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 .

[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!