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12:39 AM

Berwyn, regarding travel.stackexchange.com/questions/69115/… my understanding is that the person was not granted leave to enter merely they couldn't find an earlier flight and didn't want to bother with jailing him until

But what do i know, @GayotFow knows these things

Berwyn

Probably didn't want to burden her with $450/night in a hotel for a month

5 years salary

chx

Yeah I am not surprised the immigration officer took one look at this mess and thrown him out

One of my failures in life is not being able to understand why on earth would anyone pay exorbitant amounts of money for a hotel room. I could afford it myself but it seems such a waste of money.

Berwyn

All pretty weird. I saw a link to some book or other that sounded interesting

chx

And I can't ask on travel SE because it'd be closed as primarily option based :)

Berwyn

My company pays about $75k in hotel rooms for me every year

chx

12:46 AM

Well, if a company pays

Berwyn

which earns me loads of points to let me go to hawaii for 2 weeks and not pay for anything

sounds good to me!

chx

When I was working for a company which had Carlson Wagonlit as travel agents and they asked me what kind of hotel room I would want I answered I need a clean, preferably quiet room with a bed, my own bathroom and a roof...

Berwyn

red roof inn?

chx

i was kidding

Although after Dublin I need to add to my list that the door should close :P

Berwyn

I worked for a company that used carlson wagonlit too. didn't like it

Where are you based?

chx

12:51 AM

Vancouver, Beautiful British Columbia, Canada :)

Berwyn

I got married there

Nice place :)

chx

I agree

Berwyn

1:05 AM

Doing anything interesting this weekend? It's a very pleasant day in California

chx

Working :/

It's also raining

Gayot Fow

@chx @Berwyn The hotel gambit was as follows.........

She did not want to disclose to the IO that she was going to be shacking with her bf

So she got a hotel reservation

chx

but... why on earth not? Perhaps because she thought the IO would think they have a plan to marry?

Berwyn

dear god

Gayot Fow

and the plan backfired

As soon as the IO saw the reservation, he smelled a bounce

Berwyn

1:11 AM

I think there might have been a slight IQ problem somewhere

Gayot Fow

No lads, take care that she didn't tell me this. It's my GUESS

from seeing the things people will do

Berwyn

I understand you can anticipate these things

it's hard for some of us to imagine

Gayot Fow

So the IO asked where she was staying

and she showed him the reservation

and from that point onward she was totally stuff

stuffed

Berwyn

incredible. but credible

chx

You know, the advice on the other question to stay calm and civil...

here's my story

Berwyn

1:13 AM

GayotFow have you read that book someone mentioned, written by an IO?

chx

in 2011 at the Vancouver airport US preclearance i got to secondary

it's a lot of wait (till they find your checked luggage and bring it up) and there's no water since you are just past security

it's not nice to say the least

Gayot Fow

yes, but it was a very long time ago

chx

then they ask you a ton of very stupid questions

Berwyn

I spent about 8 months in the US on an ESTA attending "meetings"

I think you just have to know how to answer the questions

chx

about an hour into this, still in a very calm tone I asked them back "Do you think I went through the several years long legal Canadian immigration process just to become an illegal in the USA?"

I was let go

Berwyn

1:16 AM

there's a question about working from home whilst abroad. BTDT

chx

I got Nexus later that year

So sometimes just losing it is win

Gayot Fow

So bit by bit the part about her bf came out

Berwyn

I presume this is so common though?

Gayot Fow

but she was already stuffed

chx

But why do you think she tried to hide her bf?

Berwyn

1:18 AM

She came in on a one-way ticket a year ago

Gayot Fow

To have reserved a hotel room was unfathomably lame

Berwyn

unfathomable is a perfect word for that!

Gayot Fow

To try to paint the IO a picture like that gives cause to worry about their general intelligence if I may submit such a comment

Berwyn

I don't think there was much doubt about her general intelligence really. I edited her post :)

Gayot Fow

Plus you have a post doctoral student shacking with a KFC burger flipper

Berwyn

1:21 AM

yeah. wtf is going on

Gayot Fow

I have seen this so many times........

chx

Really?

