LATAM - Brazil Visa - Flight Changes

[PaulyB]

Hello
This is part warning, part question. Fortunately not a personal experience but still anxiety inducing.

My daughter and her partner were booked to travel today on LA804 out of Melb. So far so good. Arrived at the terminal to discover she needed a Visa. . She had travelled there two years ago no visa required and assumed the same. She doens't need me to yell - I am sure she has done that enough.

Anyway - visa problem sorted in a jiffy with a friend who went to the office/embassy. Not sure which. Too late to get on the plane tho.

So this is where the question comes. According to my daughter the checkin person at Melb said this happens all the time since the visa change. Further, she could come back tomorrow and he would get her on the flight. Quote: " I triple checked with him and he said same time flight, no price change, just come check in"

So I wonder if anyone has any experiences of this? I am surprised there are no extra costs but having booked direct with LATAM has possibly helped.

There is also a flight change at Santiago, still on the same booking so hopefully the agent at the desk keeps to his word.

Any experience with this sort of situation with LATAM?

Thanks!

 

[jase05]

Good luck and hopes it all works out.
I would be very wary of anyone verbally agreeing to “just turn up tomorrow” though and I’d want some guarantee and even a ticket that reflects the changed flight.

 

[PaulyB]

Good luck and hopes it all works out.
I would be very wary of anyone verbally agreeing to “just turn up tomorrow” though and I’d want some guarantee and even a ticket that reflects the changed flight.

I hear you.....

 

[Mr_Tee]

They should have asked for a reticketing I think.

As pure coincidence, my Brazil E-visa came through today for a trip in September.

 

[Siebert]

I would have expected something like that to be documented in the booking rather than relying on a verbal promise. If possible, I'd try to get some form of written confirmation from LATAM before heading back to the airport. That would make me feel a lot more comfortable.

 

[Mr_Tee]

Hello
This is part warning, part question. Fortunately not a personal experience but still anxiety inducing.

My daughter and her partner were booked to travel today on LA804 out of Melb. So far so good. Arrived at the terminal to discover she needed a Visa. . She had travelled there two years ago no visa required and assumed the same. She doens't need me to yell - I am sure she has done that enough.

Anyway - visa problem sorted in a jiffy with a friend who went to the office/embassy. Not sure which. Too late to get on the plane tho.

So this is where the question comes. According to my daughter the checkin person at Melb said this happens all the time since the visa change. Further, she could come back tomorrow and he would get her on the flight. Quote: " I triple checked with him and he said same time flight, no price change, just come check in"

So I wonder if anyone has any experiences of this? I am surprised there are no extra costs but having booked direct with LATAM has possibly helped.

There is also a flight change at Santiago, still on the same booking so hopefully the agent at the desk keeps to his word.

Any experience with this sort of situation with LATAM?

Thanks!

So @PaulyB , what ended up happening here?

 

[PaulyB]

So @PaulyB , what ended up happening here?

I am so glad you asked. I apologise for the delay - I have been quite unwell over the last week.

So it all worked out as planned. Here is what happened!
As a bit of background for our new readers, my daughter and her Brazilian partner were travelling to Brazil ex Melb on Latam. Despite an occasioal prod about whether a visa was needed, I was assured it wasnt as she didn't need one last time. cough-u-me.....

So. the obvious happened - got to the airport and couldn't check in as a Visa is now required. And this is where the story hots up. My daughter is a travelling Australian singer/songwriter and has an extensive network of fans and the like. So she put the word out, looking for advice and the most constructive one was to see if someone could get to the Brazilian office in Sydney.

A quick call to her best friend (since babies) had her jump in a taxi from Redfern to the city arriving about 20 minutes to closing time at 1pm. I don't know what information was needed but Sam had her Visa in about 30 minutes, emailed to her, thanks to a very kind person who stayed back for an extra 10 or 15 mins to wrap everything up.

So problem number 1. solved. She was amazing - well - they both were.

So what of LATAM? Well - I shared the concern that the promise of seats the next day was dodgy but they checked and checked again and the assistant was insistent that if they rolled up the next day they would have a seat on the plane. "It happens all the time" since the Visa change they were told.

Lo and behold, they rolled up the next day and they had their tickets and boarding passes all the way through. Huge relief all round as there had been nothing in writing. I did some searches for information about this and I think they saw it as a good PR thing to do,. If it is happening 'a lot' at the moment then it seems an excellent, common sense approach.

I also think that the fact that they had booked direct, is an experienced traveller (yeah, I know ) and didn't yell and scream may have also helped!

Nevertheless. Do not try this at home