What’s an INAD Passenger?

By Wiley Stickney

Published on

Image Credit: LinkedIn

Ever heard of INAD? It’s airport lingo for folks who aren’t allowed to enter the country they’re trying to visit. Basically, it stands for “inadmissible passenger.” You’ll hear this term a lot at airports worldwide because airlines are on the hook for sending these passengers back home. It’s all part of the aviation rulebook.

So, picture this: You’re at the international arrivals area, and you can’t show the border officials the right paperwork, or maybe your documents just don’t cut it. Bam! You might find yourself labeled as an INAD. What happens next? Well, you’ll be politely (we hope) escorted back to where you came from after they clear you to board a return flight.

What Happens When They Say “No Entry”?

When someone gets the thumbs-down at the border, they become what the officials call an inadmissible passenger. It’s usually the border control or passport officers who make this call. After the security folks give them a once-over, these passengers are handed back to the airline that brought them. Here’s where it gets interesting: The police have to work with the airline to figure out how to get the passenger back home. It’s like a complicated game of hot potato, but with people!

Breaking Down the Whole INAD Thing

So, what does it mean to “INAD” someone? Simply put, it’s when they say, “Sorry, no can do” to a passenger trying to enter a country. When this happens, the passenger gets slapped with the INAD label. This usually goes down when someone tries to waltz in with an expired visa or when a transit passenger forgets they need a special visa just to pass through. Pro tip: Double-check your visa info before you jet off internationally. And if you’re just passing through? Make sure you know the transit visa rules for your stopover country. Trust me, it’ll save you a headache!

The Not-So-Fun Consequences of Being INADed

If you end up as an INAD passenger, here’s what’s in store: You and your luggage are getting a one-way ticket back to where you started. Usually, they’ll try to pop you on the same plane you came in on. But if it’s full? You might be cooling your heels in a waiting area until the next flight with an empty seat. Sometimes, INAD passengers end up twiddling their thumbs for quite a while waiting for another flight option. That’s why it’s super important to make sure all your paperwork is shipshape before you travel internationally. And here’s another piece of advice: Get the lowdown on visa requirements for any country you plan to visit or even just pass through. It’s always better to be in the know before you go!