Originally Posted by RobOnLI

And given that airlines flying to the UK setup stands with people asking, "Do you have an ETA?" tells me there's zero integration into any UK database to prove it. Simply say "yes" and you may get a stamp/sticker on your BP and that's it. Why do I feel like the fee for this ETA is going to skyrocket once the UK gov't decides these things have to be checked electronically and that the good-ol-boy/honor system doesn't work?

Originally Posted by Kumulani

The airlines do check the ETA electronically, as far as I know. Those stands might just be to remind people they need one if they don't already have it, rather than waiting until they get bounced at check-in. It's a relatively new requirement.

Originally Posted by RobOnLI

Makes sense about sharing some data across the border given the CTA. I was surprised he asked me if I had the ETA. He made no effort to check after I said yes.

I don't believe the airlines have any visibility into whether you have an ETA or not. Otherwise, they could simply not let you check-in and/or call you to the gate. It's awfully expensive for the airlines to man 2-3 check stations at each UK flight from any airport just to have them ask if you have an ETA and simply take your word for it. I have seen people say no and the agents tell them to get one online. But I'm 99% confident right now I could still get on a plane if I answered that question 'yes' and didn't actually have one. What would happen at the far end I'm not sure. The e-gates seem to take the same amount of time as always to process so are they able to do a quick data dip in some database and see if I have an ETA?