QF PNG Visa failure and who is to blame?

[QPR1975]

Hi everyone, i had a rather interesting experience this week heading to PNG via Cairns. Check in at the airport was smooth and no issues. Flew into
Port Moresby and it seems i did not have the necessary visa to be cleared into Port Moresby. PNG does not offer visa on arrival for Australia citizens it seems, i was sent on the next flight back to Cairns. I guess i need to take some of the blame or possibly all of the blame but the Qantas reaction was very interesting especially to a Platinum holder. Upon arrival into Cairns i was advised by the ground staff that Qantas would be fined for allowing me on the plane ($5000) without the necessary visa and the staff were puzzled that there Sydney team let me on the plane in the first place. I was than told i am on my own in Cairns as its 100% my fault and that i shouldnt complain to Qantas and cause any problems. Coming from Sydney i had tho wait 2 days and get on a Jetstar flight as all the flights with Qantas were booked. If i was told in Sydney i had needed a visa than i would of not flown out that day. Anyone had any similar problems.

 

[TomVexille]

Interestingly Timatic seems to suggest that the PNG does issue a VOA at POM for tourists.

[h=3]Visa Issuance[/h]Nationals of Australia traveling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival at Alotau (GUR), Mount Hagen (HGU), Port Moresby (POM) and Rabaul (RAB) for a maximum stay of 30 days. Passengers must have a return/onward ticket.

If PNG do not have visa on arrival I would suggest that QF shouldn't have checked you in at SYD.

Seems to be a strange case.

 

[mrdctau]

You are both at fault. You: It take 30 seconds to check what the visa conditions are for whatever country you are visiting and why on earth would you think PNG had a visa on arrival system? Qantas: Incredible slip-up by the check-in staff and I'm surprised the fine isn't more.

Having said that, Qantas did owe you a duty of care to check your eligibility to enter PNG so you might have a case to argue that you suffered a loss as a result of Qantas' negligence.

 

[Ewing]

You are both at fault. You: It take 30 seconds to check what the visa conditions are for whatever country you are visiting and why on earth would you think PNG had a visa on arrival system? Qantas: Incredible slip-up by the check-in staff and I'm surprised the fine isn't more.

Well, Timatic says Australians are eligible for Visa on Arrival at POM for tourist purposes only. This is the system that Qantas use to verify Visa eligibility.

Smart Traveller says:

Australians require a visa to enter PNG. Since July 2016, Australians visiting PNG for tourism are able to apply for a visa on arrival at Jacksons International Airport, (Port Moresby); Gurney Airport (Alotau); Kagamuga Airport (Mount Hagen); and Tokua Airport (Rabaul).

Austrade says the same.

QPR1975 - what was the purpose of your visit? Tourism or something else?

 

[TomVexille]

Well, Timatic says Australians are eligible for Visa on Arrival at POM for tourist purposes only. This is the system that Qantas use to verify Visa eligibility.

Smart Traveller says:


Austrade says the same.

QPR1975 - what was the purpose of your visit? Tourism or something else?

Yes, more information needed to make a judgement.

 

[mrdctau]

PNG does indeed have a recently introduced VOA system, but Australia is not one of the eligible countries of citizenship to qualify. Refer http://www.immigration.gov.pg/image... Country List Public Notice 31032014 v2 1.pdf

 

[CaviAck]

Interestingly Timatic seems to suggest that the PNG does issue a VOA at POM for tourists.

If PNG do not have visa on arrival I would suggest that QF shouldn't have checked you in at SYD.

Seems to be a strange case.

QF's responsibility would be check if the pax had the right approval/documentation to enter PNG, as POM (only PNG destination from CNS) has VOA for AUS citizens the pax meets uplift requirements AFAIK so would slip through the cracks if they didn't check if purpose of visit was tourism or business.

You are both at fault. You: It take 30 seconds to check what the visa conditions are for whatever country you are visiting and why on earth would you think PNG had a visa on arrival system? Qantas: Incredible slip-up by the check-in staff and I'm surprised the fine isn't more.

Having said that, Qantas did owe you a duty of care to check your eligibility to enter PNG so you might have a case to argue that you suffered a loss as a result of Qantas' negligence.

AFAIK QF doesn't owe any pax a duty of care to check if they are eligible to enter a country. Airlines have a duty to the governments of the countries they're flying to to ensure that the pax can enter that country legally. I'd be happy to be proven wrong but AFAIK airlines check eligibility not because they care about the pax but because they'll get fined if the pax cannot enter and then have to pay for the pax to be returned to the port from which they came from.

Yes, more information needed to make a judgement.

Would agree here, more information is needed before the game of blame allocation can be played.

 

[burmans]

AFAIK QF doesn't owe any pax a duty of care to check if they are eligible to enter a country. Airlines have a duty to the governments of the countries they're flying to to ensure that the pax can enter that country legally. I'd be happy to be proven wrong but AFAIK airlines check eligibility not because they care about the pax but because they'll get fined if the pax cannot enter and then have to pay for the pax to be returned to the port from which they came from.

