New travel restrictions to USA from India 4 May 2021, impacts on UA DEL/BOM flights?
Apr 30, 2021, 8:50 pm
#17
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UA has posted the update to entry criteria for those flying India-USA:
United States: Entry Restrictions (includes the May 4th change to travellers from India)
David
United States: Entry Restrictions (includes the May 4th change to travellers from India)
David
Apr 30, 2021, 8:52 pm
#18
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Seriously, this won't make much difference at all. Not exactly a ton of tourists flying. With the huge Indian diaspora in the US, UA and AI will continue their flights completely full with just American citizens and Perm Residents. lol.
The routes will remain either way. That cargo $$$.
The routes will remain either way. That cargo $$$.
India Flight Update
Last week our EWR-DEL flight landed and the crew was asked to take a COVID-19 test. This test had not been, and was not supposed to be, required for crew entering the country of India. The captain of the flight refused the test on behalf of the entire crew, because there was insufficient and unsatisfactory information about what might happen if any of the crew were to test positive and be required to quarantine in India. As you may be aware, India is in the midst of an unprecedented surge in the instances of COVID infection at the moment, where medical care is scarce and oxygen is in low supply.
The crew did not take the test, and did not clear immigration and customs, and instead returned to the United States. Due in part, to the uncertainty of what expectations may be when entering India, United temporarily halted flights into the country to determine solutions.
As of tomorrow, Wednesday 28, there will be pre-departure COVID-19 testing for all United crews headed to DEL. AFA along with ALPA are in contact with United corporate medical and Medaire to ensure there is mitigation for crew safety. Pre-departure testing is a simple procedure that reduces the opportunity for any ill Flight Attendant to enter India and potentially end up requiring medical care or end up in quarantine.
Additionally, there are currently steps in place in case a crew member does become ill while on a layover in DEL. AFA, ALPA and United corporate medical will continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of this destination.
Additionally, United published two Safety Alerts with updated information about travel into New Delhi (and other countries with restrictions), with comprehensive information, including a Q&A. We encourage you to be familiar with the information prior to checking in for any international pairing.
Last week our EWR-DEL flight landed and the crew was asked to take a COVID-19 test. This test had not been, and was not supposed to be, required for crew entering the country of India. The captain of the flight refused the test on behalf of the entire crew, because there was insufficient and unsatisfactory information about what might happen if any of the crew were to test positive and be required to quarantine in India. As you may be aware, India is in the midst of an unprecedented surge in the instances of COVID infection at the moment, where medical care is scarce and oxygen is in low supply.
The crew did not take the test, and did not clear immigration and customs, and instead returned to the United States. Due in part, to the uncertainty of what expectations may be when entering India, United temporarily halted flights into the country to determine solutions.
As of tomorrow, Wednesday 28, there will be pre-departure COVID-19 testing for all United crews headed to DEL. AFA along with ALPA are in contact with United corporate medical and Medaire to ensure there is mitigation for crew safety. Pre-departure testing is a simple procedure that reduces the opportunity for any ill Flight Attendant to enter India and potentially end up requiring medical care or end up in quarantine.
Additionally, there are currently steps in place in case a crew member does become ill while on a layover in DEL. AFA, ALPA and United corporate medical will continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of this destination.
Additionally, United published two Safety Alerts with updated information about travel into New Delhi (and other countries with restrictions), with comprehensive information, including a Q&A. We encourage you to be familiar with the information prior to checking in for any international pairing.
Apr 30, 2021, 10:01 pm
#19
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After that situation in DEL, UA flights to/from BOM were less disrupted than UA's service to DEL.
The UA crew coming into DEL then didn't like the idea of being selected for testing, and it certainly wasn't a regular thing for all crews coming into DEL.
Cargo on UA flights to India should be quite a big volume at this time. Cargo alone has been the reason why SAS has been flying its US-CPH/CPH-US routes. It could turn out the same way for UA's US-India/India-US flights, except UA would have the additional benefit of so many million people of Indian-origin/affiliation exempted from the travel restriction on India-US/US-India flights, having the means to do so, and filling up a higher proportion of the seats than has been happing on US-EU/Schengen and EU/Schengen-US flights operated by UA and the other airlines.
The UA crew coming into DEL then didn't like the idea of being selected for testing, and it certainly wasn't a regular thing for all crews coming into DEL.
id guess they would have fewer flights. Maybe go back to DEL/BOM-EWR only. Or do those on alternate days - DEL-EWR one day, DEL-SFO next. Or 2-4 times a week? Something like this - although it makes crew scheduling more difficult.
