Virgin & esta

[kizzy212]

I recently filled in my ESTA forms for my holiday.
In the mean time i have been onto manage my booking on the virgin atlantic web site to see if I can pre book seats are available... (which they arnt)

However i came across a series of questions i needed to do to save time at check in... i have answered them.. name, D.O.B, hotel address, reason for visiting, passport numbers....

has anyone else had to do this... have i just done ESTA again on this site or is it something different!!

 

[Disneymad]

It's something different, that's your API (Advanced Passenger Information).

From how I understand it, ESTA is done for US Immigration purposes and the API is done for US National Security purposes (the API info is the list of passengers that's sent to the US while you're in transit). Some airlines just take this information from you when you check in but encourage you to do it in advance as it means the check in lines move quicker. Others are more insistant - BA require 72 hours.

 

[kizzy212]

It's something different, that's your API (Advanced Passenger Information).

From how I understand it, ESTA is done for US Immigration purposes and the API is done for US National Security purposes (the API info is the list of passengers that's sent to the US while you're in transit). Some airlines just take this information from you when you check in but encourage you to do it in advance as it means the check in lines move quicker. Others are more insistant - BA require 72 hours.

thank you for taking tme to clear this up... feel better now...

 

[2Tiggies]

thank you for taking tme to clear this up... feel better now...

I'll make you feel even better. I had never done API online. One of the reasons is that by booking through a TA like Thomas Cook, we never got our flight locator references and couldn't call up the booking online. I was just going to do it at check in this year, but I emailed VA to ask what the benefits of doing it beforehand are and they said it makes check in quicker. Either way, you do it before or you do it at check in with VA but it has to be done. So I did mine the other night.

Wishing you a quick check in process.

 

[BethEJo]

Some airlines (mostly budget) charge you a fee if you don't do your API before you leave.

Sorry - not really anything to do with flying to Orlando, but just thought I'd drop it in there

Glad you've sorted everything

 

[Winnie McPooh]

I'll make you feel even better. I had never done API online. One of the reasons is that by booking through a TA like Thomas Cook, we never got our flight locator references and couldn't call up the booking online. I was just going to do it at check in this year, but I emailed VA to ask what the benefits of doing it beforehand are and they said it makes check in quicker. Either way, you do it before or you do it at check in with VA but it has to be done. So I did mine the other night.

Wishing you a quick check in process.

I didn't know that, I'll need to get it done before we go, if it saves time at check in it must be worth it, thanks for the info

 

[thestevied]

I am also flying with virgin in september. Have pre booked my seats for the return flight but its unavailable for the outnound flight. This is probably because 60% of seats have already been prebooked. They retain the rest for check in. So get there in plenty of time, or check in up to 24 hours before you fly to get your seats.

 

[tttessa]

If you are with VH they put all the stuff in the API for VA for you anyhow. Other travel companies/tour operators might too.

Tessa