Why were we denied boarding?
On December 17, 2017, we were scheduled to fly to Zurich on South African Airways, with a British Airways connection at Heathrow Airport. The return ticket had the same routing.
When the Swiss Embassy issued our Schengen visas for the holiday, we were told that we did not require a UK transit visa. And, yet, SAA denied us boarding.
Was the Swiss embassy wrong? If not, why were we denied Boarding?
Best Answer
Airline was right, You did need a Transit visa for the UK. See the conditions below
In the hindsight it would have been far better to have checked UK transit requirements long before going to the airport. Their website has a tool which is one of the simplest.
Was the Swiss embassy wrong?
A wrong question was put to them. They were not the relevant people to issue advice for UK visa requirements. Their answer wouldn't matter in any argument.
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Can an airline deny you boarding?
Yes unfortunately airlines can refuse boarding or remove a passenger from a plane for any reason at all. Even of the passenger has paid full fare for the ticket. Passengers do not have many rights when it comes to being on an airline.Can I get a refund if I was denied boarding?
Where involuntary denied boarding occurs, your air carrier must offer you the choice between; re-routing as soon as possible; re-routing at a later date at your convenience; and. a refund of the full cost of the unused flight ticket.How do you get denied for boarding?
Compensation due to Overbooking Perhaps the most common reason for denied boarding are overbooked flights. Airlines typically sell more seats to their flights than they have available. This ensures that there won't be any extra seats if there are passengers who do not show up for their flight.What are the reasons for denied boarding?
Non-Discriminatory Reasons For Being Denied Boarding- Being intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs.
- Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member.
- Disrupting flight operations or engaging in unruly behavior.
- Having an offensive odor that is not caused by a disability or illness.
Were you denied boarding?
More answers regarding why were we denied boarding?
Answer 2
Long-stay visas and residence Permits from Schengen countries (like Switzerland) exempt you from a UK Transit visa, but a short-stay visa does not
So the check-in staff were correct.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ann H, Tima Miroshnichenko, Olya Kobruseva, Olya Kobruseva