? for those who have flights booked with Continental

[scottishgirl87]

Ok, we flew to Florida last year with Continental and I had the same problem then, so I was wondering if anyone had flew more recently and been able to get around this...

The problem is, I know things have changed and API is now mandatory in advance (whereas before you could do it at the airport), however, everytime I try and do it on Continental's website it just doesn't save. Fill it all out, fine, submit, it takes me back to the same page but blank with no information.

Like I said, I had the exact same problem last year but am I right in saying it absolutely has to be done in advance now? Has anyone else managed to do it on Continental's website?

Really would rather not phone them unless I absolutely have to!

 

[2Tiggies]

Oh you too! I have tried so many times and thought I was doing something stupid. Do you have to do it online in advance now? I haven't checked again but the last time I tried to do it there was small print to say it could be done on check in

 

[scottishgirl87]

Oh you too! I have tried so many times and thought I was doing something stupid. Do you have to do it online in advance now? I haven't checked again but the last time I tried to do it there was small print to say it could be done on check in

Thought you might appear Lee

I thought things had changed that it was now mandatory in advance? Or have I totally made that up?

I can't see it stating anything about check-in It's so frustrating! They don't even have an email you can contact them on and I'd rather do that than hold on the phone for ages.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thought you might appear Lee

Thought I would turn up on the DIS for a change

I thought things had changed that it was now mandatory in advance? Or have I totally made that up?

I can't see it stating anything about check-in It's so frustrating! They don't even have an email you can contact them on and I'd rather do that than hold on the phone for ages

Oh I am not implying you made that up at all - I am also guessing from memory. I will have a look and see if I have an email address for them or if I can find a contact email. It isn't complicated filling out the API but it takes some time and like you, I find it really frustrating to go back into my account and discover that when I accepted 'Save' it clearly did not There are other things I could be doing with my time.

 

[Callum]

Very interested to read your posts on this one.

We are flying Continental in a couple of weeks but I can't even find a link to API on their site. Am I looking in the wrong place or can all this be done at check in?

ESTAs are complete and I see the boarding passes can be printed 24 hours before departure but I just don't want to turn up at GLA without any info I should have given in advance.

Any advice?

 

[2Tiggies]

Very interested to read your posts on this one.

We are flying Continental in a couple of weeks but I can't even find a link to API on their site. Am I looking in the wrong place or can all this be done at check in?

ESTAs are complete and I see the boarding passes can be printed 24 hours before departure but I just don't want to turn up at GLA without any info I should have given in advance.

Any advice?

It isn't called API on their website for some reason. You have to go into Edit Personal Information. It takes all the info, but when you save it, log out and log in again it is all gone. I don't know what else to do to make it stick

 

[scottishgirl87]

It isn't called API on their website for some reason. You have to go into Edit Personal Information. It takes all the info, but when you save it, log out and log in again it is all gone. I don't know what else to do to make it stick

Yeah as Lee has said.

Although, just to warn you, you can't general do online check-in with Continental anyway Don't know why they even bother offering it! They'll let you go through all the motions 24 hours before, then when it gets to your boarding passes they'll tell you you'll have to just get them at the airport anyway!

Something to do with it being an international flight from the UK to US to do with extra security checks or whatever.

 

[2Tiggies]

Something to do with it being an international flight from the UK to US to do with extra security checks or whatever.

Blah, blah, blah..... Don't you wish they would just make it clear who can and cannot do what so we don't get frustrated with their websites?!

When I saw you had posted I rushed over to see if you had some solution to the problem. I wonder if I should just phone them sometime and then we can clear the mystery up.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Blah, blah, blah..... Don't you wish they would just make it clear who can and cannot do what so we don't get frustrated with their websites?!

When I saw you had posted I rushed over to see if you had some solution to the problem. I wonder if I should just phone them sometime and then we can clear the mystery up.

Sorry Lee I do plan to phone them at some point and ask! I'll try and call them in the next few days, although I have a feeling they won't have a clue what I'm talking about, lol.

 

[scottishgirl87]

Well this is strange! I just went in to check my booking again and went into the Edit Traveler Information.....now there's 4 of us travelling and everyone else in my party bar me has their name, DOB and Gender saved whereas mine is completely blank

I've tried completing there's with Passport, Visiting the US etc. and it still won't let me save. Now I'm worried as mine is completely blank! Argh!

I've just clicked on the "Secure Flight" policy in there and it says:

To comply with the Transportation Security Administration's Secure Flight policy, the following information must be provided and must match the government-issued photo identification that will be used for travel:

* Full name (as it appears on passenger's government-issued ID)
* Date of birth
* Gender
* Redress Number (if available)

Continental Airlines will send the information you provide to TSA and TSA will match it against the No Fly and Selectee watch lists. By providing this information in advance, most passengers will not experience any differences from the way they traveled before as a result of Secure Flight.

and

Secure Flight data is sent to the TSA 72 hours prior to scheduled flight departure. For Secure Flight information that is added or changed within 72 hours, data is updated and sent immediately. This includes data that is collected for reservations made less than 72 hours prior to departure.

So looks like it's recommended to be filled out in advance! Well if I could I would!!

 

[merlin307]

As long as you have your ESTA then you'll be fine adding the information API when you check in (there seems to be an issue with their website at the moment)

We just flew with them in December to Las Vegas and even though I had added the information when the fights were booked in October, I still had to update it on the day of the on line check in....
(after a minor panic that the ESTA I had for the other half's dad was on his old passport number.. this is on the day before we flew...but just applied for another and got the confirmation through almost immediately)

Don't panic too much ........

 

[2Tiggies]

As long as you have your ESTA then you'll be fine adding the information API when you check in (there seems to be an issue with their website at the moment)

We just flew with them in December to Las Vegas and even though I had added the information when the fights were booked in October, I still had to update it on the day of the on line check in....
(after a minor panic that the ESTA I had for the other half's dad was on his old passport number.. this is on the day before we flew...but just applied for another and got the confirmation through almost immediately)

Don't panic too much ........

Thank you. This is very helpful

Your heart must have been in your stomach when you saw the ESTA issue I must say I filled out API with VA last year online and printed it out. When we got to check in the system was down and we had to do it again. The check in staff loved me for having the printout though

 

[merlin307]

I am glad I'm not the only one who needs to have everything printed and with me just in case (I even take two copies of passports, licences, park passes - one in each set of hand luggage....just in case!!!!)

 

[scottishgirl87]

Thanks Merlin

I phoned Continental and asked (on their 0845 number as well! The alternative listed on SayNoTo0870 doesn't connect) and the woman on the phone did it manually for me. I did ask if it had to be done in advance now but she kind of skimmed over my question and didn't answer. She seemed to think it was just a problem with the website today but I know it isn't just today this happens. Anyway, she's done it manually for me, I asked if it would show up online and she wasn't sure, she said I shouldn't need to do it again anyway as they now have the information.

Fingers crossed!

 

[merlin307]

thats good news...a little bit more relaxed now i'll bet

 

[2Tiggies]

thats good news...a little bit more relaxed now i'll bet

I am too, thank you so much. To be honest though, I am not going to worry about phoning or worrying too much just now. It will be typical if the policy for today is something new by the time we fly so I think I will sit it out a few more months.