Advanced Passenger Information - Virgin

[minniemouseuk]

I've just been on the Virgin Atlantic website to check some our of our detals, and notice that there are links for each passenger to enter APIS details.

I've found this link which describes this:-
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/index/index.jsp

Do you fill this APIS details in as well as the ESTA form, or if you fill in the APIS details, will VA complete your ESTA form on your behalf?

I'm confused. Can anyone help?

 

[Claire L]

ESTA and API are two totally different things and need to be filled in independently.

Claire

 

[minniemouseuk]

ESTA and API are two totally different things and need to be filled in independently.

Claire

Thanks for replying.

I know that ESTA is mandatory, but is APIS?

 

[karriemouse]

You need to fill in both as they are separate - and then possibly the green visa waiver form as well depending on when you fly.

Virgin cannot complete your ESTA form, you need to go to the website yourself to do this but it is quick and easy.

We were told last week that the ESTA and visa waiver systems were being used together for six months as ESTA becomes established - hopefully after that it will be ESTA only but check this when you check in.

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for replying.

I know that ESTA is mandatory, but is APIS?

Yes API's is needed otherwise the airline will not let you check in as they need to give this to the US authorities before a flight departs.

Claire

 

[Alibaba]

Can you not just the API info at check in? I have not filled this in online as it confused me (doesn't take much)
Ali

 

[karriemouse]

You can do but IMHO its not best to as a) it slows you down at check in, b) if you find it confusing online then its even more confusing at check in and most importantly c) its done well in advance so no worries about forgetting the details or not having the address.

The most important bit is c) as you have to give the exact street address of where you are staying and you may have to research beforehand to find this out. For example - two years ago we stayed at 'Never Never Land Condo' at Windsor Hills - this is not an acceptable address for the API!! So I had to contact the rental company to find out the street address, which would have been a big problem had I decided to wait until check in.

 

[Princess_Melanie]

We completed the ESTA details online and took a note of our application numbers with us for our January 09 trip. We flew out the day AFTER the ESTA became mandatory.

Virgin had no idea what to do - we were "told off" severely by the twlight check-in security woman for not having our filled in forms with us. We explained we completed them online in September 08 and had the acceptance to travel, there was no form to print off or anything and showed her our ESTA application numbers. She marched us to the check in desk with a "they DON'T have forms" comment to the Virgin staff.

Friendly much?!!

The checkin desk staff were actually ok with us but still very confused about the whole system and said we'd still need to fill in the usual green visa waiver forms anyway.

When we got to Orlando, we handed in the green forms and on the screen at immigration, our ESTA approval was showing so we were good to go!! We found the immigration staff to be much much friendlier and helpful than usual too....

 

[littlelaura]

post deleted. just found what i was asking in the link in the OP

 

[The Fetherstons]

We are staying in a AOA villa this year normally we stay onsite, what will happen will we be given our villa address before we travel.??

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

ESTA and API are two totally different things and need to be filled in independently.

Claire

Glad this was asked,I was wondering the same thing

 

[Princess_Melanie]

And both need to be done before you travel - especially the ESTA - I think the latest you can do it something like 72 hours before you travel? It's valid for 2 years once you've done it so there is no harm in doing it early....

You need more or less the same information for both ESTA and API so it's worth spending the time doing them together if you can