[ajtaylor]

This was certainly the case for Etihad when I flew from Dublin => Sydney last year. Of course, the airline managed to not notice the problem with my passport/visa until I was Abu Dhabi and Sydney said "Do not let him on the plane". The airline security representative told me if I had managed to get to Australia, the Sydney visa office would have forced the airline to return me to Ireland on the next flight.

This triggered 3 days of dealing with the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, but that's another story. :)

[yardie]

Last time I flew to Australia I paid $45 and got one of their electronic visas; it was a 15 minute process. My departure was from Singapore and I assumed, wrongly, that Australia was a member of the VFW program.

Why would the US embassy be involved? This seemed like a matter between you, the airline and Australia.

[ajtaylor]

Sorry for the late reply, but yes it was a problem with my passport (it was wrongly reported as being stolen). When checking in in Dublin, the airline employee checking me in mentioned something about my passport but we were allowed on the plane anyway.

FYI, I was traveling on a 457 visa as part of my new job.

[underwater]

It could have been a problem with his Passport (e.g. within six months of expiring).