Fiance being denied onto flight from Madrid to NYC USA

[Mezyan 149]

6 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I don't think so. I am pretty sure the small print that the traveler is always responsible for making sure they have appropriate entry documentation etc covers the airline from liability for situation like this. Perhaps @JFH has some insight here.

 

It really sucks they didn't catch it but we've seen a few like this reported. There was the one whose parent flew from ...i think it was Croatia via Germany, was allowed on the flight to Germany then got turned back. At least one other I can recall. You would hope the airlines would pick it up but...

 

 

I'm not totally sure at this point. The EU does have really good passenger rights. Essentially if he had been turned away in Casablanca, then they would owe him nothing. But they viewed his documents, allowed him to board the flight to Madrid then once in Madrid denied him. From my understanding it is on them at this point, because they allowed him on first flight. 

 

[Mezyan 149]

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I was thinking more what the Spanish authorities will require.

I'm worried about this. The next flight back to Casablanca will put him over his 24 hours. 

 

 

I didn't really want to be trending for this sort of thing. I hope at least someone can read this and learn from our mistake.

[Boiler 45,547]

He was booked all the way through?

[Mezyan 149]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

He was booked all the way through?

Yes. All through one airline, bought on same ticket. 

[JFH 12,190]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

I don't think so. I am pretty sure the small print that the traveler is always responsible for making sure they have appropriate entry documentation etc covers the airline from liability for situation like this. Perhaps @JFH has some insight here.

 

It really sucks they didn't catch it but we've seen a few like this reported. There was the one whose parent flew from ...i think it was Croatia via Germany, was allowed on the flight to Germany then got turned back. At least one other I can recall. You would hope the airlines would pick it up but...

 

 

In this case, no. The airline is responsible for travel documents, in other words ensuring he has a valid passport and a valid visa (if required). He has both. The presidential proclamation is temporary and has too many exceptions for the airline to be responsible. He may have a USC child, for all the check-in agent knows. Such things are not stated on a person’s travel documents. 
 

A good travel agent should have known and should not have sold the ticket. If the passenger booked online, it’s too bad because the IB web site has a huge graphic on the “COVID-19” page. It is quite clear from that graphic and map that travel to the US has strict requirements at the moment and that transit through Spain is only permitted in certain, very limited cases. 

[Mezyan 149]

1 minute ago, JFH said:

In this case, no. The airline is responsible for travel documents, in other words ensuring he has a valid passport and a valid visa (if required). He has both. The presidential proclamation is temporary and has too many exceptions for the airline to be responsible. He may have a USC child, for all the check-in agent knows. Such things are not stated on a person’s travel documents. 
 

A good travel agent should have known and should not have sold the ticket. If the passenger booked online, it’s too bad because the IB web site has a huge graphic on the “COVID-19” page. It is quite clear from that graphic and map that travel to the US has strict requirements at the moment and that transit through Spain is only permitted in certain, very limited cases. 

Wasn't clear to me  Thanks for information. 

[JFH 12,190]

2 minutes ago, Mezyan said:

Wasn't clear to me  Thanks for information. 

Did you book the ticket for him? Did you book directly on the airline website or through a consolidator such as Expedia, Travelocity, etc?

 

Not that this will change the situation but may help you in terms of having a valid claim for a refund. 

Edited December 14, 2020 by JFH

[Mezyan 149]

Booked it through Kayak. 

[ProbeGT 47]

3 hours ago, Mezyan said:

He's limited to countries he can visit. Mexico is not one without a visa. This is an absolute hot mess. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Moroccan_citizens

Potential countries that he can go to without a visa, assuming the direct flight to the US doesn't pan out. 

Obviously something in the western hemisphere (Caribbean, South America) would be closer to the US, but I am not sure if there are direct flights from Morocco.

One option could be fly from Morocco to Turkey, and then from Turkey to the US (Turkey has direct flights to the US, no EU stopover). 

[ProbeGT 47]

Are there any other countries in Africa that he can go to that allow Morroccans to travel without a visa, and have direct flights to the US?  Based on the map, there appear to be a number of West African nations that are options. 

[JFH 12,190]

1 minute ago, ProbeGT said:

Are there any other countries in Africa that he can go to that allow Morroccans to travel without a visa, and have direct flights to the US?  Based on the map, there appear to be a number of West African nations that are options. 

The problem is, he has now put his toes in the Schengen area so he has to wait 14 days before he can touch US soil anyway. He may as well spend those 14 days with friends or family in Morocco and then take the non-stop Air Maroc to either JFK or IAD. 

14 minutes ago, Mezyan said:

Booked it through Kayak. 

You could contact Kayak customer service and argue the point that no warning was given at the time of purchase. 

[Mezyan 149]

Kayak is in the process of asking for a refund from Iberia. 

 

Iberia has also said that they will send him back to Morocco or onto JFK if we can get permission from embassy. I'm asking my senator for help, but pretty sure that is a 1/10,000 chance of working. 

 

Just really frustrating the time we will have lost with the 14 day quarantine. 

[Juliet57 304]

1 minute ago, Mezyan said:

Kayak is in the process of asking for a refund from Iberia. 

 

Iberia has also said that they will send him back to Morocco or onto JFK if we can get permission from embassy. I'm asking my senator for help, but pretty sure that is a 1/10,000 chance of working. 

 

Just really frustrating the time we will have lost with the 14 day quarantine. 

are you upset about spending the holidays apart? sorry about that, just count your blessings you are REALLY close to living together so hang on for 2 more weeks, lots of people still waiting for an interview

You can always celebrate NYE or create your own holiday celebration after the new year 

[Boiler 45,547]

Senator can not change the rules. 

 

Kayak seems to just pass you through to the Airline web site?

[SalishSea 17,839]

1 hour ago, Mezyan said:

I'm asking my senator for help, but pretty sure that is a 1/10,000 chance of working. 

Senator cannot influence airline rules, Morocco's rules, or DOS/proclamation.