Influencer in Tears After ChatGPT’s Travel Advice Causes Missed Flight
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
Spanish influencer Mery Caldass was left in tears at the airport after missing her flight to Puerto Rico, misled by ChatGPT’s inaccurate travel advice. The incident, captured in a TikTok video that garnered over 13,000 views, has sparked debate about AI reliability for critical tasks like travel planning. This professional, reader-friendly blog details what went wrong, the broader implications, and tips to avoid similar pitfalls, crafted for those navigating AI and travel in 2025.
What Went Wrong?
Mery Caldass, planning a dream trip to Puerto Rico to attend a Bad Bunny concert, asked ChatGPT if a visa was required for Spanish citizens. The AI responded, “No visa needed,” failing to mention the mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for travel to U.S. territories. At the airport, airline staff denied boarding to Caldass and her boyfriend, Alejandro Cid, due to the missing ESTA, ruining their vacation plans. In her emotional video, Caldass sobbed, “I trusted ChatGPT instead of checking properly—it said no visa!” She humorously added, “It’s like it took revenge for me calling it out before.”
Why Did ChatGPT Fail?
- Incomplete Information: ChatGPT’s GPT-5 model, despite its “PhD-level” reasoning, omitted the ESTA requirement, likely due to a lack of specificity in Caldass’s prompt or the AI’s failure to access real-time travel regulations.
- AI Limitations: AI models can “hallucinate” or provide outdated data, especially for complex topics like visa policies, which vary by nationality and destination.
- User Error: Caldass relied solely on ChatGPT without cross-checking official sources, a common mistake among users unfamiliar with AI’s fallibility.
How to Avoid AI Travel Mishaps
- Verify with Official Sources: Check government websites (e.g., U.S. Embassy for ESTA) or consult travel agencies for visa and entry rules.
- Ask Specific Questions: Instead of “Do I need a visa?”, ask, “What documents are required for a Spanish citizen to visit Puerto Rico?”
- Cross-Check Multiple Platforms: Use AI for initial research but confirm with human experts or trusted travel apps like TripIt.
- Plan Early: Apply for documents like ESTA (72-hour processing) well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.
Mery Caldass’s tearful experience highlights the dangers of relying solely on AI like ChatGPT for critical travel planning. While AI offers quick insights, it can miss crucial details like ESTA requirements. To avoid heartbreak, always verify travel advice with official sources. As AI evolves in 2025, use it wisely to keep your plans on track.
