Author stays home from BEC, citing airline harassment
Vehicule Press author Jaspreet Singh, whose latest novel is Chef, was scheduled to appear both at Luminato and BookExpo Canada this weekend. But Singh, who currently lives in Calgary, has been unnerved by his recent air-travel experiences, and believes authorities have him confused with a potential risk. As the Véhicule Press press release says:
This situation first arose when Jaspreet Singh, on an author tour, flew from Calgary to Ottawa on April 26, 2008 and on his return trip, Montreal to Calgary. In each case he was unable to access the electronic check-in facilities and had to contact Air Canada staff.
“I was subjected to a lengthy and detailed questioning in which my ability to travel by air was put into question … Air Canada employees informed me that I was on a ‘list’” but refused to give me particulars … On the return flight [from Montreal] Air Canada staff made the preposterous suggestion that I change my name…”
On his way to Toronto for this weekend, Singh was again unable to check in electronically and went no further, instead turning around and going home. “He feels unsafe traveling with his name on the list and the experience is causing him tremendous anxiety,” says the Véhicule release.
A better idea: follow the example of the guy told to sit on the toilet and sue the hell out of AC.
It was a bit of a no-brainer that he was unable to use the electronic check-in the subsequent time. I’m not saying this is right, not by a long shot.
But it does seem like there might have been a more productive and useful course of action, instead of skipping out on events and attempting to generate publicity about it.
You are mistaken in blaming the airline, let alone the airline agent. these lists are managed by the authorities and the airline has no input.
Tiny, the airline suggested he change his name…
My husband recently had a similar experience with Air Canada, discovering he was on a no-fly list as we prepared to depart for a week. After some phone calls, suspicious looks on the part of the guy at the AC booth, he was allowed to fly. But then he was advised to get an Aeroplan card (I think it was called. We generally don’t fly with AC) and that then the airline would have sufficient personal information to forgoe the lengthy questions, etc. That strikes me as a bit sketchy. And when he flew a week or two later on West Jet, there was no problem at all. The customer service people at AC simply read from a form when one calls them to inquire about the process for determining how one gets on a no-fly list in the first place (my husband was told someone probably tried to use his name)and aren’t particularly reassuring about one’s potential for being removed from that list.
[…] reported here and elsewhere, Singh cancelled appearances at BookExpo Canada and Luminato in Toronto this past […]
And it turns out that it wasn’t Transport Canada, but Air Canada, who had Singh on a no-fly list. Yep, I’d sue the fuckers.