Are travel agencies scamming people with flights from Europe transiting through US?

Tigerchaser

I bought a flight earlier to Mexico which connects through New York. I didn't know that know one who has been in Europe can transit through the US. Why are so many flights from Europe to Latin American still going this route, it feels like a scam as no one can fly on them? I must be entitled to a refund surley? 

eskbanker

Tigerchaser said:

I bought a flight earlier to Mexico which connects through New York. I didn't know that know one who has been in Europe can transit through the US.

How much earlier did you buy, i.e. before or after US travel restrictions were introduced?

Tigerchaser said:

Why are so many flights from Europe to Latin American still going this route

Are there?  Are you sure you're not just booking multiple flights that happen to involve changing planes in the USA?

Tigerchaser said:

it feels like a scam as no one can fly on them?

Some will be able to.

Tigerchaser said:

I must be entitled to a refund surley?

Unlikely but not impossible.  What travel insurance provision do you have?

bagand96

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Flights are still going to the US, because there are exclusions in the restrictions, there are people can travel (for example, US Citizens) 

Potential options: some airlines let you cancel a ticket within 24 hours of booking. So if you have just booked, this might be an option of you move quickly. It does depend on the airline policy, and if you have booked via an agent it will also depend on their policy, how quick they act, and may have their own fee.

If the 24 hour refund is a no-go, then many airlines have more flexible options right now. You may be able to move your flight to a future date for free, or get an airline travel credit. Again depends on the airline. 

Alan_Bowen

There are lots of flight to Mexico that are direct or via a European hub, not via the USA. If you book on line you become your own travel agent and it is up to you to decide whether you can meet US entry requirements. If you used a good agent, they would have avoided any flights via the US as they  (should) know the rules

mattyprice4004

It's your job to know restrictions on countries you plan to transit through or enter - no one elses.

Sorry, but an element of personal responsibility comes into it here; if you'd stumped up a little extra to book through a good old-fashioned agent who is there to help (and not just take a £20 cut for booking the flight for you) then you'd have been told this.

I also hate to say it, but why would anyone put their hand in their pocket for (potentially) thousands of pounds without checking entry / transit restrictions in the middle of a pandemic?!

Caz3121

the restrictions on entering or transiting the USA have been in place since 16th March
you can check the requirements yourself here - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements
when you say you booked 'earlier' do you mean earlier today or earlier this year?
If you booked direct with the airline then you should be able to read what waivers they have in place for changes (some airlines will offer future credit) on their website
There are people that are able to enter the US from the UK, eg citizens, relatives etc. If nobody could travel then airlines would not be operating empty flights

epm-84

bagand96 said:

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Travel agents aren't supposed to sell flights which do not comply with FCDO guidance, without first warning the customer.  (Some have been known to which have been the subject of investigations on programs like Watchdog.) On most flight selling websites it says COVID related restrictions may be in place and if it's a UK site it often gives you a link to the FCDO site.

bagand96

epm-84 said:

bagand96 said:

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Travel agents aren't supposed to sell flights which do not comply with FCDO guidance, without first warning the customer.  (Some have been known to which have been the subject of investigations on programs like Watchdog.) On most flight selling websites it says COVID related restrictions may be in place and if it's a UK site it often gives you a link to the FCDO site.

FCDO travel advice and the entry requirements/restrictions of foreign nations are different things though. The ban on Europeans entering or transiting the USA has nothing to do with the UK FCDO. (although, the FCDO website may relay this information) 

Agents and airlines T&Cs will always have a clause saying it is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they confirm with immigration and entry requirements for the destination and any stops en-route. 

Westin

epm-84 said:

bagand96 said:

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Travel agents aren't supposed to sell flights which do not comply with FCDO guidance, without first warning the customer.  (Some have been known to which have been the subject of investigations on programs like Watchdog.) On most flight selling websites it says COVID related restrictions may be in place and if it's a UK site it often gives you a link to the FCDO site.

A small wager that the OP has however booked a cheap ticket with an overseas based online ticket seller.  In such cases they will have no idea or care about the FCDO travel advisories. 

epm-84

bagand96 said:

epm-84 said:

bagand96 said:

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Travel agents aren't supposed to sell flights which do not comply with FCDO guidance, without first warning the customer.  (Some have been known to which have been the subject of investigations on programs like Watchdog.) On most flight selling websites it says COVID related restrictions may be in place and if it's a UK site it often gives you a link to the FCDO site.

FCDO travel advice and the entry requirements/restrictions of foreign nations are different things though. The ban on Europeans entering or transiting the USA has nothing to do with the UK FCDO. (although, the FCDO website may relay this information) 

Agents and airlines T&Cs will always have a clause saying it is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they confirm with immigration and entry requirements for the destination and any stops en-route. 

FCDO advise against all but essential travel to the USA except Northern Mariana Islands due to the USA's COVID infection rate, so even if the USA lifts the Europe wide ban which Trump imposed, when the president changes later this month, the FCDO advice will still apply.

Of course, in normal times if you booked a trip to somewhere like Russia and were advised of the need for a visa but the Russians decided they aren't going to give you a tourist visa, then it's not the travel company's problem.  However, a good travel company would advise you of the need for a visa prior to booking and in the event of you not being able to get one they would either refund you any recoverable costs or give you a credit towards an alternative holiday, presuming you didn't leave the visa application until the last minute.

Westin

epm-84 said:

bagand96 said:

epm-84 said:

bagand96 said:

The general answer here is that country entry requirements and restrictions are the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they comply with, not the responsibility of the airline or travel agent.

Travel agents aren't supposed to sell flights which do not comply with FCDO guidance, without first warning the customer.  (Some have been known to which have been the subject of investigations on programs like Watchdog.) On most flight selling websites it says COVID related restrictions may be in place and if it's a UK site it often gives you a link to the FCDO site.

FCDO travel advice and the entry requirements/restrictions of foreign nations are different things though. The ban on Europeans entering or transiting the USA has nothing to do with the UK FCDO. (although, the FCDO website may relay this information) 

Agents and airlines T&Cs will always have a clause saying it is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they confirm with immigration and entry requirements for the destination and any stops en-route. 

FCDO advise against all but essential travel to the USA except Northern Mariana Islands due to the USA's COVID infection rate, so even if the USA lifts the Europe wide ban which Trump imposed, when the president changes later this month, the FCDO advice will still apply.

Of course, in normal times if you booked a trip to somewhere like Russia and were advised of the need for a visa but the Russians decided they aren't going to give you a tourist visa, then it's not the travel company's problem.  However, a good travel company would advise you of the need for a visa prior to booking and in the event of you not being able to get one they would either refund you any recoverable costs or give you a credit towards an alternative holiday, presuming you didn't leave the visa application until the last minute.

The above certainly true but the problem is the majority don't want to pay for "a good travel company" or the service and advice  they can offer. Instead they look and book based on "cheap" and as Alan mentioned earlier, become their own travel agent and have to take on that responsibility themselves or accept the high risk of using a overseas based OTA.