McDonald’s reveals plans to double as US embassies in Austria

There’s a surprising new change coming to 194 McDonald’s restaurants — and it has nothing to do with burgers, fries or shakes.

American tourists who get into trouble in Austria will soon be able to skip the embassy queue — and head to the nearest Macca’s restaurant instead.

That’s because the US State Department has made a bizarre deal with McDonald’s in Austria which will allow Americans who are “in distress” or who have had their passports stolen to seek help at any fast food chain.

The service will be available at any of Austria’s 194 McDonald’s branches, with staff having special access to a 24/7 hotline to the American embassy in the European country.

That means that people who are unable to call an embassy — such as those who have had their belongings stolen — can get important advice and assistance more easily.

The surprising initiative was revealed in a recent Facebook post on the US Embassy Vienna’s page.

“New partnership with McDonald’s Austria to help US citizens in need — Ambassador Traina signed Memorandum of Agreement today,” the announcement began.

“American citizens travelling in Austria who find themselves in distress and without a way to contact the US Embassy can enter — as of Wednesday, May 15, 2019 — any McDonald’s in Austria, and staff will assist them in making contact with the US Embassy for consular services (eg report a lost or stolen passport, or seek travel assistance).”

While it might seem like an odd decision, the US Embassy in Vienna said it was designed to make it easier for citizens in need to get in touch, which the organisation claimed should be the “#1 duty of every embassy around the world”, the BBC reports.

The embassy also claimed on Facebook the agreement was “only one extra way for Americans to connect to the Embassy when they are in an emergency situation”.

The plan was developed by US ambassador Trevor Traina, and McDonald’s was specifically chosen because of “the great fame of the brand”, spokesman Wilhelm Baldia told the Independent.

But it’s not just Americans in need who can find help inside the golden arches — a spokesman also told the BBC staff would “help anyone who finds themselves in need of assistance, for example, by calling the police or emergency services”.

Naturally, some Facebook users took the chance to joke about McDonald’s new role.

“Introducing the McVisa!,” one social media posted, while another added: “Can I get a vanilla shake with my visa please?”

But others also questioned why the change was necessary, with one Facebook user posting: “Because apparently we are too incompetent to look up the US embassy online??”

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