Online Check-in API problem
 

Just tried to check-in for a BRU-LHR flight tomorrow (actually on a UA code). It appears I now have to enter API information :confused: (Didn't have to do that when flying BA on BRU-LHR a few weeks ago)

In the API, they are asking for all my names in my passport, so I entered "George Arthur Akerlof". I then got the following error message:
"Invalid passenger details entered please check the name matches the passport and retry."

It appears that this error message pops up because my tickets are booked without my middle name, i.e. as "George Akerlof".

So I removed my middle name from the API entry form, but then get the following error message:
"Unfortunately, we are unable to check you in at this time. Please check in at the airport. (1014)"

Any ideas?

No, I am not George A. Akerlof

It worked on the second try half an hour later (without the middle name).

However, the question still remains: What should I do if my ticket is booked as "George Akerlof" and bmi demands to know my first name(s) exactly as shown on the passport, i.e. "George Arthur Akerlof", but then does not allow online check-in to go ahead. Will I have problems boarding?

Hi George, ;)

I can't answer your question re first and middle names but I think the UK is now one of the countries which require API. Not sure if it's airline specific but I certainly had to enter API when flying from Germany to the UK on LH (but not in the other direction IIRC.) In fact all three countries I travel to most frequently (US, UK, Japan) require API even if you hold a passport of the country you are travelling to. :rolleyes:

Interesting though that I did not have to enter anything on BA OLCI almost exactly four weeks ago. Neither on my previous flight to the UK (on BD in February),

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/tr...nfopassengers/ :td:

http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/flig...formation.aspx

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...o/public/en_gb

Thanks. BA page notes:

"Laws in force in the UK require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to and from the following countries prior to travel:
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, China, Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, United Arab Emirates and Zambia.

The following countries are included from 2 December 2009:
Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Switzerland."

Explains why I was not asked four weeks ago. Germany is not included on the list, so not sure why LH asked you to provide this information. Strange collection of countries anyway...

Let us know whether the checking in and seat reservation sticks. I discovered yesterday that the new system fails you for ever if you make one mistake or unexpected answer - no return - no retry. It may appear as though things have worked but at the airport it all unravels. They said in the lounge that this was causing issues for heaps of people.

The UK Border Agency's e-Borders site states

Presumably to feed the Big Brother database. :td:

Now I come to think of it when I flew from LHR to LIS via FRA on LH (it was a free ticket :eek:) in October I had to supply API though neither Germany nor Portugal is on BA's list. LH's website is not terribly helpful or up-to-date and does not mention the UK at all, though their system is set up to collect data when travelling to or from the UK.

Everything worked fine. Only problem was that my status was not recognised, it was shown as LHP instead of LH*G.