Berwyn

can you ask on the thread for her to post a photo of them together?

chx

What is it in reality?

Berwyn

would love to see it!

Gayot Fow

1:21 AM

Yes.....

chx

Fake marriage for immigration?

Or what?

Gayot Fow

A girl surfs the net until she ensnared a Brit who can lift her out of a drab existence

chx

Ah!

Gayot Fow

She is the aggressor and the driving force

Berwyn

and him being a phd suggests booking a night in a hotel at a months wage to fool immigration...

Gayot Fow

1:23 AM

He is the passive player just expecting some casual woof

And it all ends tragically

Berwyn

have they not heard of premier inn?

Gayot Fow

I have about 30 of my FB friends who did that :( :(

After the guy wakes up, it's a tragic ending

Berwyn

this deserves a mini-series on tv

chx

What does he lose (aside from feelings)?

Gayot Fow

So @chx and @Berwyn take to mind that she's a profile

chx

1:25 AM

Of course

But I understand you are talking of a more generic case

Gayot Fow

Yeah, a generic version of her case

Berwyn

do these people get thrid and fourth chances?

or do they eventually get put on a don't call list?

Gayot Fow

OH! Do you want to know the next act of this charade?

Berwyn

go on

Gayot Fow

She will now harp on his guilt feelings for making her have a bad immigration history

chx

1:28 AM

And will drag him into Canada?

Gayot Fow

I can see it with my eyes closed!

Berwyn

tell him to move to paris, emigrate there and then use EU family whatsit to get to the UK?

Gayot Fow

Heavens no! Not to Canada or the US!!!! They are losers there flipping burgers or what-not

She wants to be married in the UK

chx

Schengen surely will get a copy of the UK history so her chances of entering there is slim too?

So.. what's next :) ?

Gayot Fow

She will incite the guy's guilt

chx

1:30 AM

yes...

go on

Gayot Fow

and from there, the story bifurcates

the first path is he ghosts her and she shows up again anyway

the second path is he agrees to marry her

Berwyn

what's the typical path for that?

Gayot Fow

for the 2nd one?

Berwyn

yeah

chx

well, for the first too, how on earth would she get into the UK after these two

Berwyn

1:32 AM

I only really know these things for getting in to the US

Gayot Fow

The girl makes him come to the US/Canada and gets married and then she goes for a spouse visa

Berwyn

once they get married, wouldn't she eventually have the right to come to the UK?

chx

facepalm

are there males these stupid?

i guess.

Gayot Fow

If the guy earns more than 18.6k sterling

Berwyn

I read britishexpats.com a bit and see this over there

Gayot Fow

1:34 AM

But the hooks are in because they got married stateside where you can get a license the same day

yeah,

I know

There is a whole complete forum of American/Canadian girls in this pattern.

A whole forum!!!!

chx

got a link?

Gayot Fow

On the first path, she will get bounced again and find another Brit

chx

i want to be entertained

Berwyn

Personally, I don't believe in immigration controls anyway

Gayot Fow

talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=17.0

Berwyn

1:36 AM

I think you should be free to go anywhere you want

chx

Also, finally but really -- why does she want to be in the UK so badly???

Gayot Fow

@chx you missed the point!

Berwyn

land of the free!!

chx

I surely di!

The whole story makes no sense to me

Berwyn

free healthcare, free social security, free housing...

Gayot Fow

1:37 AM

flipping burgers, sometimes living in a trailer, or with parents

chx

Free housing...??

Gayot Fow

multiple children from multiple fathers

Berwyn

you should read the daily mail :)

chx

What i don't understand is this: why she doesn't try to ensnare a Canadian man?

Gayot Fow

@Berwyn it's not the benefits that creates the pull factor

Berwyn

1:38 AM

e.g. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280385/…

Gayot Fow

Did you ever see "An Officer and a Gentleman"?

