Has Anyone Left Europe's Schengen Area for 14 Days to Then Enter USA?

[Smokey Bear 71]

2 minutes ago, Lskifghj said:

It is a risk that no one knows how it’ll go. South America in general is currently rising. US might be too distracted though with their current internal problems and protests. 

True, remember that Mexico is Central America though, not South.....

[Lskifghj 53]

10 minutes ago, Smokey Bear said:

True, remember that Mexico is Central America though, not South.....

Haha yep that’s right 

Edited June 5, 2020 by Lskifghj

[ek1357 116]

13 minutes ago, Lskifghj said:

It is a risk that no one knows how it’ll go. South America in general is currently rising. US might be too distracted though with their current internal problems and protests. 

Yep, my fingers are tightly crossed for that. I also am holding a little hope that the land border was closed very early and if they wanted to suspend air traffic it would have been done hand in hand.. but everything is subject to change. 

[Lskifghj 53]

6 minutes ago, ek1357 said:

Yep, my fingers are tightly crossed for that. I also am holding a little hope that the land border was closed very early and if they wanted to suspend air traffic it would have been done hand in hand.. but everything is subject to change. 

Life is full of risks and you never fully know what will happen next. Life is full of surprises and things might happen for a reason. Don’t fret it things don’t work out. Always have a backup plan. 

[JamesK1 22]

8 hours ago, Ja3germeister said:

I'm in Mexico-City!

 

Honestly still can't believe that I'm here. Stumbled upon this thread 3 weeks ago and now I actually did it. Thank you to all the people for your continuous support. 

 

Here's how it went:

Flight was packed, like as if there is no pandemic going on. Insane. KLM's service is great. Long flight but I had extra leg room so I was good hahaha. 

Then came immigration. Long line. The lady asked me why I'm here and for how long. I said I was staying with a friend for 2 weeks and then I'm flying to the US. Didn't have to show anything. Super easy and super relieved it went that smooth. 

We must have been on the same flight. I can’t believe how easy immigration was. I saw people being led away to another room and I assumed the same would happen to me but I had a bigger interrogation at check in. I just told him is was quarantining for 2 weeks and then flying to the USA, I didn’t mention where I was staying. 

[ek1357 116]

15 hours ago, Xurxo r said:

I guess worst case I can try to do Croatia-Belgrade-NYC but we ll see, the agent i talked to said to check this website for updates: https://www.turkishairlines.com/es-es/announcements/coronavirus-outbreak/cancelled-flights/ he also mentioned that you are not allowed to even transit Turkey if you have been in the Schengen Area in the past 14 days but I doubt anyone will have an issue with that since it is exactly what we are all trying to do.

I’m confused about Croatia to the US via Istanbul. The travel restrictions seem to imply if you are a national of the U.K. and various other European countries you may not enter Turkey (nothing about transiting) and then says that if you are a national of those countries you may not board the aircraft? 
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-gb/announcements/coronavirus-outbreak/travel-restrictions/

[Xurxo r 10]

1 hour ago, Sarah84 said:

That's great!!! Please let me know if everything works out! Will you stay in Zagreb? When is your flight to the US?

Yeah I am staying in Zagreb, it was pretty cheap to be honest, I will flight to the US on June 21st.

[Sarah84 46]

1 minute ago, Xurxo r said:

Yeah I am staying in Zagreb, it was pretty cheap to be honest, I will flight to the US on June 21st.

Is transit in Turkey allowed?

[Xurxo r 10]

5 minutes ago, ek1357 said:

I’m confused about Croatia to the US via Istanbul. The travel restrictions seem to imply if you are a national of the U.K. and various other European countries you may not enter Turkey (nothing about transiting) and then says that if you are a national of those countries you may not board the aircraft? 
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-gb/announcements/coronavirus-outbreak/travel-restrictions/

So basically if you are a national of any of the listed European countries you are not allowed to enter Turkey, same thing if you have visited any of them on the past 14 days, but if you are a national of any of the countries and have not transited any of them in the past 14 days you are allowed to transit Turkey.

You can read all the restrictions further here:

 https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Just now, Sarah84 said:

Is transit in Turkey allowed?

I was actually typing that answer as you posted!

[ek1357 116]

3 minutes ago, Xurxo r said:

So basically if you are a national of any of the listed European countries you are not allowed to enter Turkey, same thing if you have visited any of them on the past 14 days, but if you are a national of any of the countries and have not transited any of them in the past 14 days you are allowed to transit Turkey.

You can read all the restrictions further here:

 https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

I was actually typing that answer as you posted!

