Hello everyone,

This is my first post !^*^

I would like to share an AA experience with you and see what you think.

So, earlier this summer, I planned a trip to Praha from Dallas.
I was flying AA non-stop service from DFW ¡V FRA then connected with OK to PRG.
I¡¦m a Hong Kong citizen and I have confirmed with the Immigration Department of Hong Kong beforehand just to make sure my Hong Kong SAR passport will allow me to visit all EU countries without getting a VISA.

So I got to Terminal D at DFW about 2 before dept. for international check in and I was waiting in a long line. So finally, I and some other passengers were told to check in at the First Class ticketing counter by an AA passenage serivce staff. I got to the desk which I only had about 30 mins before boarding. The CSA at the First Class desk said ¡§You cannot check in here, this desk is only for First Class; but I can help you this time, you will have to check in at economy class next time.¡¨ I was like¡K Duh ! but the AA lady told me to.

Anyhow, so I gave him my Hong Kong SAR passport which I am sure I don¡¦t need a VISA to both Germany and Czech Republic. He ran it through the AA computer and rejected me there saying that according to the AA system, I need a VISA and he would not issue the boarding pass to me. Which I understand that he would so get in trouble if he issued a boarding pass to me when the system is ¡§right¡¨¡Kbut it is not !! So I tried to explained it to him like most Hongkongers always do --- Hong Kong SAR passport is different from the Red China passport . He just kept saying NO like he had an autopilot on, notwithstanding I was trying to educate him right there with other First Class customers.

Then I had an idea. I asked him what if I am a British Citizen and then I pulled out my British National (Overseas) Passport (I was glad I have it with me although I was not going to use it at all), which require VISA to go over to Germany and Czech. (Yay, it sad ! but it is the fact) He took it and ¡§Put the data into the system¡¨ and issued my boarding pass right there. And he was still whining about me not using the ¡§British¡¨ Status and the "British Passport" at first and wasted time there. I was thinking I just lied to you and you gave me a boarding pass. I did not have much time left to tell him you would be screwed if I only had the BN(O) and get on the plane¡K so I just took everything and ran to the gate.

Of course when I get into Germany and Czech, I used my Hong Kong SAR Passport w/o a VISA.

When I went to get my boarding pass with OK at FRA, I had no problem at all...well it was FRA overall...

That makes me wonder, what if I got rejected and I had to cancel my trip and I can so prove to AA that I indeed dont need a VISA with my HK SAR passport? What would AA do ? What Could I do ??

And What if I just have my British National (Overseas) Passport and got on the plane without a VISA??? Who fault is that? And the AA computer system was "Right"

...as an international airline, how can the systems not able to tell which passport is ok and which is not. Its not like Hong Kong is too small like Macau. And there are about at least 3 ¡V 4 millions Hongkongers still use the BN(O) passport and many of them travel to the USA with AA thru NRT.

All in all, the AA flight was great but yet I like the ride on OK better ! Thats just me !

Let me know what you think ~

[Edited 2006-12-07 18:16:06]