Berwyn

I did, but I can't remember the story

chx

I didnt

Berwyn

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 American romantic drama film that stars Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Louis Gossett, Jr., who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film, and was produced by Lorimar Productions for Paramount Pictures. It tells the story of Zack (Gere), a U.S. Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Officer Candidate School. While Zack meets his first true girlfriend during his training, a local young woman named Paula (Winger), he also comes into conflict with the hard-driving Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant (Gossett, Jr.)...

chx

So... what's the Big Pull into the UK?

we are definitely getting somewhere

Gayot Fow

1:39 AM

The pull factor is that it's AWAY from their life

Berwyn

everybody loves us brits

Gayot Fow

Read that forum, you will quickly see that

the driving factor

is the US girl

chx

Ah so, that's the push factor

immigration is typically a push-pull affair

Basically everywhere but here

and then everywhere quickly becomes the UK because you want an English speaking place etc

Gayot, I think the next step in this particular case is that the girl will try to get pregnant this weekend. Better a kid than just guilt...

Gayot Fow

@chx Instant status with their friends and nobody can see the details of their life

@chx Some do, but it's very risky

If the guy ghosts her, then she's really stuffed

Berwyn

how does it work out with the flights? Do AC just transport her back without a problem?

Gayot Fow

1:44 AM

And guys, take note in that forum how it's standard to use all your credit on air tickets and then declare bankruptcy when they get married

it's very standard

chx

:D

Berwyn

nice

Gayot Fow

They drive themselves into bankruptcy to get a relationship established, YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT

Berwyn

can't they elope to gretna green and get married over the weekend?

Gayot Fow

No ---- marriage is in the US/Canada

You've got to understand the pattern LOL

chx

1:47 AM

I understand it now

Berwyn

am getting there...

Gayot Fow

So going back to our OP............

chx

Find a guy in the UK, establish a distance relationship, get him across the pond, marry him, get a spousal visa, get to the UK

Berwyn

I'm going to be on my guard from now on :)

Gayot Fow

She doesn't care a bit about spending a lot because she's planning to go bankrupt :)

chx

1:48 AM

Ah

And immigration buys this crap? I thought you needed proof going back years they are a couple

Berwyn

doesn't sound like it will be very difficult for her

Gayot Fow

It's not difficult at all, just have the guy earn 18.6k and include a few pics

Go to that forum and read that about 80% of them are in the exact same pattern :)

chx

18.6k is not a lot...?

unless it needs to be biweekly :P

Gayot Fow

One more thing before I go back to work.......

When American/Canadian girls go on a TRUE holiday to the UK

The profile is that they travel in a small group of 3 or 4.

Otherwise the IO will spot it and then there's trouble

Berwyn

and don't stay in $450/night hotels by any chance?

Gayot Fow

1:53 AM

A KFC waitress does not travel alone to the UK full stop, never mind the hotel.

I hope that clarifies the chat you guys were having

Berwyn

Cheers! Very interesting

Gayot Fow

See you chaps in a bit :)

Berwyn

almost feel qualified to be an IO!

cheerio

Zach Lipton

2:12 AM

she does claim that they

they've been together for "8 years," for some definition of together

but yeah she was sunk the moment the IO asked what she did for a living or what kind of income she had

Berwyn

speed of light does tend to make things seem closer

/me waves goodbye to SF

I'll try and avoid those pesky toddlers

Zach Lipton

that's easy, just fly a private jet...

Berwyn

2:52 AM

on board. looking good. no kids in sight. QC15s attached. alcohol suitably imbibed

Andrew Grimm

3:57 AM

Why was the toddler question locked? travel.stackexchange.com/questions/69053/…

Karlson

6:12 AM

@neo Probably won't make it to the train station. But any of those cards work cross border in Europe without incurring roaming charges?

Willeke

7:56 AM

@AndrewGrimm, lots of discussion, much off topic. More interesting: Why have the real answer (rent a private jet) been deleted?

Andrew Grimm

8:47 AM

@Willeke I was surprised at that, but I don't have enough rep to know whether it was self-deleted.

