Complaint: Check-in / Boarding Transit visa missing - denied boarding
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Old Jul 27, 2016, 8:32 PM
A320FAN A320FAN is offline
Airline Employee (NOT OFFICIAL REP)
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ncitizen View Post
Hi.
So this is my case:
Initially I have purchased online (on lufthansa.com) a round-trip ticket from Chisinau (KIV) to Minneapolis (MSP), with layovers in Munich (MUC) and Toronto (YYZ). I am a Romanian citizen.
On the date of the flight, while attempting to check in, my boarding was denied because I didn't have a Canadian visa, a transit visa. I never knew that I might need a visa even if I have a connecting flight, in the same terminal.
I called local Lufthansa representative in Chisinau, they told me that the only way not to lose my booking is to rebook it ASAP, for a fee (EUR 130) + price difference (EUR 142). I had to do this until the boarding ended.
My complaint resides in the fact that I wasn't ever informed that I need a transit visa for my trip - even if I have provided info about my passport, so Lufthansa knew my citizenship and could inform me that I need a transit visa.
I am looking for a refund of the amount of my expenses related to rebooking. That would be a great way to solve this dispute.
I have contacted Lufthansa online support before and it took a month to get a response. They gave me a reference to "General Conditions of Carriage (Article 7.1.7.)". Which seems quite protectionist on behalf of the carrier.
It is not the airline's responsibility to tell you what you need, you should be proactive and researching what you need.