Help please. Flying tomorrow /esta issue
Dec 26, 2018, 11:23 pm
#16
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Update. We drove through to the airport last night and checked in. The check in agent was able to sort things out eventually but it would have been too tight for time if we had left it overnight.
All a bit moot now anyway. We're stuck on the runway at Edinburgh so very unlikely to make our connection to Fort Lauderdale
All a bit moot now anyway. We're stuck on the runway at Edinburgh so very unlikely to make our connection to Fort Lauderdale
Dec 26, 2018, 11:34 pm
#17
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Thanks
C W S. All info correct on both the BA profile and the ESTA site. It was a new passport in August and worked ok for a Boston flight in September so feels like a glitch. We've decided we will go through for 4pm and check in then return home, have dinner with my parents then mum will take us back to the airport hotel.
I may try online check in later this morning just in case it has updated.
Thanks for the help everyone.
C W S. All info correct on both the BA profile and the ESTA site. It was a new passport in August and worked ok for a Boston flight in September so feels like a glitch. We've decided we will go through for 4pm and check in then return home, have dinner with my parents then mum will take us back to the airport hotel.
I may try online check in later this morning just in case it has updated.
Thanks for the help everyone.
Did you apply for the ESTA on the old or new passport?
Dec 26, 2018, 11:37 pm
#18
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Dec 26, 2018, 11:41 pm
#19
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Out of curiosity - What is the solution to this problem, if it is indeed the CBP's fault? - Is there a way to solve it given it only surfaced 24hrs prior to the flight?
The option of re-applying for an ESTA seems not to be possible given both a) the time to departure being too short to apply, and b) the OP already has an ESTA?
The option of re-applying for an ESTA seems not to be possible given both a) the time to departure being too short to apply, and b) the OP already has an ESTA?
(b) There is nothing to stop you applying for a new ESTA with an existing one in place. The system will notify you during the application process if you have a valid ESTA with more than 30 days validity remaining, but you can say you still wish to apply and the new ESTA will override the old one.
Overall though, if it doesn’t work In the end (and thankfully for the OP here it seems it could be solved in person at check in) and it’s the CBP’s “fault”, not a lot you can do. Getting government departments anywhere in the world to admit fault on anything, especially immigration issues, is very difficult. The onus will always be placed on the traveller, rightly or wrongly. I suppose one could take legal action, but good luck with that.
Update. We drove through to the airport last night and checked in. The check in agent was able to sort things out eventually but it would have been too tight for time if we had left it overnight.
All a bit moot now anyway. We're stuck on the runway at Edinburgh so very unlikely to make our connection to Fort Lauderdale
All a bit moot now anyway. We're stuck on the runway at Edinburgh so very unlikely to make our connection to Fort Lauderdale
Dec 28, 2018, 5:12 am
#20
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Made it to FLL after the flight from Gatwick was held for us. Despite being assured by BA staff that we (around 30 passengers connecting) would be met and fast tracked through Gatwick this didn't happen and we had to struggle through ourselves. Poor show on the part of Gatwick airport when BA had done their best to help.
however we are here now. We will never set foot in the hellhole that is FLL airport again but that's a whole other story that I won't bore people with.
Thank you all again for the advice 're the ESTA.
however we are here now. We will never set foot in the hellhole that is FLL airport again but that's a whole other story that I won't bore people with.
Thank you all again for the advice 're the ESTA.
Dec 28, 2018, 6:08 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
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Looking for some advice
am due to fly tomorrow to the US. Tried to check in today and I'm receiving a message that I do not have a valid ESTA (or words to that effect). I have a current ESTA which I travelled on in September and is valid until 2020.
I called BA as I don't want to get to the airport and be refused boarding however their advice was to apply for another ESTA and hope it comes through. I'm reluctant to do that in case I'm refused or it invalidates the current one but the adviser was adamant if I don't take action before reaching the airport I will absolutely not be flying.
any ideas what to do - I fear I'm caught in a situation which I can't fix
am due to fly tomorrow to the US. Tried to check in today and I'm receiving a message that I do not have a valid ESTA (or words to that effect). I have a current ESTA which I travelled on in September and is valid until 2020.