Zach Lipton

9:34 AM

a bunch of mod decisions I'm not really thrilled about with that question. It seems that a question attracting interest is somehow a bad thing

Mark Mayo

11:44 AM

@ZachLipton I presume sarcasm, because it'd be a very misguided thought (I hope!) that anyone on this site believes that 'a question attracting interest is somehow a bad thing'. Sure it might bring spammers or the occasional crud answer, but look at our 200ish unanswered questions - clearly we don't have the expertise to answer everything, the more the merrier.

incidentally, which question?

ah toddler one. @AndrewGrimm it even states - 'locked for high amount of off-topic comments..." etc. Looks like @mindcorrosive locked it as people were starting to converse in the comments, and add off-topic comments. The system immediately flags it for mods once it hits 20+ comments to investigate and possibly lock, especially if there are several downvoted/low quality answers as well from new users (looks like there were a few rated 0 or below that were removed).

Looks like a couple of mods have been taking care of business. I was busy all weekend, so catching up.

It unlocks again in 5 hours.

2.5 days until June 1st! :)

neo

@Karlson I don't think there is a German prepaid card with free EU roaming (for the next year that is). The prices for roaming are pretty standard across the board. If you ever find one I'd be grateful to hear. At the moment I use a British SIM for that.

Berwyn

2:04 PM

@AndrewGrimm No it certainly wasn't self-deleted

Berwyn

2:14 PM

that sugar free drink answer is getting a lot of up-votes considering it's supposedly off-topic

which I don't think it is

Willeke

3:16 PM

Last I had seen that 'rent a plane' answer to the todlers Q, it had 136 or so upvotes, and that while there were some down votes as well. And it did answer the question as asked.

Heidel Ber Gensis

0

Q: Why was this highly upvoted answer deleted?

This answer got 134 upvotes, yet it was deleted by a mod. Some might think of the answer as a sarcastic answer, but I do not think so, and many others share the same opinion with me. In my opinion, it was a legitimate answer to a poor question. Why did the mod take that decision?

3

@Berwyn 's answer seemed good to me, people liked it, and it answered the question. If the OP does not have $16,000 then that does not make the answer wrong. Just saying.

Willeke

Agreed

In fact 154 people did give it a vote up, 20 down.

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Willeke, good point..

Willeke

The top answer now has 'only' 135 votes, all up.

No answer accepted right now.

Berwyn

yeah, I was above the top answer even with the down votes

there were 20 down votes when it was closed and something like 160 up

Heidel Ber Gensis

3:21 PM

As a pro in the airline business, I think the current top answer is not practical. Not at all. not even a bit.. even if you buy a first class seat, a crying baby can be there.. really..

Berwyn

And I've been in F many times and can confirm that

Heidel Ber Gensis

other answers about getting a seat next to emergency exit is just pure WRONG.. bull shit in other words

the ONLY answer that directly answers the problem is this deleted answer..

Willeke

Kids will not be in the same row, (if the answers are right) but they might well be in the next row.

Heidel Ber Gensis

I am a cabin crew for more than a decade.. ALL THE CURRENT answers are pure bull shit.. period.

Berwyn

indeed. It's the canonical answer for how to I avoid babies, young children, drunks, loud talkers and people playing pokemon without headphones

Willeke

3:23 PM

And while noise reducing headphones might reduce the sound enough, they are no real solution.

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Willeke or the row in front, that's exactly what the guy is complaining about.. WRONG answer..

@Berwyn stinky people, fat people, etc...

Berwyn

noise cancelling headphones actually make it worse. which you'd know if you tried them without plugging them in to music

you actually hear voices better

Heidel Ber Gensis

I did not see the question earlier, otherwise i would make this answer:
> You can not be sure to avoid that, unless you rent your own plane.

and you @Berwyn said it...

Berwyn

yeah. and it was deleted :(

Willeke

The answer 'ask the parents to keep the kid quiet' is actually not that bad if the parents engage the child in activities that make it react in the too loud voice.

Heidel Ber Gensis

3:25 PM

@Berwyn I will get it undeleted. with the support of other high rep users here. hopefully. It is simply the only correct answer.