I also wonder how much cargo has an influence. If they still need the lift for that, maybe they are willing to run more relatively empty pax cabins if cargo areas are full all the time.
I also wonder how much cargo has an influence. If they still need the lift for that, maybe they are willing to run more relatively empty pax cabins if cargo areas are full all the time.
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 30, 2021 at 10:07 pm
Apr 30, 2021, 10:15 pm
#20
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The US policy exempts US citizens and permanent residents and their dependents, this group typically is a good percentage of the traffic. Another huge chunk is H1b, then tourists or business persons with Indian passport and then students. If they exempt H1b and students, then only a small portion of the traffic is restricted.
However traffic will go down significantly, as most of citizens and permanent residents will not travel except for dire emergencies and business trips will be curtained sharply.
However traffic will go down significantly, as most of citizens and permanent residents will not travel except for dire emergencies and business trips will be curtained sharply.
Apr 30, 2021, 10:28 pm
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The US policy exempts US citizens and permanent residents and their dependents, this group typically is a good percentage of the traffic. Another huge chunk is H1b, then tourists or business persons with Indian passport and then students. If they exempt H1b and students, then only a small portion of the traffic is restricted.
However traffic will go down significantly, as most of citizens and permanent residents will not travel except for dire emergencies and business trips will be curtained sharply.
However traffic will go down significantly, as most of citizens and permanent residents will not travel except for dire emergencies and business trips will be curtained sharply.
May 1, 2021, 2:34 am
#22
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current flights between india - usa consist of majority indian citizens who will now not be allowed entry....so it won't be a small subset of travelers as far as this route is concerned....i would say it would be more than 50% of the current traffic traveling between the 2 countries....flights may not get suspended but are likely to be drastically reduced now....
May 1, 2021, 5:25 am
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May 1, 2021, 6:10 am
#24
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You joke but you can probably ALMOST do the whole row via UA on a 737 via island hopper.
Back to the topic, how is this enforced? Does India stamp on exit? Can they just fly via another country? If so, maybe UA will get some more traffic on other routes.
Back to the topic, how is this enforced? Does India stamp on exit? Can they just fly via another country? If so, maybe UA will get some more traffic on other routes.
May 1, 2021, 8:18 am
#26
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Good morning all,
The topic of this thread is travel restrictions effect on UA’s service to India. Please focus the discussion on that and for a general discussion of COVID/politics, please use the appropriate forum.
Safe Travels,
J.Edward
UA form co-moderator
The topic of this thread is travel restrictions effect on UA’s service to India. Please focus the discussion on that and for a general discussion of COVID/politics, please use the appropriate forum.
Safe Travels,
J.Edward
UA form co-moderator
May 1, 2021, 9:02 pm
#27
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https://unitedafa.org/news/2021/4/30...begins-tuesday
Based on the above, it does not appear that UA will stop flights to India.
Based on the above, it does not appear that UA will stop flights to India.
May 1, 2021, 9:34 pm
#28
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back on topic though, is there a provision that allows India to test incoming crew - randomly or otherwise?
yes, India does exit immigration, and they stamp passports. I don’t know how UA actually enforces with a third-country connection, but that seems like an easy way.
May 1, 2021, 9:47 pm
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Flying from India to the US via third-countries on a single ticketed UA PNR -- as someone who isn't a US citizen and/or US LPR -- to try to get around the US travel restriction?
Sounds like an invitation to get a US visa and/or ESTA cancelled and have future US travel problems. CBP will have been provided the ticketed itinerary by UA.
Sounds like an invitation to get a US visa and/or ESTA cancelled and have future US travel problems. CBP will have been provided the ticketed itinerary by UA.
May 1, 2021, 11:31 pm
#30
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Flying from India to the US via third-countries on a single ticketed UA PNR -- as someone who isn't a US citizen and/or US LPR -- to try to get around the US travel restriction?
Sounds like an invitation to get a US visa and/or ESTA cancelled and have future US travel problems. CBP will have been provided
the ticketed itinerary by UA.
Sounds like an invitation to get a US visa and/or ESTA cancelled and have future US travel problems. CBP will have been provided
the ticketed itinerary by UA.
I think the bigger risk would be someone booking on separate PNRs - ie, booking say, BOM-LHR on AI or BA, and then separately booking LHR-IAD on UA. If they were an Indian National though, they’d need to meet existing US requirements like getting a Visa or ESTA. I doubt they are issuing those to restricted populations at the moment, and agree that any visa docs that are still valid could be pulled pretty quickly if an airline reports an attempted boarding (not sure what the requirements are for an airline to do that).