An American in Iran
Mar 15, 2017 | 9:22 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
Very interesting, thanks for sharing the report. Agree with the above, it's nice to see new places more than repeats of lounges. Although I am curious your route with 75% empty in Y. I am in Y often and it always feels like 115% full, I'd be happy to take flights with a few empty seats around like they used to be.
Mar 15, 2017 | 11:19 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 203
Well, VirginAtlantic from LHR to SFO was mostly empty for me back in November, and Lufthansa in both directions between SJC & FRA was mostly empty in February. If I was lucky, then it was the best luck i've had in a long time.
Mar 19, 2017 | 1:50 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak; GM with hotels; Waymo; Honda crv; iOS
Posts: 36,703
I doubt visiting Iran as a tourist will affect your chance of getting a US visa. I entered the US at three different border checkpoints over the last 2 weeks and had no issues whatsoever despite my previous recent travel to Iran, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. My US visa interview was also all of two questions despite disclosing all my previous 'exotic' travel.
Mar 19, 2017 | 2:08 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 203
I returned from Mexico last night. No SSSS issues, although US CBP at SFO was super unhappy with the Iranian visa in my passport, and marked my entry form with "BGC" (Background Check). That resulted in me getting sent to secondary interview, where they interrogated (harassed) me for nearly 30 minutes, while searching through my bag.