Berwyn

it allowed me to vote to undelete it though which I did

the parents were perfect IMO!

mindcorrosive

@HeidelBerGensis: see my answer to your meta post

0

A: Why was this highly upvoted answer deleted?

It's a correct and valid answer -- that's for sure. Just not very helpful. The problem I have with such non-answering answers is that they can be applied to many air-travel questions. Problems with toddlers? Get a private jet. Too little luggage on the flight? Get a private jet. In...

Berwyn

But the OP's question could only be solved my my answer

Heidel Ber Gensis

@mindcorrosive yes saw it and made a comment seconds ago..

Willeke

@mindcorrosive, not true. Most problems do have an easy answer without renting a plane, this one is not that easy.

Heidel Ber Gensis

3:27 PM

@mindcorrosive I respect your decision, but as a pro in this business, it is the ONLY correct answer to the problem. all the other answes are just fantasies.. wrong.. WRONG..

Berwyn

The OP's problem does not have a solution without a private jet.

anyway, taking off. biab

Heidel Ber Gensis

other possible answer is buying three full rows, and then sitting in the middle row.. that's the other possible solution to the problem..

emergency exists, blah blah.. just WRONG..

Willeke

Would that work? In all planes I have been on people moved to empty seats.

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Willeke if u own the seats, you can keep them..

Berwyn

no seat is guaranteed on an a/c. I've read about people who have bought seats for their infants being thrown out of them

Heidel Ber Gensis

3:29 PM

talk to the cabin crew..

i've seen people buy two seats. never seen people buy more than that..

@Berwyn that depends on the airline.. in the airline i work for, a seat is a seat, and it is guaranteed.

Willeke

If a plane is booked 100%, good luck in keeping them empty. You might be able to keep kids out of them, but that is about the best you can hope for.

Berwyn

which airline?

I fly 130k miles/year and I've been thrown out of my seat

Heidel Ber Gensis

an airlines in the middle east.. a good one.

Berwyn

EK?

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Berwyn most airlines in the area, like emirates and qatar, will grant you the seat.. even though their policies does not say that..

no not EK..

Berwyn

3:32 PM

I like RJ. Hope it's them :)

Heidel Ber Gensis

i hope that @mindcorrosive will reconsider this..

@Berwyn no.. RJ is nice. meet some of their crew members in some IATA trainings before and in some layover hotels..

Willeke

But even when you buy and keep those 9 seats, a kid in the row just behind it can be quite a problem.

Heidel Ber Gensis

i work for SAUDIA..

Berwyn

Been a long time since I flew them! Still dry I presume?

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Willeke yes true.. simply, there is no solution to the problem, only a private jet is the way.. or teleportation...

Berwyn

3:34 PM

I would've also suggested a cruise and I did research that

but the OP specifically said flight

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Berwyn yup.. dry.. but now all new fleet.. no old planes.. 120 of them.

teleportation is somehow a flight.. atoms will be flying.. somehow i guess..

Berwyn

I'd fly a dry airline if good seats and food

flew SJC-LHR last night and fell asleep on wheels up

Willeke

I hardly ever use alcohol during flights, would not miss it if not available.

Heidel Ber Gensis

@Berwyn we have the biggest seats in economy.. the biggest!

Willeke

Might even prefer it, as others will not get drunk next to me.

Berwyn

3:36 PM

I try to avoid those

My company policy is Y-only but I'm almost always in J

Heidel Ber Gensis

anyway, nap time.. long day.. @Berwyn nice to have you in travel.se, you are a valuable addition to the site.

Berwyn

cheers!

Willeke

Seconded, very welcome.

Berwyn

nice to virtually meet you

Heidel Ber Gensis

:)

Willeke

3:37 PM

I still feel like a newby myself, although I am growing in rep.

Berwyn

first in line for TO and nobody has asked me to turn my laptop off yet

I love BA :)

ok. taken off. guess I should go in flight mode. later!

Willeke

Good flight

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