scottish minnie

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

eugegall

Check the passport number on your ESTA application EXACTLY matches your passport number.

My brother did this recently and missed a digit although it still approved the wrong ESTA.

bisonrav

Suggest you visit the ESTA site and check it says you still have a valid ESTA for the passport you are using. It usually doesn't let you apply if it thinks you have one. Then print it out and bring it with you. What is the wording of the message? I have a feeling there's a BA IT issue involved around the API data as I sometimes get messages like this, and what it actually means is you have to do a check at the airport and can't do an OLCI

scottish minnie

Thanks. Have checked the ESTA website and the status shows as "approved". I've taken a screenshot on the iPad as I have no printer so hopefully that will suffice.

we are less than 40 miles from the airport (actually staying overnight at an airport hotel). Hubby is suggesting we pack now and go through to airport the check in around lunchtime then just drive back through to hotel tonight. Seems overkill but it may be the safest option.

corporate-wage-slave

Is your passport number and your passport expiry data on your API data in the booking and ESTA application completely accurate? No months/years mixed up? Does your passport expire soon? The three most common problems are date mix ups, passport numbers being transposed, and (unbelievably) getting their nationality wrong (e.g. selecting USA when they mean UK).

It is entirely possible that the computer at the USA end isn't working, it does go down from time to time, but usually leaving it an hour will sort that out. But in the absence of that I would allow extra time at the airport. The advice to apply for a new ESTA is a good one but it's the last thing you do.

rossmacd

bisonrav

It's actually quite easy to dislodge one of the pull downs on the API screen, I've done it a few times because of a slightly sticky mouse pad, a slight drag when changing fields can set any country. So definitely go through that again and double check everything.

scottish minnie

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.

warakorn

If BA refuses to issue a boarding pass, you are the lucky guy in receiving a EUR 600 EC261 compensation payment plus free rebooking or a full refund.

UKtravelbear

Not if the CBP hasn't sent the 'marker' that the passenger has an ESTA to BA then they won't be entitled to compensation.

It is the CBP marker that BA will go on not someone waving their phone or a piece of paper saying 'look I have an ESTA!' (not that the OP is doing that but some people have).

Often1

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. The fact that it has been approved is indeed good news, but is just one step towards its use by BA.

While one is always free to print a copy of the ESTA receipt or bring a screenshot on a phone, those are insufficient and even the receipt number is not anything which BA can use to backtrack and confirm that an ESTA has been given.

fruitcage

Often1

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.

UKtravelbear

SKT-DK

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?