Any way out of this change fee?
Jun 2, 19, 2:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Any way out of this change fee?
My husband and I are in the middle of a multi-city itenirary shd to iad to fco with a return of cdg to ord to Shd. While in Italy, we’ve been robbed including our passports so we will be going to the US embassy in the morning to get temporary passports but it means that we will not make our return from Paris because France will not let us enter with a temporary passport and we’ve had to cancel the Paris and Normandy segments of our trip. When I called United, they quoted me a change fee of $500 to change our return from Rome and I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas about getting that waived given the circumstances. Fortunately I do have trip insurance so I will get reimbursed but they stole all my credit cards too and I don’t have access to the replacements yet.
Jun 2, 19, 2:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
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That is terrible.
Your best bet is a sympathetic agent - ultimately, I suspect agents hear things like this all the time so it might be a futile exercise. Likely best to deal with your trip insurance when you get home.
Your best bet is a sympathetic agent - ultimately, I suspect agents hear things like this all the time so it might be a futile exercise. Likely best to deal with your trip insurance when you get home.
Jun 2, 19, 2:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TXL
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Posts: 17
As France and Italy are both schengen, there should be no problem for you to get into france.
Sometimes they check passports before entering a plane but that’s not for immigration status reasons.
Where did you get your info, that you cannot enter france on a temp. passport?
Sometimes they check passports before entering a plane but that’s not for immigration status reasons.
Where did you get your info, that you cannot enter france on a temp. passport?
Jun 2, 19, 2:45 pm
#4
Original Poster
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Originally Posted by TopFlyer12
As France and Italy are both schengen, there should be no problem for you to get into france.
Sometimes they check passports before entering a plane but that’s not for immigration status reasons.
Where did you get your info, that you cannot enter france on a temp. passport?
Sometimes they check passports before entering a plane but that’s not for immigration status reasons.
Where did you get your info, that you cannot enter france on a temp. passport?
Jun 2, 19, 2:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 44
Originally Posted by jb64
my flight from fco to cdg was supposed to be on Air France and they told us that.
Jun 2, 19, 2:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TXL
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All I know and can find is that you need a regular passport to enter france as an entry point into schengen.
because of the schengen agreement there are almost no passport controls at airports, ports and land crossings any more.
I fly roughly 50 intra EU flights per year and the last time I got my passport checked (for anti terror reasons) was on my flight from berlin to brussels just after the last attacks.
I would give it a try and in case it really does not work try to figure out how to get back home from italy...
because of the schengen agreement there are almost no passport controls at airports, ports and land crossings any more.
I fly roughly 50 intra EU flights per year and the last time I got my passport checked (for anti terror reasons) was on my flight from berlin to brussels just after the last attacks.
I would give it a try and in case it really does not work try to figure out how to get back home from italy...
Jun 2, 19, 2:55 pm
#7
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There was also this when we looked it upWe recommend that your passport have at least six months' validity remaining. The Government of France does not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport, issued by U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, as a valid travel document for visa-free entry into France.
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Jun 2, 19, 2:56 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by jb64
...My husband and I are in the middle of a multi-city itenirary shd to iad to fco with a return of cdg to ord to Shd. While in Italy, we’ve been robbed including our passports so we will be going to the US embassy in the morning to get temporary passports but it means that we will not make our return from Paris because France will not let us enter with a temporary passport and we’ve had to cancel the Paris and Normandy segments of our trip. ....
Jun 2, 19, 3:01 pm
#9
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This happened Friday evening and the embassy was already closed. We plan on being there as soon as they open tomorrow. Our flight to France was supposed to be on Saturday but we had to cancel that.
Jun 2, 19, 3:08 pm
#10
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Enter into France from a non-Schengen country is different than entry from a Schengen country (like Italy).
As for the credit cards, many USA card issuers offer 24-hour replacement services while traveling -- including in Europe. I have done that. I do now travel with at least two cards -- one separate from the other.
