Very intersting post, thank you.

I fly every week on BMI between LHR and AMS and for some considerable time now I have had to offer up my Passport at either LHR checkin, LHR BMI Lounge or LHR departure gate when flying to AMS.

I was told that APIS is required for the Netherlands flights and Palma flights by BMI staff (some of whom I have known for years, so I don't believe they would be telling porkies). They find it a pain to have to input my passport details and then either print a new BP or write APIS on the OLCI one. It hold the gate up something wrotten when the flight is full, I am lucky enough to have it done in Number 1.

I was told in AMS that the requirement for flights into AMS is that AMS are so tired of seeing people arrive without the correct documentation to be admitted to the country that they now fine the airline a couple of thousand euros for each passenger that arrives without the right documentation to allow them to be processed by NL. This may be horse poo, but, again, I was told by someone I have known a very long time who works for the airline.

This only happens, according to BMI at LHR for flghts to AMS and Palma, but very recently, BMI LHR staff were told that the Palma API had been incorporated into the website and would be done automatically in advance.

I have complained on many occasions to BMI that I have filled in my details in 3 or 4 different places on the website and with our corporate travel agent, why on earth do I need to do it again, why can't they just pick it up from my profile or somewhere? You can guess the answer I'll warrant........

To summarise the above rant, I don't know if it is our Government (but it would not surprise me if it were), but I have heard that certainly for AMS it is down to the Dutch. I have to say, that in NL, they don't need API for my flight into England - does that support my thoughts above or undermine them?

Best wishes.


20-Horse