APIS - confused.

[DisneyPrincess]

Hi everyone, i've travelled to the USA several times and we are travelling again in August.

I am aware that we have to complete online ESTA forms and still submit the green form on the plane but i dont know what an APIS is. Even though we have travelled before, i cant remember anything about what an APIS is or if i've even filled one in.

Can someone enlighten me?

[christhear]

I think you may be referring to the Advanced Passenger Information which the airline require you to fill in.

It includes things like contact address and phone number whilst abroad along with your passport details.

[ShirleyD]

Advanced passenger information system.... or something close!!

You need to give your passport and first night stay details to the airline to complete this. Some like BA and Virgin allow you to do it online yourself, if you have a travel agency booking, they will probably do this for you. When you get to the airport, your passport will be 'swiped' for verification and details sent ahead of you to the US immigration

[DisneyPrincess]

Thank you, so do i need to go online to fill this out or will it go through automatically via ocean florida/thomas cook?

I dont want any nasty surprises at the airport!

[Michelle]

Yes you you would go on line to do API. it does not go through automatically by Oceans Florida/Thomas Cook, You could contact your Airline or travel agent who would advise you. We always Travel Virgin Atlantic, so do ours on The Virgin web site.

[Sniff]

Advanced Passenger Information System is a carrier requirement, not a travel agent requirement, so you'll need to give this information to the airline before you fly. Most allow you to do this online (usually via some kind of 'manage my booking' link on their website) or the check-in agent will do it for you when you check in.

As others have mentioned, it's pretty much the same info as required by ESTA and the VW form...very annoying to have to do it 3 times.

[DisneyPrincess]

Thanks everybody, how long before travelling do we need to do this?

[lafifille]

I'd say do it as soon as you can, if you have everybody's passport. Then you can forget about it [msnwink]. But you'll need your reservation number with the airline company to do it (to access your reservation file on the website), and you may not have that yet if you went through a travel agent. As said, it's really no big deal, same information as ESTA. By the time you travel you know your passport number by heart, you typed it so many times :D:D.

[Michelle]

You can also phone the airline and give information that way as well if you did not want to wait until you get your tickets.
All you need to give them is name of persons traveling flight number and time and from which airport you are flying from and of course passport information etc..
You would have the flight information as this would be on the itinarary that the travel agent sent you confirming your booking if booked via a travel agent.
Quite a few of our guests who have booked their flights via a travel agent have given their API this way by calling the airline.

[DisneyPrincess]

Thanks everybody. We are waiting for my partners new passport to arrive so as soon as it does i'll get onto Thomas Cook and give them the details.

Thank you all for your help! :)

[ShirleyD]

Remember if he has a new passport, then you will need to do another ESTA on line. As you can no longer travel without this.

There have been issues with ESTA since it has been tied up with the APIS that is sent by the airline before your flight departs.

The most common problems have been:

First given name.... people have also put in their middle name

Typos.... most often O instead of 0 (zero)

Flight number and address.... Best not to add this 'optional info'

Wrong passport number.... New passport, but as name etc stayed the same, people think the number will too.

If in doubt, do a new ESTA and whilst I hate to see wasted paper, a print off will show the airline where you have made a mistake and make it easier to rectify.

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
Remember if he has a new passport, then you will need to do another ESTA on line. As you can no longer travel without this.

There have been issues with ESTA since it has been tied up with the APIS that is sent by the airline before your flight departs.

The most common problems have been:

First given name.... people have also put in their middle name

Typos.... most often O instead of 0 (zero)

Flight number and address.... Best not to add this 'optional info'

Wrong passport number.... New passport, but as name etc stayed the same, people think the number will too.

If in doubt, do a new ESTA and whilst I hate to see wasted paper, a print off will show the airline where you have made a mistake and make it easier to rectify.

[/quote]
Good info Shirely...always better to be safe than sorry, and the airlines are not always right :-)

[No Shoes]

My brother and his family are travelling to Orlando via Toronto with Air Canada at Easter. I booked this for them direct with the airline. At no time was I asked to complete the APIS information.

BA tend to remind you nearer the time that you have to do this - does anyone know if Air Canada do something similar? Failing that what can I do to make sure everything goes smoothly for them??

We have already completed all their ESTA applications.

Thank you

[Anthony Brook]

I was the same. 7 of us flew with US Airways in November and never filled in the APIS and was never asked to. We all did the ESTA form so maybe that covers it nowadays?

When I have flown with Virgin in the past I have done it and even if I forgot they sent me an e-mail to remind me. Trouble is with thier prices at the moment it will be a while before I think about booking with them.

I am flying again US Airways in May and won't bother again but in July we fly with BA. I assume they will send out a reminder closer to the date?

[ShirleyD]

You can add it to your BA reservation now Anthony

Roxane, this is what it says on the Air Canada website...

Secure Flight Program:

* As required under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s Secure Flight Program, Air Canada, along with other airlines, will collect the following additional information when you book a flight to, from or via the United States:
Full name as it appears on the passport (mandatory)
Date of birth (mandatory)
Gender (mandatory)
Redress Number (optional)
* You will need to provide the above information at least 72 hours prior to travel and can do so using our online Advance Passenger Information (API) form. If you book your flight through Air Canada Reservations, our agents will also collect the information.
* For bookings made within 72 hours of departure, the information must be provided at time of ticket purchase.
* We've answered some of the most commonly asked questions about the Secure Flight Program and the provision of personal information.

[Sniff]

All airlines are required to collect the APIS data when carrying (non-US citizen) passengers to the USA. Almost all give you the ability to add this data online via your booking. As you mentioned, some such as BA often remind you to fill it in. Others (LH spring to mind) always ask me for all the info at check-in, regardless of whether or not I've filled it in online (so I stopped doing it!). At the worst, the check-in agent will ask you (the 72 hours mentioned by Air Canada is not correct...it just needs to be collected and sent to the USA before you depart).

[shockey]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:* As required under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s Secure Flight Program, Air Canada, along with other airlines, will collect the following additional information when you book a flight to, from or via the United States:
Full name as it appears on the passport (mandatory)
[/quote]

So APIS needs full name as it appears on the passport (including middle name), but ESTA requires family name and first (given) name only - no middle name. Is that right? Wierd!

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by shockey
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:* As required under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s Secure Flight Program, Air Canada, along with other airlines, will collect the following additional information when you book a flight to, from or via the United States:
Full name as it appears on the passport (mandatory)
[/quote]

So APIS needs full name as it appears on the passport (including middle name), but ESTA requires family name and first (given) name only - no middle name. Is that right? Wierd!
[/quote]
Yes, that's correct. APIS pre-dates ESTA, so I guess they've decided they don't need that info any more. Maybe terrorists don't have middle names :D

[No Shoes]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
You can add it to your BA reservation now Anthony

Roxane, this is what it says on the Air Canada website...

Secure Flight Program:

* As required under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s Secure Flight Program, Air Canada, along with other airlines, will collect the following additional information when you book a flight to, from or via the United States:
Full name as it appears on the passport (mandatory)
Date of birth (mandatory)
Gender (mandatory)
Redress Number (optional)
* You will need to provide the above information at least 72 hours prior to travel and can do so using our online Advance Passenger Information (API) form. If you book your flight through Air Canada Reservations, our agents will also collect the information.
* For bookings made within 72 hours of departure, the information must be provided at time of ticket purchase.
* We've answered some of the most commonly asked questions about the Secure Flight Program and the provision of personal information.
[/quote]

Shirley - thank you very much for this. I will get back to my sister in law!