AIBU to ask if anyone is flying to Johannesburg from London in the next few hours?

[japanesegarden]

Really hoping for a Good Samaritan from the wonderful forces of Mumsnet! My 23 year old daughter, who should know better, left the UK 2 days ago and flew to Kenya. She has just flown on to Johannesburg and been refused entry because she hasn't got proof of yellow fever vaccination, although she has been vaccinated. We are currently driving to the GP to collect a duplicate, but it needs to get to Johannesburg within 24 hours or they will deport her back to Nairobi. I just wondered if anyone was flying out there in the next few hours and would be kind enough to take it? We live near London and could easily get it to any airport. We don't think we can use a commercial courier as we don't think they would get it there in time. Or if anyone else had any ideas, we'd be very grateful! Thank you so much!

Could it be faxed or emailed? Does it have to be an original?

Could the consulate help perhaps?

Could you go to Gatwick or Heathrow and approach individuals waiting for the next flight to Johannesburg? Maybe offering a cash thank you?

Has to be original

Serious Simon has a good idea though

We now have the original, off to look at flight times ...

BA and SAA fly from Heathrow on a Friday evening. (Terminal 3 I think - but you'd better double check)

Good luck!

Have a look at DHL - they make it pretty quickly, especially if you can take something to their depot

Could you give it to a member of cabin crew ?

Given all the warnings about not taking things on flights for other people, I'd be very dubious if approached to take even a piece of paper for a stranger - it could be impregnated with something. I think the commercial options are better.

Which airline did she fly with? I would contact them to see if they could help. When my family had a similar issue the cabin crew took the paperwork with them.

As far as I know yellow fever is a requirement for entry into South Africa. I would query it. As speak as a South African

Sorry Meant not a requirement

I needed proof of yellow fever vaccination for Kenya.

I didn't think it was on the list for South Africa myself either.

Yellow fever isn't a requirement for SA? Is it because she is coming from Nairobi?

Good idea to go to the check-in desks - I'm sure someone will take it! Good luck!

I've given someone a document on a flight before. It wasn't in the UK but I asked a couple of people and a guy agreed for me. He then met someone at the other side for me. It's probably the most dodgy sounding thing ever but it worked!

The airline would be your best bet. They won't want the hassle of taking her back to Nairobi if it can be avoided.

Approach a stranger and offer them money to take something on a flight for you? Seriously? I've seen some bad suggestions on the internet but that's bad even for Mumsnet. Call the airline, OP, but your daughter being deported back to Nairobi if they can't help is significantly better than the consequences of following that advice.

your daughter being deported back to Nairobi if they can't help is significantly better than the consequences of following that advice

What would be the consequences of asking someone to take a piece of paper on a flight for you? Even if they reported you to someone...what would you fear happening?

What would be the consequences of asking someone to take a piece of paper on a flight for you? Even if they reported you to someone...what would you fear happening?

Being taken in to custody and interviewed.

Also how would you know where anyone was going? YOu can't get past security. Can't trust a stranger to do anything either.

Speaking to the airline is a good idea though.

I often fly long distance and if someone approached with a parcel and the “Would you carry this?” line it would be no, but a piece of paper, unless you were an arrogant fuckwit, I’d say yes - providing you could give me an address I could pop it into the post the other side if I missed connecting with the recipient. I sincerely doubt there’s much you could impregnate into an A4 page...

... but I might take your photo and google the GP surgery just in case

Oh, you might want to try a Saffa, SANZA group on Facebook just in case you get a young one flying home

Go and ask on the BA thread on flyertalk

Is there anyway she can get it done at the airport? I know in Nairobi you can pay to be vaccinated by port health. This could also be an option if she’s deported back

Thanks for all the advice. She's been moved to a detention area and is likely to be deported back to Nairobi, but has run out of WiFi so who knows what's happening now?

And yes, she only needs yellow fever cos she's been in Kenya. Wouldn't have needed it if she'd planned it the other way round.