mahasamatman

I haven't had to show a physical passport (or any document) entering Canada ever since I got my Nexus card.

And for many years people thought the world was flat, too.

bmwe92fan

Point 1 - not sure what to say other than I travel internationally almost weekly and UA let me fly 2/3's of the way to SIN without PROPER documentation - you see, SIN has different policies that other Asian countires - do you know that?

Point 2 - YOU brought up CBP when you talked about security upon arrival - read your own notes please... I was just pointing out that CBP wouldn't necessarily be concerned with OP departure travels - especially if they enter with proper documentation to the US - as a non -US citizen.

Point 3 - it IS US POLICY - you actually think UA has different policy than AA, DL in this matter?

bmwe92fan

LOL and please explain to everyone what you had to do to get that Nexus card? If you have global entry then you don't have to do a lot of things - but thats not what we are talking about here is it? Nice add but irrelevant....

rankourabu

duh, exactly, UA does not check passports when boarding flights to Asia because the policy is Canada specific, as explained to you by multiple posters

I suggest you try to get onto a flight to China, Russia, India, or Brazil, and see how many times your passport is checked for a visa.

bmwe92fan

What the heck are you talking about - my passport is checked on EVERY international flight from the us - period! Do you have any idea what you're talking about - I mean really? This isn't about Canada - in spite of what other here may think lol! Visa requirements are irrelevant - I don't need one for the UK lol but they check my passport - is that a UK thing to you?

Often1

Sorry, but that is rubbish. On the other hand, there is a lot of misinformation in other posts as well.

This entire issue has nothing to do with TSA, border security or attitudes towards foreigners. It has everything to do with the fact that when a commercial carrier presents a passenger at a foreign destination without proper docs., the carrier is: 1) fined; 2) responsible for all local costs such as security; and 3) must transport the passenger back to his origin. That is all that UA cares about.

When a passenger is headed on a first segment to one country and onward to another, it is in the carrier's interest to check the final destination docs because if the passenger is denied boarding xCountry 2, he gets returned to the origin.

Here, we have a person boarding a flight from the USA-CANADA with onward connections to SINGAPORE. He is a national of some unknown fourth country. While one might reasonably expect the agents boarding a flight from the USA to CANADA to know the entry requirements for CANADA for those traveling on USA passports and perhaps a few more, it is unreasonable for them to know the requirements for travel to SINGAPORE via CANADA.

Hence, the agent needed to look up OP's situation in TIMATIC and verify that OP's docs were OK.

UA never should have compensated OP at all because UA not only did nothing wrong, but it did everything right and it is OP who loused up by -- as an experienced traveler not having his docs verified prior to boarding.

rankourabu

Exactly. As has been repeated numerous times, yet some peoples skulls are too thick to accept that as the only reason for the OP's situation, and have brought some weird notions of security and terrorists into this


So we are supposed to believe you, who started off by making some ridicuolous statements of Japan never experiencing terrorism over the posts by UA GATE STAFF in this thread ... yeah ... ok...

bmwe92fan

That's my thick skull - and I thought it was relevant having just returned from a flight to Frankfurt where after arrival i flew to Denmark and took a train to Sweden and no one ever checked my passport after arrival in FRA - in spite of entering two new countries - quite different than the USA - which to me is likely what op is used to....

rankourabu

Do you have any clue?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement

Like others said, its all about the cost, zero about security, or US border policy.
Why cant you understand that?

bmwe92fan

Well - I brought it up as a reason why the USA does thing different than other countries in the world that haven't been through what we have - wasn't making a huge deal of it like you are.... For example - how many other countries in the world make you claim baggage and go through immigration and security when just transiting? Not many - and for good reason IMO - you may not agree - but it doesn't make my point invalid - and wasn't trying to inflame anything like you seem to be....

bmwe92fan

Because honestly you just are wrong. I work in the industry and as fastair pointed out the us airlines are most certainly part if the security system. In the US if your docs aren't checked you aren't supposed to board - period. It's not a UA thing - period.

EDIT - just to be clear - why do you think the carriers are FINED if they don't do it? Its because that's the policy they are supposed to folow - which is SET by the government / international treaties, not the airlines - and if they don't do it then it's a steep fine. Last time I checked the US governement doesn't fine an airline if they don't follow a "best practices" or "suggested" rule, do they?

And yes I am aware of EU Schengen LOL - I use it all the time - much like I thought OP might be used to which is why I brought up the point... Unfortunately, the US doesn't work like that - at all...

rankourabu

yes we are all wrong that docs are checked because its about the money and costs of deportation/fines.

yes you are right docs are checked by gate agents its because of US security and terrorists.

Better?

bmwe92fan

Well this doesn't help does it? If you can't support your opinion with facts then don't do this... All I'm saying is that my position is well supported by real laws, facts, and realities - and your attempts to make big deals out of minor points I bring up (like why US security is the way it is or why OP may have different expectations after travelling in APAC or EU (Schengen)) don't help your arguments at all. As someone who has been here a long time I'm honestly surprised at your reactions....

The facts are that yes the US airlines are part of the US security system, yes they are fined if they don't follow the rules (set by the government, not them - and they are fined severely if they don't follow them) and OP was singled out bc they didn't have their documents validated - plain and simple. UA didn't do it to SAVE money - just as AA and DL wouldn't have either - they did it bc its the RULE - and although it's true they would be fined if they didn't do it - the true underlying reason is security - not fine avoidance as you so dearly want to make this in to...

twtrvl

??

The OP isn't complaining about being asked to show his passport. I don't see why so many posters are focusing on that requirement.

He's complaining about what happened AFTER he showed his passport and how it was handled.

See the bolded section:

fastair

A and b afaik