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A US address for transit through US?!?
I was making a convoluted flight from Paris to Toronto through Copenhagen and Washington (Dulles), travelling on a Canadian passport. In Paris SAS asked me for a US address. I said that I was transitting through the US to Canada, and indeed they were in the process of checking me through to Canada (SAS to Washington & UA to Toronto), but they said I needed a US address. I said that I did not have one. They insisted that I needed one. So I was left with the choice of inventing one out of the blue (that would not have checked out at all had someone bothered to verify it) or giving that of a relative (which would have checked out only to the extent that street number, city name, and postal code would not have been in contradiction with one another).
What is going on? Does SAS have the right to ask for such? What if I had insisted that I had no address to give (which was in fact the truth)? What if the address I had given had been checked out by someone and found wanting? Isn't this more than a little Kafkaesque (i.e. damned if you do and damned if you don't)? |
You stumbled on a agent who didn't know the APIS final rules. You could have just mentioned: in transit on YYZ via flight xxx. City: Washington, State: DC, Zip:99999
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/in..._rule_reqs.xml Below is clarification on what information should be included on the manifest for those passengers who are: (1) visiting the US; (2) joining a cruise ship; (3) picking up a rental car or; (4) those not knowing their address while in the United States: * Visiting the U.S., and the passenger has a known address. Example: Street Address: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave City: Washington State: D.C. ZIP Code: 20229 * Transit to a cruise ship: CBP will accept, “transit to Cruise Line and Vessel/Cruise Name” in the address field. The city of cruise embarkation should be included. Example: Street Address: Transit to MV Princess of the Seas City: Miami State: FL ZIP Code: 99999 # Rental car pickup: CBP will accept if the first night stay is NOT known, the general itinerary of the traveler. If for example the traveler will be touring, the general itinerary city, state and zip code (if known). Example: Street address: Touring the Grand Canyon City: Grand Canyon State: AZ ZIP Code: 99999 # Hotel: For those passengers who are destined to a hotel and do not know the street address for the hotel, CBP will accept, Hotel name (if known), City (of first night stay), State. ZIP Code should be provided if known. Example: Street Address: Downtown Hotel Hilton – (be as specific as possible) City: Houston State: Texas ZIP Code: 99999 # CBP will continue to conduct outreach with the carrier organizations and post information to www.cbp.gov regarding the phased implementation schedule and the requirements for the address field. |
So which one of your options did you exercise? A fictional address or using an address of a relative?
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Add APIS info yourself
There is a non-public page on the SAS site where you can enter the APIS information to your booking. Combine this with Olivers info above and you will fly in no time without any questions from illiterate agents :) :
Swedish English About four years ago this link was included in the confirmation e-mails from SAS but was then removed. But the page is still kicking, enjoy it. |
Originally Posted by cure
(Post 8203377)
I was making a convoluted flight from Paris to Toronto through Copenhagen and Washington (Dulles), travelling on a Canadian passport. In Paris SAS asked me for a US address.
a) we are talking about the French here. Is it anything at CDG that works according to common practise? How much trouble do employees at CDG make just for the sake of it? b) All Canadians I know (quite a few actually) will do ANYTHING to avoid travelling through US to get to Canada. LHR is considered a peaceful heaven for them if they compare that to US - especially on a CA passport. Joke asides, unfortunately there are quite a few reports from other airports as well, where SAS staff (and other airlines staff) requires an address because they are not fully trained. They are just briefed prior to checkin that the airline may get kicked out of US if there are too many errors or addresses missing in the APIS report. It is mainly a problem for Europeean airlines and contracted staff where US carriers uses code shares. |
Originally Posted by GetAA81Back2ARN
(Post 8229184)
b) All Canadians I know (quite a few actually) will do ANYTHING to avoid travelling through US to get to Canada. LHR is considered a peaceful heaven for them if they compare that to US - especially on a CA passport.
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Originally Posted by larsll
(Post 8230318)
I was in a conference BOG last week, and with few European airlines flying there (AF and IB) very many of my friends flew with DL and CO via the US. And one thing they all swore; never ever do a transfer in the US again... :)
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Originally Posted by SK989
(Post 8234067)
There are for sure more options to fly with European airlines to BOS than just AF and IB. You could also fly with BA, Virgin, Icelandair... You could even fly nonstop ARN-BOS with Finnair if you don't mind flying in their all-economy 757.
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Originally Posted by miikka
(Post 8234083)
Lars was talking about BOG, not BOS. :D
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I've been fighting immigration on this for 25 years. The immigration/customs form requests a US address. As a US citizen, I am not required to have an address and have left it blank for the last 25 years. The last time I was punished in MEM and sent to customs. Customs started to have a go at me and treat me in a very disrespectful manner, like calling me a liar and accusing me of being evasive. When he checked my luggage and found my story to be true, he said sorry and that was that.
In the case of the OP, I would suggest using this little ploy: Begin noting down the name of the person in question who insists on the information. Then state that you are noting down their name so that you can inform the US officials the name of the person who forced you to make a false declaration on a federal document. That is what has gotten me through this mess for the last 25 years :) If they really really want something, tell them to put "transit to XX999 for XYZ". |
Originally Posted by miikka
(Post 8234083)
Lars was talking about BOG, not BOS. :D
A way to avoid the US if going to BOG and to earn EB points for the entire trip as well, is to fly with AC via YYZ. The return trip is a long wait in YYZ, but I think some people would do it, if not for avoiding a US transit so for getting nice EB points... The following itnerary is one of many possible (random search for 17-23 Oct): Leg 1 - Lufthansa 3007 - ARN-FRA 06:40 - 08:45 Leg 2 - Air Canada 873 - FRA-YYZ 10:00 - 12:20 Leg 3 - Air Canada 962 - YYZ-BOG 15:15 - 20:00 With the return: Leg 1 - Air Canada 963 - BOG-YYZ 23:35 - 06:35+1 Leg 2 - Air Canada 872 - YYZ-FRA 17:30+1 - 07:00+2 Leg 3 - Lufthansa 3002 - FRA-ARN 10:05+2 - 12:05+2 |
Originally Posted by SK989
(Post 8240211)
Oops! Luckily I'm not a check-in agent... ;)
There are always confused peoples like the odyssey german guy who wanted to fly to Sydney in Australia, but ended up Sidney in Montana, USA instead. ;) |
Originally Posted by AHO
(Post 8240259)
SK989, don't worry. You are not only one.
There are always confused peoples like the odyssey german guy who wanted to fly to Sydney in Australia, but ended up Sidney in Montana, USA instead. ;) |
Or the singer heading for Bayreuth in Germany, ending up in Beyrouth, Lebanon.
Or the American wanting to go to Moldova, getting a ticket to MOL (Molde, Norway) |
Originally Posted by ksu
(Post 8240453)
Or the singer heading for Bayreuth in Germany, ending up in Beyrouth, Lebanon.
Or the American wanting to go to Moldova, getting a ticket to MOL (Molde, Norway) Or one HELsinkiFlyer trying to get to Moldova, ending up in Molvania. :D |
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