US citizen not able to check in waiting approval from the US government?
Aug 21, 2017, 9:33 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,197
US citizen but also travelling on a US passport? Possibly obvious I know!
Alternatively, it could be a bug - I wouldn't assume that the error message has any bearing on reality.
Alternatively, it could be a bug - I wouldn't assume that the error message has any bearing on reality.
Aug 21, 2017, 9:33 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH M&M Member
Posts: 2,705
- Is your APIS data entered correctly in your booking (you haven't accidentally chosen the wrong nationality? or entered your passport expiry or date of birth in MM-DD-YYYY instead of DD-MM-YYYY (or vice versa)? - if this is incorrect I wonder if it trips something in the computer that says "passport data doesn't match".
- Computer glitch?
- Can you call and check in by phone? (IDK if that's even possible any more)
- All else being OK, it sounds like it's the old, "turn up at the airport in plenty of time to get it sorted". Sorry.
Aug 21, 2017, 9:38 am
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,760
I wouldn't worry too much.
BA sends the DHS a list of passengers on its USA services at 24 hours (it actually can start sooner), with regular updates up to departure time. A handshake comes back and all is well. For all sorts of reasons this process sometimes falls over, either for everyone or some categories or just one individual. Overwhelmingly it's just an IT glitch. I wouldn't worry too much, particularly if you are a USA citizen in good standing. I'd try again in a few hours, then perhaps call up BA (the contact centre may have had a news alert saying the interface is broke, for example), then if all else fails go to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would with your USA passport.
However if you were a non citizen, this is indeed the first indication that something is badly wrong. You can have an ESTA and still not be allowed in, all BA can do is suggest you contact the US consulate.
BA sends the DHS a list of passengers on its USA services at 24 hours (it actually can start sooner), with regular updates up to departure time. A handshake comes back and all is well. For all sorts of reasons this process sometimes falls over, either for everyone or some categories or just one individual. Overwhelmingly it's just an IT glitch. I wouldn't worry too much, particularly if you are a USA citizen in good standing. I'd try again in a few hours, then perhaps call up BA (the contact centre may have had a news alert saying the interface is broke, for example), then if all else fails go to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would with your USA passport.
However if you were a non citizen, this is indeed the first indication that something is badly wrong. You can have an ESTA and still not be allowed in, all BA can do is suggest you contact the US consulate.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Aug 21, 2017 at 10:32 am
Aug 21, 2017, 9:46 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
What did BA say when you called to ask why, as a USN?
It could be a glitch, you may have entered erroneous information resulting in a mis-match, or you may have been randomly selected for further screening, or it may not be random.
Nobody here can help beyond that, but BA might as to the "glitch" option.
It could be a glitch, you may have entered erroneous information resulting in a mis-match, or you may have been randomly selected for further screening, or it may not be random.
Nobody here can help beyond that, but BA might as to the "glitch" option.
Aug 21, 2017, 12:41 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
I wouldn't worry too much.
BA sends the DHS a list of passengers on its USA services at 24 hours (it actually can start sooner), with regular updates up to departure time. A handshake comes back and all is well. For all sorts of reasons this process sometimes falls over, either for everyone or some categories or just one individual. Overwhelmingly it's just an IT glitch. I wouldn't worry too much, particularly if you are a USA citizen in good standing. I'd try again in a few hours, then perhaps call up BA (the contact centre may have had a news alert saying the interface is broke, for example), then if all else fails go to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would with your USA passport.
However if you were a non citizen, this is indeed the first indication that something is badly wrong. You can have an ESTA and still not be allowed in, all BA can do is suggest you contact the US consulate.
BA sends the DHS a list of passengers on its USA services at 24 hours (it actually can start sooner), with regular updates up to departure time. A handshake comes back and all is well. For all sorts of reasons this process sometimes falls over, either for everyone or some categories or just one individual. Overwhelmingly it's just an IT glitch. I wouldn't worry too much, particularly if you are a USA citizen in good standing. I'd try again in a few hours, then perhaps call up BA (the contact centre may have had a news alert saying the interface is broke, for example), then if all else fails go to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would with your USA passport.
However if you were a non citizen, this is indeed the first indication that something is badly wrong. You can have an ESTA and still not be allowed in, all BA can do is suggest you contact the US consulate.
Aug 21, 2017, 12:44 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,109
The US Citizen has to get to the US border to present themselves for entry. The US authorities don't have to let the passenger onto the aircraft (hence the mention of "no fly list" above).
Aug 21, 2017, 1:15 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
DreamTrip - notwithstanding the fact that your initials are DT, have you done something to upset Donald?
Aug 21, 2017, 2:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
At least with the US someone can fly to Canada or Mexico and cross by land. There have been cases of citizens of other countries where they haven't been so lucky.