Child arriving to IAD, doesn't speak English - need help urgently
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DCA
Posts: 677
Child arriving to IAD, doesn't speak English - need help urgently
13 y.o. but doesn't speak English. It's an international flight, from SVO. For some strange reason Aeroflot would not provide UM services.
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: up front or in a suite!!!!
Programs: all the big ones.. no LCCs for me
Posts: 1,064
Yes I would think that you could get a gate pass, although I would first call DL to a, find out and b, see what you need to bring to get a gate pass, then I would get to the airport early to go through the hassle
howeve I wonder why wasn't the child at least given notes in english as to provide to aircraft, ground, someone else for help if needed. This doesn't sound like there were very responsible parents or guardians sending this child. Why didn't they arrange in advance for you to meet them inside by providing you with gate pass info?
howeve I wonder why wasn't the child at least given notes in english as to provide to aircraft, ground, someone else for help if needed. This doesn't sound like there were very responsible parents or guardians sending this child. Why didn't they arrange in advance for you to meet them inside by providing you with gate pass info?
#3
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
13 y.o. but doesn't speak English. It's an international flight, from SVO. For some strange reason Aeroflot would not provide UM services.
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
I am unsure about IAD having a UM club or facilities, maybe a quick study of the airport would suffice.
BTW: What's up with all the UM and elderly being shipped from Russia to the U.S.? I have noticed a heavy increase at FRA, MUC, and JFK for Russian speaking persons that clearly appeared to be totally irritated by the strange environment. Wasn't there even a news article about a "lost" person who took the flight straight back instead of a connection latetly?
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York/Moscow
Programs: Aeroflot Gold, DL Silver, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, NEXUS
Posts: 243
Call Aeroflot
Call Aeroflot's DC office and push to speak with the manager. Perhaps he can arrange an escort/flight attendent to bring the kid through customs/passport control. This is a more complex problem than getting a gate pass
Contact for Aeroflot, buried on their website (not sure if I can post a phone number):
http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en/office_items/261
If you can't get in touch with the DC office (and I assume they close precisely at 5pm), go to the Aeroflot checkin counter before the plane's arrival and beg to speak to the station chief (the front line people are probably contracted).
Contact for Aeroflot, buried on their website (not sure if I can post a phone number):
http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en/office_items/261
If you can't get in touch with the DC office (and I assume they close precisely at 5pm), go to the Aeroflot checkin counter before the plane's arrival and beg to speak to the station chief (the front line people are probably contracted).
Last edited by MaecDavidMiller; Aug 3, 2011 at 3:14 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Unless you have a passport yourself, I can't imagine you would be allowed to meet the passenger at the gate, in the sterile area before immigration. But as was suggested, contact DL or better yet, Aeroflot since SU operates the flight.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL DM, EY Plat, MM Senator
Posts: 493
13 y.o. but doesn't speak English. It's an international flight, from SVO. For some strange reason Aeroflot would not provide UM services.
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
Can I get a getepass, get to the gate to wait for her? Again, this is an international flight customs, border crossing and all. What should I do?
Last edited by glbetrotter; Aug 3, 2011 at 3:16 pm Reason: grammar
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York/Moscow
Programs: Aeroflot Gold, DL Silver, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, NEXUS
Posts: 243
+1 on the wheelchair idea. The issue will be getting a message to the kid as to what she should do upon arriving at IAD
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL DM, EY Plat, MM Senator
Posts: 493
You could, and it is not that hard. But it will not help; you would not gain access to the international arrivals sterile area. It is "double sterile," only for arriving passengers.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
Not even a "gate pass" would make it possible to meet the UM at the boarding door. As I said before, the only exception to that rule I have witnessed was a medical doctor who took over a patient directly at the airplanes door.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DCA
Posts: 677
Thanks everyone! I'll call aeroflot, I guess it would be better to call tomorrow and not today?? The flight arrives after 5pm
As for giving the child some note written in English, I have no idea what it should say or how it will help.
As for giving the child some note written in English, I have no idea what it should say or how it will help.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DCA
Posts: 677
It is not that easy - and (from my limited experience) it is imperative that a DL representative is with the UM at the only critical spot: immigration. This is where the trouble sits and this is where they might just deny entry or even send someone back. All after that is a piece of cake.
Not even a "gate pass" would make it possible to meet the UM at the boarding door. As I said before, the only exception to that rule I have witnessed was a medical doctor who took over a patient directly at the airplanes door.
Not even a "gate pass" would make it possible to meet the UM at the boarding door. As I said before, the only exception to that rule I have witnessed was a medical doctor who took over a patient directly at the airplanes door.
Maybe they will be able to purchase UM service at check-in though, but they were told no when trying to pre-arrange that
Last edited by javabean; Aug 3, 2011 at 3:42 pm