BA,s policy [flights cancelled when pax has expired ESTA]
Jul 2, 2019, 4:52 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Posts: 201
Another reason to check in online at T-24. I had a similar situation involving a replaced lost passport & forgetting that the ESTA is linked to passport & not the individual. When I tried to check in the lack of a valid ESTA was flagged giving me some breathing space to apply for a new one (which arrived instantly). I believe CBP now state you need a minimum of 72 hours so it is reassuring to note the recent experiences upthread of almost instant approvals.
Jul 2, 2019, 4:58 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Geek platinum
Posts: 2,004
Another reason to check in online at T-24. I had a similar situation involving a replaced lost passport & forgetting that the ESTA is linked to passport & not the individual. When I tried to check in the lack of a valid ESTA was flagged giving me some breathing space to apply for a new one (which arrived instantly). I believe CBP now state you need a minimum of 72 hours so it is reassuring to note the recent experiences upthread of almost instant approvals.
Jul 2, 2019, 5:23 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Aadvantage platinum; IHG Spire
Posts: 546
Hyperbole maybe, but it's not a stretch to imagine English is not the OPs first language. Also they have two posts, so they're new and I think the expected degree of rational behaviour and calmness to situations faced by those that travel less frequently and are armed with less information than than the typical FTer is not always appreciated here.
Rookie error followed by bit of a rant, fair enough really.
Rookie error followed by bit of a rant, fair enough really.
Jul 2, 2019, 5:33 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
Depends on what you consider a frequent traveler to be. If the guy is replicating the type of flight that he is referring in Club, then he only has to do slightly more than two RT's a year, not too frequent in these parts.
Jul 2, 2019, 5:55 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
I didn't get an instant approval a few weeks ago and IIRC it was the same 2 years ago but it was hours - but again I've had several ESTA before as well as having GE.
Jul 2, 2019, 6:36 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA CCR/GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,483
It will partially come down to the member of staff you deal with, but the approach that someone takes is also very important. The closest I've come to this is when my brother got the date for the flight wrong, and wasn't at the airport when he should have been (and couldn't make it in time). I went to the desk and said "I've got a problem. My brother's an idiot. You are under no obligation to do anything to help, but I'd be really grateful if you could see what you could do". The member of staff booked him on the flight 24 hours later, and protected the original return. If I'd gone to the desk accusing the airline of criminal acts due to my (brother's) stupidity I'm sure it would have been a different matter.
Jul 2, 2019, 1:19 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,129
I have sympathy for the original poster. It must be like a punch in the stomach to realise your ESTA has expired and that you will lose money on the flight.
But the decision to not allow you fly was really outside BA's control: immigration (especially USA) comes down hard on airlines who allow people to fly without an ESTA (remember this is only permission to fly without a Visa, not an entry pass), and BA have responsibilities.
When you apply for an ESTA the system will let you know if you have a current one before taking your money again. So always worth checking. That said, I think if you approached the desk with a certain attitude, the staff will likely do the bare minimum they are required to do. In this case, suggest a new ticket purchase.
That said, I return to my original point, it must have been galling. I'd put it down to a very expensive life lesson.
But the decision to not allow you fly was really outside BA's control: immigration (especially USA) comes down hard on airlines who allow people to fly without an ESTA (remember this is only permission to fly without a Visa, not an entry pass), and BA have responsibilities.
When you apply for an ESTA the system will let you know if you have a current one before taking your money again. So always worth checking. That said, I think if you approached the desk with a certain attitude, the staff will likely do the bare minimum they are required to do. In this case, suggest a new ticket purchase.
That said, I return to my original point, it must have been galling. I'd put it down to a very expensive life lesson.
Jul 2, 2019, 1:44 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Been here....was at MAN. I have two UK passports due to the whole countries that don't like each others stamps scenario and of course pitched up at MAN with the wrong one from an ESTA perspective. I had to apply for a new one there and then but the check in agent sent my bags down anyway, just wouldn't give me the boarding card til the ESTA came through, which it did almost instantly. I guess time was on my side there.