I called BA as I don't want to get to the airport and be refused boarding however their advice was to apply for another ESTA and hope it comes through. I'm reluctant to do that in case I'm refused or it invalidates the current one but the adviser was adamant if I don't take action before reaching the airport I will absolutely not be flying.
any ideas what to do - I fear I'm caught in a situation which I can't fix
During the ESTA process, the system will identify if you have a valid ESTA and alert you to this.
Dec 28, 2018, 6:26 am
#24
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Made it to FLL after the flight from Gatwick was held for us. Despite being assured by BA staff that we (around 30 passengers connecting) would be met and fast tracked through Gatwick this didn't happen and we had to struggle through ourselves. Poor show on the part of Gatwick airport when BA had done their best to help.
Dec 28, 2018, 6:29 am
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
That is quite simply wrong and perhaps demonstrates a lack of understanding of what an ESTA is and how it works.
BA, as a condition of its landing rights in the US, agrees that in the case of a passenger eligible for VWP, e.g. an ESTA, may not be boarded until and unless BA receives a notification from CBP that the ESTA has been approved. That notification, often received a "marker" is an electronic signal associated with the passenger's passport number.
BA, as a condition of its landing rights in the US, agrees that in the case of a passenger eligible for VWP, e.g. an ESTA, may not be boarded until and unless BA receives a notification from CBP that the ESTA has been approved. That notification, often received a "marker" is an electronic signal associated with the passenger's passport number.
A passenger is only authorized to travel when CBP transmits its "marker" to the carrier. While unlikely, one could have an ESTA approved yet CBP fails to properly transmit its ",market" and one is denied boarding. One would hope that there is time for CBP to authorize the travel, but that is something not to be counted on.
Dec 28, 2018, 7:06 am
#26
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Dec 28, 2018, 10:42 am
#27
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It is. Either the passenger is authorised to travel or they are not. The ‘authorised to travel’ or ‘not authorised to travel’ marker is sent by the US, not a thing an airline can do about it. The airline may try to input the API again to see if there is a data input error but there is not much else they can do. If the US do not mark the passenger as authorised to travel that passenger is not travelling.
The idea of legal action is a non-starter, and IDB compensation is similarly not going to happen.
The idea of legal action is a non-starter, and IDB compensation is similarly not going to happen.
Dec 28, 2018, 11:12 am
#28
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
It is. Either the passenger is authorised to travel or they are not. The ‘authorised to travel’ or ‘not authorised to travel’ marker is sent by the US, not a thing an airline can do about it. The airline may try to input the API again to see if there is a data input error but there is not much else they can do. If the US do not mark the passenger as authorised to travel that passenger is not travelling.
The idea of legal action is a non-starter, and IDB compensation is similarly not going to happen.
The idea of legal action is a non-starter, and IDB compensation is similarly not going to happen.
Dec 28, 2018, 11:30 am
#29
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Are you sure? It's the passenger's responsibility to obtain the correct travel documents (such as an ESTA or a visa), but if the airline needs to run a computer program on the airline's computer, then I'd have thought that it's the airline's fault if the computer program returns incorrect data about the passenger's travel documents, or if the computer incorrectly mixes up the passenger with a terrorist with the same name who died a decade ago.
The passenger is responsible for ensuring they have the correct travel documents and authorisations, they are also responsible for providing accurate data for the API. The slightest typo can cause the ‘authorised to travel’ to be withheld. An airline cannot be held liable if the DHS/CPB refuse to allow the passenger to travel or wrongly indicate the passenger is persona non grata.
Dec 28, 2018, 11:32 am
#30
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Are you sure? It's the passenger's responsibility to obtain the correct travel documents (such as an ESTA or a visa), but if the airline needs to run a computer program on the airline's computer, then I'd have thought that it's the airline's fault if the computer program returns incorrect data about the passenger's travel documents, or if the computer incorrectly mixes up the passenger with a terrorist with the same name who died a decade ago.