Yes I read the IATA page but I still felt it really wasn’t very clear. My initial thought after reading it was no entry to Turkey but very little distinction between transit and entry! The Turkish Airlines page is also unclear on transit (in my opinion)

[Ja3germeister 90]

6 hours ago, talia0506 said:

Hey where did you fly from exactly and how the check in there? Did they ask you any questions at all about why you travel to Mexico? Also where do you stay in Mexico city? Actually with a friend?

I flew from Amsterdam to Mexico-City. Check-in at Amsterdam was easy. No questions asked, only at the passport check but that's a mandatory thing. 

In Mexico the lady asked why I was here and for how long. I said I was with a friend for 14 days then flying to the US. I'm not actually with a friend, I'm in an Airbnb but I do have a friend who lives in Polanco.

[RD7712 143]

Hi everyone,

We made it to Mexico City!!!

 

My fiancee's experience at the Vienna airport with KLM was hell though. She was on line waiting to check in her luggage. In front of her were some travelers from Slovakia. They were questioned why they were going to Mexico and responded they were on their way to the USA with work permits and will quarantine for 14 days in Mexico. The  KLM counter check-in person denied their boarding. She did not want to hear if they had visa or not to the USA, or if they were going to quarantine, but if they worked in Mexico or lived there. Then came my fiancee's turn and and when asked the purpose of her flight she said she was visiting her husband-to-be. She was refused. My fiancee put up a stiff resistance and repeated her purpose. The KLM person was adamant this was not sufficient grounds to travel because she did not live or work in Mexico. My fiancee showed the KLM rep an email I received from the Mexican consulate in Vienna some days ago. In that email I asked if there were any travel restrictions to Mexico and the consulate replied that there are currently no restrictions for Europeans to travel to Mexico, although it is recommended that the travel be for an essential purpose. Again, the counter person said that the print out email was not acceptable because it was not an official letter from the Mexican government but from a consulate. The counter person was visibly upset about getting challenged and called over a colleague to discuss. Then she made a phone call and spoke to someone. Not sure what were the details but after 30 minutes of a dramatic situation the KLM person agreed to accept the email and not only allowed her to board the flight but some other Europeans there on line who were also initially barred from check-in and boarding the plane. Her luggage checked all the way through to Mexico City. In Amsterdam not one question was asked.

 

At immigration she was asked the purpose of her stay and she replied she came to meet her husband-to-be. He asked if I am Mexican and she replied no he is American from the USA but he is here in the city and in the airport waiting to pick me up.  She said she will be here for 14 days with me and will go together to the USA together. He asked where she will stay, and she said in an apartment with him. That was it. The inspections of baggage was slow because there was a long line to have the luggage scanned.  

 

I took a flight yesterday from Orlando, FL to Dallas, TX. I did not have check-in luggage so I went right through security and to the gate. At the gate my name was called and they only wanted to see my passport to scan. No questions asked. 

 

In Dallas, same. They called my name, I went to the gate counter and showed them my passport. No questions asked.

 

I arrived in Mexico City and went through immigration and was attended by a very nice lady immigration official. Was just asked why I am visiting and how long I will stay. That's it. She stamped my passport and went through. That was at 1:30 p.m. and stayed in the airport all day till 9:30 when my fiancee and son came out through the doors.

 

We had a brief scare as my fiancee realized she left her purse on the belt where the luggage goes through scanning. After realizing she left her purse there she tried to go back but was not allowed to enter through and was told she had to get a KLM rep to escort her back in. They probably did not understand her. But eventually they let her back into the luggage inspection area and there she found her purse with everything inside!

 

I booked an Uber and he was there in 3 minutes to pick us up. I spoke in Spanish to driver and he was very nice. We arrived in 20 minutes at about 10:00 p.m. The ride was cheap, only about $6.50. The apartment I am staying is nice, in the colony of Polanco within the city. 

 

Lesson learned: That email, although not totally giving a green light for travel because of the language of a 'recommendation for essential travel only' saved the day.

 

[ek1357 116]

@RD7712 I am so glad you are all together and safe. Sorry that it was a little traumatic in Vienna. I hope you all have a nice 2 weeks! 
 

I will learn from your experience and I will make sure I bring some info with me to confirm Mexico is ok for the check in desk! 

[HRQX 4,145]

5 hours ago, Smokey Bear said:

True, remember that Mexico is Central America though, not South.....

From a strictly geographic point of view, Mexico lies firmly in North America.

[Ririwoo37 4]

8 hours ago, ek1357 said:

Hi- is anyone crossing into the US from Mexico this week?

 

@LaraAndEric have you entered the US now?

 

My flight Is on Wednesday and 2 weeks feels like a long time I’m Mexico with Covid numbers rising and rising. Really worried about further border closures.. I’m praying they’ve reached their peak now... 

My flight is on Thursday, I will be flying from CDG-AMS-MEX. Will keep u posted guys!