As to the original question -- there is no standard policy but if you can get a police report substantiating the event, you can request a refund upon returning home. Reasonable chances of a positive outcome. Some chance the right phone agent will waive the charge but the substantiated refund case has a better chance.
Note the insurance should cover the change fee also.
As for the credit cards, many USA card issuers offer 24-hour replacement services while traveling -- including in Europe. I have done that. I do now travel with at least two cards -- one separate from the other.
As to the original question -- there is no standard policy but if you can get a police report substantiating the event, you can request a refund upon returning home. Reasonable chances of a positive outcome. Some chance the right phone agent will waive the charge but the substantiated refund case has a better chance.
Note the insurance should cover the change fee also.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 2, 19 at 3:22 pm Reason: original question
Jun 2, 19, 3:58 pm
#11
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"There was also this when we looked it upWe recommend that your passport have at least six months' validity remaining. The Government of France does not recognize the 12-page U.S. emergency passport, issued by U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, as a valid travel document for visa-free entry into France."
You're definitely going off track - this is for entry from outside Schengen. You are already inside Schengen. Italy and France are both Schengen countries. Think of Schengen as the United States of Europe and France and Italy are States in Schengen. You need a passport to get into Schengen (just as you do to get into the United States), but you do not need a (current permanent) passport to travel between Schengen "States" just as a French person does not need a passport to travel from Texas to Louisiana. All you need to get on the plane is an acceptable valid ID. A temporary passport qualifies.
You're definitely going off track - this is for entry from outside Schengen. You are already inside Schengen. Italy and France are both Schengen countries. Think of Schengen as the United States of Europe and France and Italy are States in Schengen. You need a passport to get into Schengen (just as you do to get into the United States), but you do not need a (current permanent) passport to travel between Schengen "States" just as a French person does not need a passport to travel from Texas to Louisiana. All you need to get on the plane is an acceptable valid ID. A temporary passport qualifies.
Jun 2, 19, 4:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: SEA / LHR / SFO
Programs: AS / UA / DL
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Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control
Note that France has a temporary border control for passengers traveling from Schengen states.
France (1 May 2019- 31 October 2019)
Terrorist threats and situation at the external borders.
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/wh...der-control_en
France (1 May 2019- 31 October 2019)
Terrorist threats and situation at the external borders.
The Schengen Borders Code provides Member States with the capability of temporarily reintroducing border control at the internal borders in the event that a serious threat to public policy or internal security has been established.The reintroduction of border control at the internal borders must remain an exception and must respect the principle of proportionality. The scope and duration of such a temporary reintroduction of border control at the internal borders is limited in time and should be restricted to the bare minimum needed to respond to the threat in question. Reintroducing border control at the internal border should only ever be used as a measure of last resort.The reintroduction of border control is a prerogative of the Member States. The Commission may issue an opinion with regard to the necessity of the measure and its proportionality but cannot veto such a decision if it is taken by a Member State.
Jun 2, 19, 4:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: SEA / LHR / SFO
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I think this issue is that they can randomly set up border crossing checks at any time. I remember reading over in the AF forum where border checks are currently popping up in terminals that handle Schengen flights (Sometimes for afternoon flights only). They previously had the temporary restrictions from Oct 2018 due to terror attacks. It appears that they have been given a new 6 month extension.
Jun 2, 19, 6:58 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by cfischer
should be no problem getting from FCO to CDG. No passport check usually within Schengen.
All you need to get tomorrow are whatever documents the embassy in Rome gives you to allow you to transit back to the US. Not sure when the flight from CDG was to leave but this must be separate tickets, so if you can get to CDG in time for it (low cost carrier or a train) that is your easiest solution. If that flight is tomorrow then you just need to call UA and plead your case; if no sympathetic agent then pay the fee and save documentation (police report?) and ask for a refund. I would leave out all the stuff about the air france and just focus on the stolen passport and inability to travel to the US.
Suspect you had poor information and could have just traveled to France since I don't believe this is the same ticket.
