Sorry to post again, and perhaps not in the right place, but I am seriously confused as to how exactly to enter the USA right now as an exempt UK citizen.

I have a valid exemption to the presidential proclamation (spouse) and we will be travelling as a family (husband on his US passport, myself and our to children on our ESTAS). I'd assumed this was fine, and was under the impression other people have done this, but it clearly states on the Virgin Atlantic website that "Customers cannot currently travel to the US on an ESTA"

I've been on hold for a long time trying to speak with someone at the airline, with no luck. I've tried the embassy, and again no clear answer. The last thing I want to do is get to the airport and get turned away, and if it wasn't urgent to see family we wouldn't bother, but is there any information on what is happening here? It doesn't make sense to me that one couldn't travel on an ESTA if they have valid exemption, and proof thereof.

Thanks so much for everyone's help on here!

For Zoemouse:
Don't worry. I have a UK passport; my wife a US one. We have travelled together from LHR-LAX five times in the last 18 months on BA. Assuming Virgin operate the same way, leave a little extra time. Just show your marriage certificate at check in and they will ask a US border official to come to look over your documents. Tell them you're travelling on an ESTA - have your number available; then they'll issue your boarding pass, and you're on your way.

Thanks for the response. Is there a particular reason why Virgin could be different? The agent I spoke to really didn�t know much about it, claiming only that they take their cue from US customs (which surely should permit ESTA entry for exemptions).

I�m mainly concerned as the statement on the VA website seems unequivocal, but also out of step with the practice of airlines like BA and AA (and indeed with the US regulations).

Can one airline choose not to carry exempt ESTA holders whilst others will? I�d change airline but it is not possible for our destination.

I don't think so, but I never fly Virgin. Certainly at BA check-in, it's not the BA agent who makes any decision. They automatically phone the border control folks who send someone over to the check-in desk to check credentials. I've never seen anything on the BA website about it and I too made phone calls in advance of our first visit as I was filled with the same trepidation. After 18 months BA have refined the process and it's always gone smoothly. I would suggest you don't do online check-in as the system won't know your situation and might suspend your ESTA. Even if this happens, it will be reinstated once you've been spoken to by the border official.

There is extensive discussion of this topic in the Coronavirus and travel forum:

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I've trawled that other thread, and see there is one person who looks to have done something similar on VA. My main concern is that the people I've spoken to at Virgin seem entirely confused by the question, just redirecting me back to their website that seems to have false information. Will post in the other thread as perhaps more people have had success!

As the OP has now participated in the legacy thread TWA884 kindly referenced, we'll close this one.