Non-US passport holders coming to the US

[mountainhouse]

Sounds like new security processes for those travelling to the US:

 

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh today urged all US bound customers to fill in their immigration details on ba.com before coming to the airport or risk being delayed.

 

In a speech to the Guild of Travel Management Companies in London he said that the airline aims to comply fully with new US Government legislation from March 7, 2006.

 

The new Advanced Passenger Information (API) legislation, which has been introduced for all airlines by the US Government, for security reasons, requires some additional passenger information from all non-US passport holders travelling to the US.

 

In particular all customers who are non-US residents will have to provide their country of residence and a first night destination address as well as data found in their passport.

 

All the relevant API data can be given to British Airways before customers come to the airport either by via ba.com or via your travel agent.

 

Mr Walsh, said: "The US is our biggest single market and we have 38 flights a day going there from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

 

"The last thing we want and certainly the last thing customers want is long delays at check-in.

 

"We are therefore urging all customers travelling to the US to visit ba.com before coming to the airport and enter their details or give them to their travel agent at time of booking.

 

"The more data we can collect pre-airport the better it will be for all of our customers. If you can spare us five minutes online before coming to the airport it will save you extra time and hassle at check-in."

 

Customers can enter their API details via the Manage My Booking facility on ba.com. This industry leading piece of technology enables customers to check-in, choose a seat or special diet meal, change their flight details, upgrade their booking or update their personal Executive Club account - all from the comfort of their own home or office computer.

 

http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=139961&src=0

[alibail]

Sounds like new security processes for those travelling to the US:

 

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh today urged all US bound customers to fill in their immigration details on ba.com before coming to the airport or risk being delayed.

 

In a speech to the Guild of Travel Management Companies in London he said that the airline aims to comply fully with new US Government legislation from March 7, 2006.

 

The new Advanced Passenger Information (API) legislation, which has been introduced for all airlines by the US Government, for security reasons, requires some additional passenger information from all non-US passport holders travelling to the US.

 

In particular all customers who are non-US residents will have to provide their country of residence and a first night destination address as well as data found in their passport.

 

All the relevant API data can be given to British Airways before customers come to the airport either by via ba.com or via your travel agent.

 

Mr Walsh, said: "The US is our biggest single market and we have 38 flights a day going there from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

 

"The last thing we want and certainly the last thing customers want is long delays at check-in.

 

"We are therefore urging all customers travelling to the US to visit ba.com before coming to the airport and enter their details or give them to their travel agent at time of booking.

 

"The more data we can collect pre-airport the better it will be for all of our customers. If you can spare us five minutes online before coming to the airport it will save you extra time and hassle at check-in."

 

Customers can enter their API details via the Manage My Booking facility on ba.com. This industry leading piece of technology enables customers to check-in, choose a seat or special diet meal, change their flight details, upgrade their booking or update their personal Executive Club account - all from the comfort of their own home or office computer.

 

http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=139961&src=0

 

When travelling to the USA from the UK (for the past couple of years) you have been required to provide your passport, etc. details at checkin (or online to save doing so). Some of the airlines in my experience (mainly charter) also require you to fill in the immigration paperwork before checkin. I presume they fax / send them electronically to the USA so your customs people can be ready for people arriving that you have blacklisted.

 

Prior to that we've always had to fill in the Visa Waiver and US customs declaration forms on the plane prior to landing - and QUEUE for hours to go through customs on arrival in the states.

[twodudes]

You will find now that most airlines are required to capture immigration/passport details from passengers at time of booking. This way the US can screen for any types they believe may be of risk to the country. Don't feel concerned by it, quite frankly it's better to have too much security and a small inconvenience of time than the other way around!

[britsbest]

You will find now that most airlines are required to capture immigration/passport details from passengers at time of booking. This way the US can screen for any types they believe may be of risk to the country. Don't feel concerned by it, quite frankly it's better to have too much security and a small inconvenience of time than the other way around!

 

Unless of course you are an American cruising the Caribbean who are not required to have a passport to travel!

[twodudes]

Unless of course you are an American cruising the Caribbean who are not required to have a passport to travel!

 

One could only wish for such common sense from a country so aligned to the US we might as well be the 51st state!