Air NZ and Visas
Jul 22, 2017, 7:57 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA LP pleb, QR Plat., Bonvoy Ti, IHG Diamond Amb, Foolish Hoarder of Miles, Fid. Def.
Posts: 125
As above, a thousand times "yes." Passengers may transit the U.S. if they are traveling on a passport from a visa waiver country (NZ and AUS both qualify) AND have received a valid ESTA (US$14 online application to make sure you're not a criminal or something). If not a VWP-country national, you need either a B1/B2 or a C1 visa. Lacking these, the airline would be doing the pax a colossal favor by denying boarding, since getting on the plane and being denied entry by CBP would be very unpleasant indeed and could hamper future travel to/through the U.S.
Jul 29, 2017, 11:27 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
Jul 29, 2017, 4:56 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
Jul 29, 2017, 9:02 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,319
Jul 30, 2017, 12:16 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
Jul 30, 2017, 2:10 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bne
Programs: Velocity Gold, AIRNZ Elite, Qantas Silver ,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,319
Jul 30, 2017, 9:27 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA LP pleb, QR Plat., Bonvoy Ti, IHG Diamond Amb, Foolish Hoarder of Miles, Fid. Def.
Posts: 125
Jul 30, 2017, 4:52 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA approval to the airport?
No. DHS communicates a traveler’s ESTA status to the carriers. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA application response as a record of their ESTA application number to confirm their ESTA status.
Aug 4, 2017, 7:43 pm
#29
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
I have found it useful to have a record of the ESTA code with me (which I keep with my passport). There has been the odd time when the airline systems haven't automatically found my ESTA status and having the code means check in staff can input it and allow me to complete check-in. Without the code I would have had to visit the DHS site and attempt to re-register for ESTA.
Aug 4, 2017, 11:09 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,100
I have found it useful to have a record of the ESTA code with me (which I keep with my passport). There has been the odd time when the airline systems haven't automatically found my ESTA status and having the code means check in staff can input it and allow me to complete check-in. Without the code I would have had to visit the DHS site and attempt to re-register for ESTA.