Secure Flight: AC vs UA information required
Aug 23, 2010, 4:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 724
Secure Flight: AC vs UA information required
I have just purchased a UA ticket on united.ca to be able to get E+ seats (at a price of course). In doing so, the Secure Flight information required is just name and DOB, nothing else (Passport #, address in US) - nada.
This is so different from AC, that I called in to US web support, and they confirmed this was correct. I have actually taken screenshots for the record I am so gobsmacked. What gives? Why does AC require more information?
This is so different from AC, that I called in to US web support, and they confirmed this was correct. I have actually taken screenshots for the record I am so gobsmacked. What gives? Why does AC require more information?
Aug 23, 2010, 5:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,363
AC is collecting information for two seperate programs: Secure Flight and APIS
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
Aug 23, 2010, 5:13 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 724
AC is collecting information for two seperate programs: Secure Flight and APIS
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
Aug 23, 2010, 5:47 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
UA only collects APIS info. on check in, which is why you can't provide the passport number there. Supposedly UA is now allowing you to save your passport info. to your profile to make it faster to check in online, etc. But i haven't figured out how to do that....or if I want to.
Aug 24, 2010, 12:22 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
AC is collecting information for two seperate programs: Secure Flight and APIS
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
Secure Flight requires Name, DOB, Gender
APIS requires Passport info, destination address.
For the latter, you don't have to provide this to AC beforehand, but you will have to provide it at check in. It makes it easier and faster if you provide it before checkin.
For airlines that do not have domestic flights within the US (eg. AC, BA, CX, SQ etc.), and all their flights involving the US involve crossing an international border, the APIS information collected also serves as the SecureFlight information.
By default, airlines that have lots of US domestic flights (eg. UA), will only collect SecureFlight data. Only when flights cross an international border will they request additional information (passport data, destination address details) - usually at the Online Check-In stage.
Aug 25, 2010, 9:23 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
UA only collects APIS info. on check in, which is why you can't provide the passport number there. Supposedly UA is now allowing you to save your passport info. to your profile to make it faster to check in online, etc. But i haven't figured out how to do that....or if I want to.