Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh rails against ‘filthy scamming airline c***s’ for refusing to accept NHS covid test results from passengers as he is fails in bid to fly to SerbiaHe was fuming when staff said they could not accept a negative NHS Covid testHe said that they then denied him boarding flight to Belgrade, Serbia, yesterdayThe 62-year-old hit out at the Dutch company on Twitter shortly after incidentHe claimed he was refused the NHS test result as ‘there’s no money in it for them’He revealed to his 360,000 followers he was now unable to attend a Serbia event
Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has branded KLM ‘filthy scamming airline c***s’ after they refused to let him on a flight.
The Scot was fuming when staff told him they could not accept his negative NHS Covid test and denied him boarding a flight to Belgrade, Serbia, yesterday.
The 62-year-old hit out at the Dutch company on Twitter shortly after the incident and claimed he was refused the NHS test result as ‘there’s no money in it for them’.
He revealed to his 360,000 followers he was now unable to attend an event in Serbia, which is on the amber list.
The author, from Edinburgh, who lives in London, also raged festival organisers would have to refund tickets.
The Scot (pictured) was fuming when staff told him they could not accept his negative NHS Covid test and denied him boarding a flight to Belgrade, Serbia, yesterday
The 62-year-old hit out at the Dutch company (file photo) on Twitter shortly after the incident and claimed he was refused the NHS test result as ‘there’s no money in it for them’
What are the rules for flying to Serbia?
Those wanting to fly to Serbia have to have a negative PCR test taken 48 hours before they get to the airport – unless they are exempt.
The government website says passengers will be refused if they do not have one and cannot take one at the airport.
Serbian nationals and foreign nationals with temporary and permanent residence must either have a negative PCR test 48 hours before arrival or spend 10 days in self-isolation at home when they get to the Balkan country.
For those choosing the latter option, they have to report to a healthcare centre within a day of arriving.
The government website explains passengers ‘must use a private test provider for the test and not an NHS test’.
It gives details of the specifications the test has to reach before it is used.
And it adds that flyers have to take the test three days before heading to the airport.
Despite this, Welsh blasted KLM in a series of tweets.
He wrote: ‘Turned away from airport heading to Belgrade as KLM do not accept the NHS Covid test as there’s no money in it for them.
‘Filthy scamming airline c***s. They are all turning this s*fest into the dystopia where the profiteering scammers and the bureaucratic w*****s meet.’
When KLM asked for Welsh’s booking code to try and help, he replied: ‘You cannot assist me now.
‘There is no way I can now attend the event which is sold out and for which the festival organisers will have to refund tickets.
‘Save your regrets for them. Yes p****d off that I didn’t get to see Belgrade for the first time.
‘But even more p****d off that people looking forward to the event will be disappointed.
‘But also that people have to meet those added costs and hassles to travel to see families and take holidays.
‘I’m starting to think that the layers of s**t they already have and continue to impose upon us is not actually that much to do with them having our health interests at heart.
He added: ‘Anyway, ranting over. I still love everyone and I’m going back to my bed.’
The airline responded to Welsh, tweeting: ‘KLM will accept passengers who meet the governmental requirements of their transit or destination country.
‘It is up to the authorities of the respective countries to determine which rules apply.
‘These rules vary between countries, and include validity of tickets, passports and visa, as well as possible additional requirements regarding vaccinations, invitation letters and funds.
‘These governmental requirements are stated in the IATA Travel Information Manual (TIM), and airlines have to accept or deny passengers accordingly.
‘For remarks about governmental requirements, we kindly refer you to the respective local authorities.’
Welsh replied: ‘Get to f***.’
Serbia is on the amber list, meaning visitors have to take a test three days before you travel.
Passengers also have to sign a passenger locator form tracing where they have been and where they are going – whether they are vaccinated or not.
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