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Having experienced it myself, I'd say "it depends" - on the airline and the country. In my case it was a connecting Air France flight from Paris to Mumbai that
by jogjayr 8y ago
Having experienced it myself, I'd say "it depends" - on the airline and the country.
In my case it was a connecting Air France flight from Paris to Mumbai that had to turn back to Charles De Gaulle after encountering problems en-route. Half the passengers were Indian nationals with either single-entry/expired Schengen visas (like me) or people passing through from North America or the UK.
The Air France staff wasn't particularly apologetic about it. They did everything that they were supposed to but half-assed it. Everyone who needed transit visas got them but we had to spend 6 very frustrating hours in line with not much communication. They sent sandwiches for passengers waiting in line but vegetarians got left out. The airline put up everyone in a hotel, with shuttles to and from the airport, but I got to the hotel at 3 AM (after waiting in line for a transit visa for so long) and the next flight was the following afternoon, so I couldn't get much sleep.
- mih 8y agoAir France isn't exactly known for good treatment of people from 'lesser' nations. This seems to be a longstanding problem. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/indian-passengers-get-hassled-at-paris-airport-blog-goes-viral/story-aIhNKWWxSer1cQ5vTTTudP.html https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/indian-passengers-get-h... (2013) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-France-regrets-unfortunate-situation-after-Indians-allege-racial-bias/articleshow/4593339.cms https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Air-France-regrets... (2009)
- jogjayr 8y agoMy experience was in 2006 and the 2009 article feels very familiar. I accept that they can't control how long French authorities take to grant people transit visas but they could definitely do a better job of communicating and making sure passengers are comfortable in the meanwhile. I've boycotted Air France ever since.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]