Agree with this totally, it's the passenger who has the prime responsibility. Governments might try to put some responsibility on airlines too but this is really limited as described above.

 

[mrdctau]

QF's responsibility would be check if the pax had the right approval/documentation to enter PNG, as POM (only PNG destination from CNS) has VOA for AUS citizens the pax meets uplift requirements AFAIK so would slip through the cracks if they didn't check if purpose of visit was tourism or business.

I think people are confusing Australia with Austria. Check the list of PNG's VOA-eligible countries and you won't find Australia. Believe it or not, PNG's former colonial masters aren't the most popular or trusted entrants to our northern neighbour.

 

[Quickstatus]

Australia does not grant PNG citizens VOA so its a Tit for tat

 

[moa999]

There certainly does appear to be some incorrect info on Timatic then... Full text below for Australian passport holder entering PNG ex AU (from United Timatic portal)

Papua New Guinea - Destination Visa

Visa required.

The following are exempt from holding a visa:

Passengers with an APEC Business Travel Card valid for travel to PNG for a maximum stay of 60 days.

Visa issuance:

Nationals of Australia traveling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival at Alotau (GUR), Mount Hagen (HGU), Port Moresby (POM) and Rabaul (RAB) for a maximum stay of 30 days. Passengers must have a return/onward ticket.

Additional information:

Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay.

 

[lathiat]

Smart Traveller says the same thing:
Smartraveller.gov.au - Papua New Guinea
Australians require a visa to enter PNG. Since July 2016, Australians visiting PNG for tourism are able to apply for a visa on arrival at Jacksons International Airport, (Port Moresby); Gurney Airport (Alotau); Kagamuga Airport (Mount Hagen); and Tokua Airport (Rabaul).
Tourist visas are valid for 30 days only and cannot be extended. This visa on arrival is free of charge however applicants must have a passport with at least six months validity from their planned date of return to Australia, a return or onward ticket, and show evidence of funds.

 

[TomVexille]

I think people are confusing Australia with Austria. Check the list of PNG's VOA-eligible countries and you won't find Australia. Believe it or not, PNG's former colonial masters aren't the most popular or trusted entrants to our northern neighbour.

Well the IATA and Australian government both seem to think VOA exists for Australians. So I'm still not sure where the breakdown occurred.

 

[opusman]

VOA system probably relies on passport having a $50 note folded within it

 

[puppysparkes]

PNG does indeed have a recently introduced VOA system, but Australia is not one of the eligible countries of citizenship to qualify. Refer http://www.immigration.gov.pg/image... Country List Public Notice 31032014 v2 1.pdf

I contacted the Brisbane consulate on Monday and was advised that VOA has been reinstated for Australian citizens. I referred to the website you quote and was advised that the 'ban' has been lifted. I was encouraged to use VOA rather than submit the usual application at the Queen St embassy. Processing time was quoted as 14 days. No visa fee but you'll need to fill out the supplementary health questionnaire. The purpose of my travel was to visit family.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If this was for tourism neither Qantas nor the passenger is at fault. TIMATIC states VOA is available on arrival. If the value of the ticket has been lost perhaps DFAT can advise on whether the passenger can somehow claim this back.

If this was for work purposes, the passenger is at fault for failing to have the correct documentation for entry to the country.

 

[Anna]

Qantas did owe you a duty of care to check your eligibility to enter PNG so you might have a case to argue that you suffered a loss as a result of Qantas' negligence.

Do you have a precedent that you are relying on for this? I have never heard of an airline owing any such duty of care.

 

[puppysparkes]

I intend on flying up next week so I'll update the thread regarding VOA. As long as I get status credits and points I won't mind being turned back.

 

[Danger]

There certainly does appear to be some incorrect info on Timatic then... Full text below for Australian passport holder entering PNG ex AU (from United Timatic portal)

Smart Traveller says the same thing:
Smartraveller.gov.au - Papua New Guinea
Australians require a visa to enter PNG. Since July 2016, Australians visiting PNG for tourism are able to apply for a visa on arrival at Jacksons International Airport, (Port Moresby); Gurney Airport (Alotau); Kagamuga Airport (Mount Hagen); and Tokua Airport (Rabaul).
Tourist visas are valid for 30 days only and cannot be extended. This visa on arrival is free of charge however applicants must have a passport with at least six months validity from their planned date of return to Australia, a return or onward ticket, and show evidence of funds.

Well the IATA and Australian government both seem to think VOA exists for Australians. So I'm still not sure where the breakdown occurred.

Which begs the question . . .

You are both at fault. You: It take 30 seconds to check what the visa conditions are for whatever country you are visiting . . .

Which website would you suggest the traveler should have used to check?

 

[dasheighty]

Which begs the question . . .



Which website would you suggest the traveler should have used to check?

For my two cents worth, I check the website of the country I am going to, and, cross check with Smartraveller.
And, if the two are in conflict, go with the intended destination's advice (and have a print out or screen dump of that advice).