Man flies to Pakistan using sister's passport

[LorriQ 0]

A Pakistani man recently succeeded in flying between BIA and Islamabad, passing through no fewer than three security checkpoints along the way, using his sister's passport. When he arrived in Pakistan, border guards there noticed the, uh, discrepancy and promptly sent the man back to Britain -- where he had to rebook his trip, this time with the right documentation.

Businessman Kasim Raja, 26, said it was an honest mistake. He told Britain's Sunday Mercury: "I was in a bit of a rush and grabbed what I thought was my passport as I was leaving."

He added: "I handed it over at the desk, they checked it and everything was fine. When we got to the boarding gate they checked it again and waved me straight through."

Swissport, who operates the BIA terminal out of which Pakistan International Airways flies, says it is investigating the incident.

Mr. Raja is actually angry at Swissport for refusing to give him a refund upon his return. "If they had spotted the error like they are supposed to, I could have gone home, got my passport and still made the flight," he said.

Then again, if Mr. Raja had actually made sure he had the right passport on him to begin with.....

[Ling Ling 22]

I can see where he'd be upset that they let him through, but ultimately the responsibility of the passport is his.

He should be thankful he's not in a detention center somewhere.

[LorriQ 0]

Wondering how much he and his sis look alike!

[britty 1]

Well if he just grabbed the first passport to hand and ran for the airport, then I can see it was an honest mistake. If the airline didn't raise the fact that he had the wrong passport at check-in, then there was no reason for him to be alerted to the fact that he was travelling on his sister's passport. If a copy of his passport could have been faxed to Pakistan or something similar, he should have been allowed to stay. Its not like the passport he used belonged to a complete stranger. The airline needs to get a bit of a kicking for this one.

[Yoink 7]

how many times waiting in lines or in the terminals were you bored and flipped through your documentation perahps reliving old trips or cursing border officials for placing stamps in the crease?

this dude knew what he was doing... no-one would go through that much security without noticing the mistake themsleves

[britty 1]

how many times waiting in lines or in the terminals were you bored and flipped through your documentation perahps reliving old trips or cursing border officials for placing stamps in the crease?

this dude knew what he was doing... no-one would go through that much security without noticing the mistake themsleves

Normally I am a total cynic, however, as a regular business traveller myself, I can honestly say I show my passport and it goes back into my purse. I think the only time I look at it is before I leave the house to make sure its the right one. The airline should have spotted this immediately. I don't think the passenger can be held liable for this entire debacle.

[Ban Hammer 14,200]

Wondering how much he and his sis look alike!

that's what i was thinking

[Ling Ling 22]

how many times waiting in lines or in the terminals were you bored and flipped through your documentation perahps reliving old trips or cursing border officials for placing stamps in the crease?

this dude knew what he was doing... no-one would go through that much security without noticing the mistake themsleves

Normally I am a total cynic, however, as a regular business traveller myself, I can honestly say I show my passport and it goes back into my purse. I think the only time I look at it is before I leave the house to make sure its the right one. The airline should have spotted this immediately. I don't think the passenger can be held liable for this entire debacle.

Sounds like you take personal responsibility for your actions. This guy should too.

When you purchase a ticket, the airlines primary responsibility is to transport you to/from your destination. I think they did that, and should be compensated.

The fact that airport employees failed to note the wrong passport, does not relieve him of primary responsibility to know what documents are in his possession,

and offered as identification. Again, in this time of heightened security, he's lucky not to have been detained longer.

Charles, either this guy is very metrosexual, or his sister is very "handsome".

[Ban Hammer 14,200]

Charles, either this guy is very metrosexual, or his sister is very "handsome".

i think we need pics of the guy and his sister

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I think this is his Facebook -

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kasim-Raja/577674544

[Ling Ling 22]

Charles, either this guy is very metrosexual, or his sister is very "handsome".

i think we need pics of the guy and his sister

I'm afraid to look at them.

Maybe dude's a tranny

[LorriQ 0]

I think this is his Facebook -

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kasim-Raja/577674544

And I thought maybe he had long hair and that was why!

[Ban Hammer 14,200]

I think this is his Facebook -

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kasim-Raja/577674544

they both have a 5 o'clock shadow.

[john & jean 37]

I am not against him being held responsible financialy. However, every other person who looked at the passport should be fired immediately!!!

[HannahP 119]

omg

Kind of happened to me during my Canada trip.

I lost passport #1 and filed for a new one. Two years later, I found passport #1, meaning that I had TWO passports at one time.

I /thought/ I had passport #2 when I was traveling but on my way back into the US, got pulled aside because I was apparently using passport #1.

Got a very, very stern lecture about having two passports although the guy relaxed a bit and even SMILED after he checked my records & realized that I hadn't sold my passport to a terrorist. So the passport was marked invalid and I went on my merry little way.

Except they totally messed things up. When we got home, I compared the two passports and I WAS traveling with my up-to-date passport which is now marked invalid. So now I have to file for a new passport. #######?