Denied Boarding on SQ Flight (UA Award Ticket) to Dubai due to Lack of Transit Visa
Dec 29, 2012, 2:38 am
#76
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I have to say that I am very surprised to find that the UAE transit visa is airline or hotel specific. In most cases (I believe) a country has policies and the airlines follow them, but there is no variation between carriers-- the rules are the rules.
I can't place major fault on the OP-- this is an unusual rule, and the OP just misunderstood the obscure nature of the UAE transit visa, even though the website said to check with your carrier. I also can't blame SQ-- they can't deliver a passenger they know doesn't have the proper credentials to enter a country. It is just an unfortunate situation, but there is no compensation to be had as the ultimate responsibility for travel documents lies with the traveler in virtually all cases.
Dec 29, 2012, 3:06 am
#77
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It appears to me that OP is not a US citizen or from any of the counties with free visa on arrival in UAE.
The 96 transit visa referred by OP is:
http://www.emirates.org/visa.html
I don't think OP has a case against anyone.
The 96 transit visa referred by OP is:
96 hours Visa for Transit Passengers
Transit passengers stopping at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of 8 hours and meeting the certain conditions mentioned below are eligible for obtaining a 96-hour transit visa. These conditions are as follow:
Airlines sponsored only (prior arrangements maybe required)
Applications should have confirmed onward booking to the 3rd destination
For transit passengers or those holding special permits, or for visit or mission, the passport or the document must be valid for at least three months
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 96 hours visa on arrival:
Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen.
Transit passengers stopping at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of 8 hours and meeting the certain conditions mentioned below are eligible for obtaining a 96-hour transit visa. These conditions are as follow:
Airlines sponsored only (prior arrangements maybe required)
Applications should have confirmed onward booking to the 3rd destination
For transit passengers or those holding special permits, or for visit or mission, the passport or the document must be valid for at least three months
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 96 hours visa on arrival:
Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen.
I don't think OP has a case against anyone.
Dec 29, 2012, 3:47 am
#78
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I would be skeptical that the OP is traveling on a passport from Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, or Yemen, but who knows.
Passengers flying into DXB on SQ can also get 96-hour transit visas on arrival at DXB. DXB airport-located Marhaba Services -- owned by dnata which is itself controlled by the Emirates group -- does these transit visas for non-UAE airlines' passengers, including SQ passengers with Indian passports who routinely get 96-hour transit visas for visiting DXB. The main operating carriers in the world with service to DXB can all do it. Even some LCC Asian upstart airlines do it. Can ticketing airlines do it even when not the flight operator for the passenger's flight to DXB? Don't see why not, especially when the ticketing carrier also has flights to DXB.
OP - it's your responsibility to check Visa requirements for all visiting countries. I purchase most of my tickets online and I do not remember then I was provided any entry/visa requirements by the airline. I am lucky to have two passports from two different countries that allow me to go visa-hassle-free to all countries in the world except only two or three countries and I still check the latest requirements every time I go.
OP is clearly not a US citizen, because US citizens can visit UAE visa free, but he/she could be a US permanent resident if he calls US home. Some nationalities can obtain 96hour transit visa on arrival to Dubai with the help of either your hotel in Dubai or airlines: Emirates and Air Arabia. I do not think SQ is participatipating in this special visa program.
OP is clearly not a US citizen, because US citizens can visit UAE visa free, but he/she could be a US permanent resident if he calls US home. Some nationalities can obtain 96hour transit visa on arrival to Dubai with the help of either your hotel in Dubai or airlines: Emirates and Air Arabia. I do not think SQ is participatipating in this special visa program.
Last edited by GUWonder; Dec 29, 2012 at 3:58 am
Dec 29, 2012, 5:23 am
#79
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To me the issue is the OP seems upset at United for selling them a ticket and not telling them that SQ was going to require a visa.
There is no indication that the OP every checked with SQ to verify what their requirements were (or checked with any other airline). It really doesn't matter what the UAE requires, as it is an SQ employee who is the one who lets you on the plane or not.
I would find it hard for an airline to have stricter rules than the country they are landing in, that would be very confusing to the passengers, but I can see it being possible.
There is no indication that the OP every checked with SQ to verify what their requirements were (or checked with any other airline). It really doesn't matter what the UAE requires, as it is an SQ employee who is the one who lets you on the plane or not.
I would find it hard for an airline to have stricter rules than the country they are landing in, that would be very confusing to the passengers, but I can see it being possible.
Why would checking with SQ matter? If I'm going to a country I check that countries immigration page and see if I need a visa. Calling the airline isn't a great source as they aren't immigration, check with the countries you are going to. As a US citizen I would never have checked with SQ about "their" requirements transiting DXB. It isn't needed and if SQ is requiring it I would like an explanation as to why.
If the OP is a US citizen we have a bunch of people spouting off on how wrong they are, when in fact they shouldn't have had a problem and I see it as SQ's issue.
I have been to many countries as most of us here have and I don't call the airline to find out when they need, I check the immigration page of the country I'm going to in order to find out. I have then used 3rd party companies to arrange for visas when needed.
Dec 29, 2012, 6:27 am
#80
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...If the OP is a US citizen we have a bunch of people spouting off on how wrong they are, when in fact they shouldn't have had a problem and I see it as SQ's issue.
I have been to many countries as most of us here have and I don't call the airline to find out when they need, I check the immigration page of the country I'm going to in order to find out. I have then used 3rd party companies to arrange for visas when needed.
I have been to many countries as most of us here have and I don't call the airline to find out when they need, I check the immigration page of the country I'm going to in order to find out. I have then used 3rd party companies to arrange for visas when needed.
Dec 29, 2012, 6:32 am
#81
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Why couldn't the sponsor be UA in this case too?
Dec 29, 2012, 7:50 am
#82
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If I cross paths with somebody in that neck of the woods who calls the US home, the odds are very good they are a US citizen. Of the dozen or so cases that I have solid facts on, all would be US.
Those who claim he can not be a US citizen because SQ denied him are clearly wrong. There are numerous cases of airlines miss-aplying visa rules.
One can not know with certainty who was wrong, but to dismiss the possibility of an SQ screwup just because one assumes SQ can not screw-up is kind of weak.
Dec 29, 2012, 8:51 am
#83
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Dec 29, 2012, 9:42 am
#84
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Dec 29, 2012, 9:58 am
#85
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With some luck your best course of action is to get on the next available flight when the rulesl/laws/constitutions/employee-moods have 'changed'.
Something tells me that the SQ agents in SIN are well aware of who needs and who doesn't need a visa. I doubt OP was flatly denied boarding until they had spent some time researching the matter. With daily (more than daily?) flights to DXB, I'm sure similar happenstance occurs quite often.
How is the country to be blamed here in any way??? Especially as it specifically does not require the visa. What a nonsensical uncalled for remark.
Dec 30, 2012, 1:30 pm
#86
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Actually the probability of a person calling the US home and being a US citizen is very high and far greater than 50% given the ratio of measured non-citizen residents to US passport holders. That said, there is a substantial chance that a person calling the US home is not a US citizen.