API required from Oct 4th - NOT!

when and how and by whom is this API supposed to be supplied/entered etc. If not on the green form, then how???[:?]

Originally posted by vizbiz
when and how and by whom is this API supposed to be supplied/entered etc. If not on the green form, then how???[:?]

Have a quick shuftie at the VS website. The API required, along with the methods of recording it, is detailed there:)

Originally posted by LukeW
BA have announced that they require this info from March 7. Are different airlines introducing this requirement on different dates?

Luke

It has to be done by a certain date so airlines can do as they choose til then. VS obviously thought this was the best time for them!

Originally posted by Lipstick
It has to be done by a certain date so airlines can do as they choose til then. VS obviously thought this was the best time for them!

Makes a lot of sense to start collecting and voluntarily pushing this information as soon as you're implementation is done and ready to roll.

This gives you time between turning the system up and the US imposed cut-off date to shake out any bugs that may remain in the system - because any new software system usually ships with some bugs or weirdo behaviours that often only get exposed by everyday use.

Cheers,
Mike

Must be missing something, I can't see on the VS site where the API infor mation details are?

Thanks.

[Decker]

Did you try typing API into Search? .

Details here.

The "Update Your Bookings" link is NOT intuitive. Just press the EDIT button above the PRINT button when you are in your booking to add API details.

Its Here.

Why don't they want you to register early on-line and how, given that the check in staff must do something with the detail other than look at it, do they think it will not take any longer to check everyone in?

Paul

[Decker]

Ermm you CAN register on line. I just have. Few bugs in the HTML form but apart from that it pretty much worked.

Originally posted by Decker
Ermm you CAN register on line. I just have. Few bugs in the HTML form but apart from that it pretty much worked.

Oh I see, I interpretted

There is no requirement for passengers to arrive at the airport any earlier than usual or to provide any information in advance of checking in for their flight

to mean in person.
Have you just done an online check-in?

Paul

[Decker]

Nope - went to "Manage my bookings" chose one for March, pressed Edit button and one of the things you can now do is add API info.

[mitchja]

I've just filled my in my API info, although going back into the booking again, it doesn't seemed to have remembered all the fields I've filled in, as it's lost my middle name and the hotel name fields (although everyhting else is now there)

Regards

Originally posted by Decker
Nope - went to "Manage my bookings" chose one for March, pressed Edit button and one of the things you can now do is add API info.

Ahh I see, If I could actually see any of my future booking online then I would take a look. My bookings dropped off (all of them) about a week ago.

Paul

Ok, so I got to the VS site today and tried entering my API - the site crashed [ii] - eventually got the info in after the site came back up. After going back into the booking to make sure that the info was still there, I noticed that some of it was missing (middle name, hotel name). Also noticed that because the booking had my middle initial tagged onto my first name (nothing totally unusual there), the API section was pre-filled with that as my first name - which obviously doesn't match my passport.

Knowing what funny ^&%*ers US Immigration can be, I rang Premier, who were most kind to change the booking so just my first name appears with no middle initial tagged. Whilst on the phone, we went back over the API stuff - no problems (apart from Amex travel had told me it was ticketed, and I have a ticket number, but VS said it wasn't ticketed [:?]) [y]

Anyway, I go back into the site tonight to check again, and the booking wasn't linked from my FC number. Found it through the manual input of PNR though - checked the API and that was ok, but then found that my seat requests had disappeared. So, re-enter seat requests - originals still available - and then find that the API was incomplete again.

After re-entering the API (which for some reason defaults gender selection to "female" - hmmmm...), all was finally well. Seems like it took a long time and a very roundabout way to get a simple task done though....

Cheers

Michael

[preiffer]

This morning (23rd) at LHR, there were a LOT of "issues" with the first day of API.

I didn't get asked for it once, and had to insist on giving it at the gate (despite prompting both the Check-In Agent, and the CH staff that I hadn't already done it.). The two others I was with had to give the address twice, due to "systems issues"...


Let's hope they're ironed out quickly... [:I]

[mitchja]

Hmmmm glad it's not just me that VS think is also female as well [:0]

Regards

Daft question to some I know but

1) do I put "staying in the US

and

2) Do I tick the box that says "other" or just leave all three blank[:I]

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
1) do I put "staying in the US

That depends on whether you're staying in the US or not...
If you're going to be on holiday in the US, then "Staying in the US" (unless you're Fly/Drive, in which case you select "Fly-Drive Passenger")

2) Do I tick the box that says "other" or just leave all three blank[:I]

Well, if you're not a "US Citizen" or "Legal Permanent Resident", then check "Other"

Cheers

Michael

I am now on hold to VS flying club getting my API information logged - why you ask - because the web site just crashes when I hit "confirm" and I have been trying all week,

In fact the lady I am talking to now cannot enter the information so is writing it down to enter later _ yipes- now Im worried that it wont be entered.

She is just checking to see if it is "viewable " after they have entered it!!

Will update you all on Wednesday - coz we fly on Thursday!!!

after reading about several things going missing on other members api forms
thought i would check my api forms that i filled in when it first came on line.
- I'm 'now a female[:X] no middle name and my hotel name has also gone missing' . i suppose it's just glitches but glad i checked will still keep an eye on it as we don't fly out to the USA until Oct

Andy

[mitchja]

Just a few things I've noticed over the last week or so.....

Flying Club personal details online
If you log onto your FC account online, in 'Manage My Account' if you click 'update my personal details here' there's a new API section there for saving you passport number and expiry date etc. On clicking the 'Submit' button you might get an error message but you should find the details have been saved anyway.

Virgin Holiday bookings
According the their web site here if you have a VH USA booking that includes accomodation, they will send the accom. deatils to VS for you to update your API, and I quote from the VH web site:

If you have booked accommodation with us as part of your holiday booking, then you do not need to contact Virgin Atlantic in advance of your flight, as we will provide them with this information. However if you have booked a flydrive holiday without accommodation or have booked your accommodation independently, then you will need to provide Virgin Atlantic with this information yourself at check in.

So in theory if you update your FC details to include your passport info and you have a VH booking including accom. your API data should get entered automatically before you get to the airport.

Regards