Travelling To Florida .. Advance Passenger Info

[MustangLady]

I'm travelling to Florida this year and having checked into the requirements and various websites I still cannot find answer to my question, so thought I would ask those who may have travelled to USA.
I understand I need to provide my airline with advance passenger information (details of my passport, country of residence, address of first night’s accommodation in the US etc) but just need to ask when should I be doing this, is this done during the flight to USA or do I have to do this before I travel? thank you

[sherrardk]

Is this for an ESTA?

[vodkancoke]

You need to fill out an ESTA online x

[factor-fiction]

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa

[rockyracoon]

The passport stuff I've always done on the airline's website beforehand, then filled in a landing card (with hotel info etc) on the actual flight, the attendants usually bring them round.

[rockyracoon]

Just to add, that is as well as the ESTA.

[sherrardk]

RR - does the airline inform you of this somehow or are you supposed to know already?

[dzug2]

The airline normally collects all the information it needs when you book - if it hasn't it will send you an e-mail a week or so before the flight reminding you to give the information it's missing

Though individual airlines may vary in precisely how they do it

The ESTA is a separate operation.

[rockyracoon]

I got told by email, both times I flew with BA and it was very clear through Manage Bookings, we're going to Greece with Thomson in August and I got a reminder email about payment which also said I still had to put passport details in for each of us. All very straightforward.

[sherrardk]

Thanks - I didn't know if it was a separate thing for America (not that I do any if that sort of stuff, I leave it to himself).

[MustangLady]

Thank you everyone. Yes this would be in addition to the ESTA which I will be applying for month or so before I fly. I actually booked my holiday with Expedia (flying with Virgin) so hopefully they will email me requesting this information.

[sherrardk]

We applied for our ESTAs on Friday and they were all sorted by yesterday, it's really quick.

[237SJ]

API is information that the airline sends to the country of destination so that you can be checked against a database of known names. It is nothing to do with ESTA. It requires name, passport number, country of issue and expiry date. It can be done any time before the flight. It can even be done at the airport by check in staff (for example if someone goes into the airport and buys a ticket and gets straight on the plane). Manage My Booking on the airline`s website will be the place to enter the details. BTW there are no immigration forms to be filled on flights to the US - only a customs declaration card.

[MustangLady]

Thank you again. I will check out the 'manage my booking' on the virgin website see if I can fill it in there. Otherwise last resort, I'll complete it at the airport prior to departure. At least there are options to do this.

[rccatnap]

I presume you're travelling with a British Passport using the Visa Waiver Scheme. When checking in you should be given the Waiver scheme form and a customs form, if not they'll be given out on board before arrival.
On the waiver scheme form you will be asked for the address of your first night's stay in the US. When I last visited the US I did not know where I would be staying, because I was intending to pick up a hire car and drive somewhere north of San Francisco then stop at a motel. I just put the Hilton hotel on the form as I knew nobody would ask for my reservation details. If I had been asked, I would have just said that was where I intended to stay. Not a problem really. Have a great time.