Captains Judgement. Your opinions?!
Feb 16, 2019, 5:01 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,583
Originally Posted by worldclubber;30785149[left
But LH should have at least been able to tell the captain that the pax is not the problem. Maybe they did and that’s why he flew back in 3K.
Feb 16, 2019, 7:24 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN**, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 667
These Mexican authorities are the problem!!
A few months ago 2 other LH F pax and myself (also in F) were denied entry as they claimed all of us three were intoxicated, fighting with custom authorities and refusing to give our passports to the custom officers. None of it was true! They wanted us to sign a letter and claimed that a doctor measured our alcohol in blood. No one ever did!
I later received a written confirmation from LH that I was not drunk.
Turned out the Mexicans wanted bribary. As we didn't cooperate we were put in a sort of jail for 24h (I was forced to "sleep" on the ground without a mattress etc.) and I was sent back on LH (in C) to FRA 24h after I landed in MEX.
A total disaster. LH Mexican ground staff has also been completely useless.
There seems to be consistency and I personally believe that LH ground staff is even involved as it cannot be pure coincidence that only LH F pax are accused for things they didn't commit - and later on asked for money/watch etc.
A few months ago 2 other LH F pax and myself (also in F) were denied entry as they claimed all of us three were intoxicated, fighting with custom authorities and refusing to give our passports to the custom officers. None of it was true! They wanted us to sign a letter and claimed that a doctor measured our alcohol in blood. No one ever did!
I later received a written confirmation from LH that I was not drunk.
Turned out the Mexicans wanted bribary. As we didn't cooperate we were put in a sort of jail for 24h (I was forced to "sleep" on the ground without a mattress etc.) and I was sent back on LH (in C) to FRA 24h after I landed in MEX.
A total disaster. LH Mexican ground staff has also been completely useless.
There seems to be consistency and I personally believe that LH ground staff is even involved as it cannot be pure coincidence that only LH F pax are accused for things they didn't commit - and later on asked for money/watch etc.
Feb 16, 2019, 1:49 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
These Mexican authorities are the problem!!
A few months ago 2 other LH F pax and myself (also in F) were denied entry as they claimed all of us three were intoxicated, fighting with custom authorities and refusing to give our passports to the custom officers. None of it was true! They wanted us to sign a letter and claimed that a doctor measured our alcohol in blood. No one ever did!
I later received a written confirmation from LH that I was not drunk.
Turned out the Mexicans wanted bribary. As we didn't cooperate we were put in a sort of jail for 24h (I was forced to "sleep" on the ground without a mattress etc.) and I was sent back on LH (in C) to FRA 24h after I landed in MEX.
A total disaster. LH Mexican ground staff has also been completely useless.
There seems to be consistency and I personally believe that LH ground staff is even involved as it cannot be pure coincidence that only LH F pax are accused for things they didn't commit - and later on asked for money/watch etc.
A few months ago 2 other LH F pax and myself (also in F) were denied entry as they claimed all of us three were intoxicated, fighting with custom authorities and refusing to give our passports to the custom officers. None of it was true! They wanted us to sign a letter and claimed that a doctor measured our alcohol in blood. No one ever did!
I later received a written confirmation from LH that I was not drunk.
Turned out the Mexicans wanted bribary. As we didn't cooperate we were put in a sort of jail for 24h (I was forced to "sleep" on the ground without a mattress etc.) and I was sent back on LH (in C) to FRA 24h after I landed in MEX.
A total disaster. LH Mexican ground staff has also been completely useless.
There seems to be consistency and I personally believe that LH ground staff is even involved as it cannot be pure coincidence that only LH F pax are accused for things they didn't commit - and later on asked for money/watch etc.
Feb 16, 2019, 3:10 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
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On one out of the only two trips I have made to Mexico I had to bribe the immigration officer. My passport (UK) was deemed ok but not that of my companion (Brazilian) so I slipped him 15 bucks with a smile, just playing the game. It was either that or be turned back - not sure how LTU International Airways would have dealt with that one. I still like Mexico and I would risk it again, especially to visit Mexico City at some point.
