Yellow Fever and American Airlines

In an attempt to clarify some of the conflicting information / advice on this branch about the yellow fever requirements - especially some of the posts that have said that airlines won't let passengers heading to Bolivia board in the US without a yellow fever card - I called American Airlines to find out. Their requirements reflect the recommendations of the CDC- meaning, if you state that you are going to an area where yellow fever is endemic, you may be asked to produce a yellow fever card by the airlines, but if you are staying at the higher elevations, no yellow fever card is required - and no one from the airlines will kick you off of your flight to La Paz for not having one.

If you fly to Bolivia from the US there is NO requirement for yellow fever vaccination, if you are going to lowland areas of Bolivia then yellow fever vaccination is recommended and a wise idea but frankly none of the airlines business. You need to understand the difference between requirements, which are for the public health of the country concerned, who do not want some idiot importing yellow fever; and recommendations which are for your own health.

marka55 - yeah, that's why I was surprised to see posts here saying that travelers would be kept off of flights MIA>LPB without the card. I hope this at least clarifies the situation for others!

Unfortunately, a call to someone in American Airlines does not clarify the situation. We have a credible account from a regular poster here, a clear situation where the American Airlines check-in clerk insisted on proof of YF jab before boarding. Sleazy American Airlines often pulls stunts like this to make more moola or to free up seats without refunds. They often do the same with requiring onward tickets. Your risk if you fly American to La Paz without proof of the jab.

I'm not doubting you or the other poster's account - but I specifically asked the agent at AA what happens if someone insists on seeing the yellow card, she said to escalate it to a manager, and the manager would read the exact document she was reading, and the issue would be resolved. I also stopped into the Bolivian consulate in NY today - they said that proof of YF shots was not required to enter the country. This is not to say that AA agents never mistakenly demand the card - but I would question whether the motivation is to make more money or free up seats - perhaps I'm too willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I'd guess it's probably due to sheer ignorance.

I can confirm that Bolivian Migraciones only demands foreigners to get the vaccination if they state they are visiting affected areas. I wouldn't be surprised if some AA check in agents try to enforce the vaccination anyway, whether out of ignorance or some shifty tactic to earn money from change fees.

Take into account also that, independent of whether you are going to be asked for the certificate, you really don't want to get yellow fever. The immunisation last 10 years; in my opinion, even if you don't plan to visit a yellow fever area this trip, if there is any chance of doing so in the next 10 years, get the immunisation and you will not encounter any problems with flights, immigration, etc. The rules are not very clear and are capriciously applied. If you ahve the immunisation you will have a certificate to prevent these problems, and will be protected against the disease.

Agreed with alanymarce, be preeepared

I agree it is better to be prepared but if you are only going to the altiplano in Bolivia there is no yellow fever risk and #6 the yellow fever certificate is about (2016) to become lifetime not 10 years.

Thanks for the update on validity - even more reason to get the immunisation once and for all.

I assume that it's retroactive; I would prefer not to have to get my 5th YF immunisation.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.