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Families left disappointed after denied boarding

Source: Tourism Update, 21/08/2015

While boarding a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris to
Johannesburg, on August 8, Martin Weist, CEO of Tourvest Destination
Management, noticed 20 people being denied boarding as a result of not
having the correct travel documentation to enter South Africa. "I am
not often embarrassed but when I see crying children that now can`t go
on holiday, I don`t like being South African," he said.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has claimed that domestic and
foreign nationals, travelling to and from South Africa with children
under the age of 18, were complying with the new child travel
regulations, at a rate of 98%.

However, Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesperson for Home Affairs, admitted to
Tourism Update that the DHA are not able to track how many people are
denied boarding.

When Tourism Update asked major airlines flying in South Africa, how
many passengers were denied boarding onto their flights as a result of
not having the correct travel documents, most airlines shied away from
the question. British Airways said they do not keep records of how
many people are bumped off of flights or denied boarding, while Delta,
SAA and Lufthansa declined to comment at this stage.

While at Paris Airport, Weist also noticed families, who were trying
to travel to South Africa, standing in a two-hour queue having all
their documentation checked. "For the first time I saw, in action,
what our unbelievably stupid birth certificate requirements does to
families."

Air France check-in staff were asked by Weist whether South African
was the only country that required an unabridged birth certificate
(UBC) for travelling minors. Air France staff confirmed SA was the
only country.

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