Paperwork necessary to enter USA

Can someone please advise me. I have just gone onto VA website to enter passport details of Fly Ready. There is an another section for Passport Details to Enter United States, is this extra form now a requirement, or is it just an advisory proforma to find out if you require a Visa/ESTA? Many thanks

It is a requirement.

You will not be allowed to check in for your flight (either online or in person) without an ESTA or Visa.

I've just entered some FlyReady information for the USA, and think you might be talking about the Travel Advice page section. I think it's new (was not there when I did the same in November). It is confusing, as it says click this link to an external website, then return here to attest the form has been completed, but the link goes to a Virgin Atlantic webpage with travel advice for all destinations, and there isn't a form!

Rightly or wrongly I clicked back and then selected 'I have already completed this step'. I know I have entered passport details, contact tracing and have a valid ESTA, so think it's fine. I'm not sure I've ever checked in online with Virgin without some small/random issue!!

[mitchja]

All FlyReady requires is your passport details (which can now be scanned / verified by VS before you get to the airport (the easiest way to do this is by using a mobile device so the VS website can access your camera to scan your passport. You cannot use the VS app to do this.) This passport verification can be done at any point once you have made your booking.

The other section of FlyReady is USA contact tracing. You are required to provide the address of your hotel /where you are staying along with either your email address and/or mobile/cell number. This can only be completed 72hours or less before your departure.

Once both sections are completed FlyReady will go green.

FlyReady can also be completed at check-in at the airport. It doesn’t have to be completed online but saves time if you do.

FlyReady does not check or confirm your ESTA status. You have to check/complete that yourself separately to confirm you have an approved ESTA at least 72hrs before departure.

Thanks.

The issue seems to be that to make FlyReady go green, one has to click on another button as well as complete the passport and contact tracing forms. However it's not obvious what the click represents! I think it's probably badly worded and is basically asking the user to confirm they have read the entry requirements page, but it mentioned completion of 'a form' , yet there is no other form to complete

Sorry still a bit confused. The form I can see asks you to submit passport details, dates, when you are arriving and purpose of visit etc. When its completed the link takes you to check on whether you need ESTA etc, nowhere does it show how to submit. It takes you to a VA page and there is says you need an ESTA. What is also strange it asks what country you are travelling to and who the Carrier is. Looks more like an IATA form rather than anything to do with VA. Has anyone else completed this? Probably why I struggle with the 1% question lol.

[mitchja]

I've no idea why VS have now added that pointless extra step in FlyReady. Just click the 'I already Completed This' button and ignore it. Also very poor grammar as well whoever added that sectionto FlyReady!

Th only official genuine USA ESTA link you need to apply for or check your existing ESTA status is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

FlyReady will not check or confirm your ESTA status for you. You must do that yourself as you now must have an approved ESTA status at least 72 hours before travel.

James thank you I shall give it a good ignoring. Had our ESTAs approved on Friday so that's another piece of the paperwork done. As a matter of interest we applied for our Visitor Registration to St Martin and that was free. Using points for our flight to MIA but looking at the amount you now require for UC fear this may be our last time.