I totally hate the auto cancel the return leg thing, there should at least be an option to inform the airline you intend to use the return so they need to leave it in place, in my experience this is always a fight. Best one I ever had was FlyBe cancelling a flight, I got a train to Southampton instead, pitched up for the return flight, ticket cancelled as I never took the outbound flight.....you mean the one you cancelled!!!!
Jul 2, 2019, 3:49 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
I consider it rather sharp practice to deny boarding CPH-LHR on the basis of being unable to fly LHR-DEN at that time (no ESTA). The appropriate time to deny boarding is in LHR when boarding the flight to DEN if there is still no valid ESTA at that time, especially if the passenger can enter the UK. BA is being more strict than any immigration rules require.
Jul 2, 2019, 4:16 pm
#41
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Some sympathy though a lot of whether you can fix this depends on the time as mentioned.
Been here....was at MAN. I have two UK passports due to the whole countries that don't like each others stamps scenario and of course pitched up at MAN with the wrong one from an ESTA perspective. I had to apply for a new one there and then but the check in agent sent my bags down anyway, just wouldn't give me the boarding card til the ESTA came through, which it did almost instantly. I guess time was on my side there.
I totally hate the auto cancel the return leg thing, there should at least be an option to inform the airline you intend to use the return so they need to leave it in place, in my experience this is always a fight. Best one I ever had was FlyBe cancelling a flight, I got a train to Southampton instead, pitched up for the return flight, ticket cancelled as I never took the outbound flight.....you mean the one you cancelled!!!!
Been here....was at MAN. I have two UK passports due to the whole countries that don't like each others stamps scenario and of course pitched up at MAN with the wrong one from an ESTA perspective. I had to apply for a new one there and then but the check in agent sent my bags down anyway, just wouldn't give me the boarding card til the ESTA came through, which it did almost instantly. I guess time was on my side there.
I totally hate the auto cancel the return leg thing, there should at least be an option to inform the airline you intend to use the return so they need to leave it in place, in my experience this is always a fight. Best one I ever had was FlyBe cancelling a flight, I got a train to Southampton instead, pitched up for the return flight, ticket cancelled as I never took the outbound flight.....you mean the one you cancelled!!!!
Jul 2, 2019, 10:49 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de Actes Bénéfiques pour les Autres, BAEC Gold.
Posts: 1,485
I consider it rather sharp practice to deny boarding CPH-LHR on the basis of being unable to fly LHR-DEN at that time (no ESTA). The appropriate time to deny boarding is in LHR when boarding the flight to DEN if there is still no valid ESTA at that time, especially if the passenger can enter the UK. BA is being more strict than any immigration rules require.
Then if the passenger wants to.totally abandon the trip he would need flying back to his start point, probably adding to his costs.
Perhaps telling him him at the start point check in that due to no ESTA he cannot travel to the USA, but giving him the option to travel as far as LHR if he wants and only checking his baggage that far.
Jul 2, 2019, 11:03 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,916
I consider it rather sharp practice to deny boarding CPH-LHR on the basis of being unable to fly LHR-DEN at that time (no ESTA). The appropriate time to deny boarding is in LHR when boarding the flight to DEN if there is still no valid ESTA at that time, especially if the passenger can enter the UK. BA is being more strict than any immigration rules require.
Jul 3, 2019, 1:14 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,806
I had a last minute trip to NYC in April this year. I told the conference organisers that I would only come if my ESTA was approved quickly (I found out I was wanted there less than 72 hours before I would have to fly). I applied online and was approved instantly so they do still happen but certainly not guaranteed.
Jul 3, 2019, 3:27 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Scotland
Posts: 377
MrsArgonth was denied (for a short period of time) boarding on GLA-LHR-NYC as no ESTA appeared on the system, and that was nearly ten years ago so seems to the procedure. Was approved after a rapid taxi ride back home to get the ESTA number as I had'nt written it down..doh