Feb 16, 2019, 3:20 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Feb 16, 2019, 4:09 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,626
Feb 17, 2019, 2:01 am
#37
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Feb 17, 2019, 3:11 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,244
It sounds as if you and other passengers had passed through immigration and were detained at the luggage/customs area? The returned traveler in the story was not even allowed to enter the country, stopped by immigration, so I think your incident was a little different,
It is very alarming what you describe and consistent with what the OP described. Just out of curiosity and to prevent to be in a similar situation on my next trip to MEX, can you describe in a bit more detail how much and what you and your two fellow F pax drank on the flight? Did you drink throughout the flight? Only during the main service or also before landing? Again, I am not judging or doubt anything you wrote - and like to drink a couple of glasses of champagne and wine in F myself, sometimes more than what is good for me.
Personally I had some champagne and wine on board. That's it . No mixed drinks, no liquors. And I slept the last 3 hours before arrival. Definitely not wasted
. After all I was travelling with other work colleagues who all cleared immigration without problem but they were either in Y or C.After the incident, my boss already recommended to me not to fly F anymore... but thankfully my subsequent F trips were seamless
.It goes without saying that I avoid Mexico now. Not because I fear to go through the same ordeal again, but rather because I believe there are better countries to spend the company's or personal money.
I still do not understand why you described it as ' no arrival service whatsoever' in the Special F/HON Services thread. This sounds like ta rather special F arrival service if that's what it is.
During the time we were in the detention cell the LH ground staff showed its total incompetence. They didn't offer any help nor did they care at all. Neither did the Swiss consul btw.
Last edited by oliver2002; Feb 18, 2019 at 1:13 am Reason: please use multiquote
Feb 17, 2019, 6:40 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,187
I wrote that because there was no PA on arrival. Apparently there normally are, but in my case we were completely on our own.
During the time we were in the detention cell the LH ground staff showed its total incompetence. They didn't offer any help nor did they care at all. Neither did the Swiss consul btw.
During the time we were in the detention cell the LH ground staff showed its total incompetence. They didn't offer any help nor did they care at all. Neither did the Swiss consul btw.
Feb 17, 2019, 7:00 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
Wow what an ordeal. Does Immigration know that a person is in First? How did you get out, did you have to pay a fine? And your consul gave no help?
Feb 17, 2019, 8:14 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,626
Like most countries with these or similar issues, most of the people are fine and friendly. But I have experienced so much BS in Mexico with „authorities“ (e.g. involving traffic police targeting foreigners etc.) that, as you said, I just don’t have much desire to go back.
Feb 18, 2019, 7:18 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,244
No I didn't pay a fine. But among the three of us I was the only one who had to fly back in the end. The others were at some point released (one after about 2h, the other after ~20h). I could imagine they paid something ... one guy was a high level executive of a German car manufacturer...
From me they expected to collect valuables in the lower 5 digits. They got nothing.
The Swiss consul told me these things can happen in Mexico and there is nothing he can do. He wished me a nice day. As he knew I was in detention I found these words also inappropriate.
Feb 18, 2019, 7:52 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: CH
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 899
Not so sure there was nothing the consul could do if a Swiss citizen was arrested in those circumstances.
What I do not get, is how they can determine that you were flying in F, especially as you did not have any ground service escorting you. Do you believe that the LH ground personel chooses to remain remote of the F passengers and sends their names to immigration?
What I do not get, is how they can determine that you were flying in F, especially as you did not have any ground service escorting you. Do you believe that the LH ground personel chooses to remain remote of the F passengers and sends their names to immigration?
Last edited by Nic33; Feb 18, 2019 at 8:31 am
Feb 18, 2019, 8:40 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: CH
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 899
On one out of the only two trips I have made to Mexico I had to bribe the immigration officer. My passport (UK) was deemed ok but not that of my companion (Brazilian) so I slipped him 15 bucks with a smile, just playing the game. It was either that or be turned back - not sure how LTU International Airways would have dealt with that one. I still like Mexico and I would risk it again, especially to visit Mexico City at some point.
Feb 18, 2019, 11:24 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,961
The issue, especially for those of us who are not used to bribes, is that, as long as there is no attempt to bribe, there is no offense, but, if a bribe is offered, there is an offense. Accordingly, the passenger who tries to pass immigration by offering a USD 20 or 100 bill could find himself in trouble for having committed a criminal offense.
