anyone have any interesting "I was deported from..." stories?

Justing thinking aloud here.... but I'm guessing that having the DEPU flag on your NYC-ATH leg may cause a hell of a time for you trying to board your TLV-NYC leg. If I saw that you were deported on your NYC-ATH leg, I'd certainly have a little more than a curiosity as to why you were trying to go back.

Recently I had a US visa that required work everytime I reentered the US, so I spent a lot of time in the custom area (Green Card fixed that!). Lots of kids come to the US with very little money and are often sent back right away. Customs do not like the idea of a teen backpacking through the US.

SSR: Special Service Report

I would not add DEPU to your reservation record. You would use this to indicate that someone is being returned home after being refused entry into the country. This would be someone like a young woman claiming that she is here for a holiday but the Immigration Office discovered that she will really going to be a nanny. This young woman will not be allowed entry and will be sent back on the first available non stop flight home, therefore not needing an escort to make sure she doesn't become a runner.

Bad things. You would probably be denied boarding when you showed up at checkin anyway - DEPUs don't waltz up to the counter themselves. Also, most airlines have a maximum quota of DEPUs that they will accomodate on a single flight - if that is exceeded you will be left behind. Some routes are more DEPU-intensive than others as you can imagine.

DEPA is one step up from DEPU. Only the really nasty pieces of work get to be DEPAs. They are always fun to have around. Imagine Cyrus the Virus from Con Air, but with 2 guys in business suits on either side. Maybe you should send a DEPA SSR and then tell checkin that you ate your escorts. That would be good for a laugh.

Okay, thank you for that. That's exactly what I wanted to know.

SN has a reservations manual online. It mentions the same thing about having a "limited inventory" available for DEPUs, and then also mentions that there is a limit of 5 DEPUs transiting through BRU on any given day. Which seems sorta odd.

I guess I won't code myself DEPU then... I'm surprised Sabre would actually let you do that anyway. Maybe I'll code myself as an unaccompanied minor and hope the FA holding my hand all the way to the gate is hot.

Please continue to follow this thread in the TS/S Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

In June, I had wheelchair assistance in SYD int'l; as a consequence I was taken to the aircraft door, in the chair, before boarding started. One flight attendant peeked out and said, "You can board in a minute." I stood up.

The purser came out with an envelope, and said to me, "I know that all you really want right now is a stiff drink, but I have to inform you that QF is not allowed to serve you alcohol on this flight."

I looked over my shoulder at the wheelchair and said, "Umm, because of the wheelchair???". He looked at the name on my boarding pass, the name on his envelope (which didn't match), shook his head and said, "I'm so sorry. You don't look like the sort of person who gets deported, anyway."

So now ya know - get deported, no get drinks.

That's depressing. People who are being deported probably need a stiff drink more so than the rest of us.

SABRE is not intended to be a consumer system where the end user is able to add SSRs a-la-carte. A travel agent who books a deportee must be able to add the relevant SSR however. Hence the functionality.

Again, a bad idea. If you're coded as a UMNR, you will need a parent or guardian to drop you off at the airport and complete the relevant paperwork - and you will also be held at your destination until the relevant parent or guardian comes along to sign the paperwork and pick you up. Not exactly conducive to smooth business travel.