San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Your help and reviews are required => Information and help please => Topic started by: snappy cathy on August 23, 2009, 08:12:27 PM
-
Hi all, Have completed filling in this and have printed it off, on the print off it shows the date of issue, document type,date of birth, country of issue but where your passport number should be it just says document number have i done this right.
-
Hi Cathy - what is this for?
-
Got a e-mail from easyjet to say they needed this information and if it was'nt completed they could refuse you your flight
-
I'm not sure what it is - we don't need one with Thomsons. Did Don or Tony fly Easy Jet - they will probably know.
-
Ok thanks, some-one will probally know, just panicking :o
-
Never did it last flight but got to next one. Filled it in , printed but likewise no passport number. Easyjet must be able to access the info as they are the ones to request it!
-
Thanks Don, panic over
-
No need for Passport Number - your name is very important and must match the name in your passport exactly.
Then they just cross check at the airport!
A wrongly entered name will cost you money!!
-
Aparently you can give this info at the airport, just make sure you have time to spare
-
You can - but it's advisable to do it before - then it's on their computer and you sail through!
-
Hi Guys I am also flying with Easyjet for the first time this year. I haven't received anything I need to print but did get confirmation of my booking. Both mine and my partners names show without our middle names, does this make a difference? Also do I need to print anything to take to the airport with me?
thanks :)
-
Hi guys
Apparantly this is now a uk borders requirement, we are fying with Thomson on 30th Aug and have ony just been tod this. We found this out from someone who called into the travel agent to pick up their tickets. We booked online and have not had any emails from Thomson requesting this information. I went on to the Thomson website and submitted the info that they were askng for. It does say that if they do not have passenger updated information that you could be refused travel. Not very good communication from Thomson
https://eapi.thomson.co.uk/eborders/login.jsp
-
googleberry1811 you have to have all middle names
-
This can be very confusing.
The vast majority of airlines do not require middle names on bookings.
API insists on middle names to be included.
Yammas
Yannis
-
Thomsons require middle names, we ony picked this up late on. They are saying that all information should be submitted at least one week before travel. It would have been helpful if we had been sent an email. We only got this information second hand by someone who had picked up tickets at travel agents.
-
It is against EU regulations for airlines to request this, or at least to threaten you with not flying. See this link:
http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/001402/sarah_presses_european_commission_on_advanced_passenger_information_and_spanish_implementation_of_eu_law.html
It may be required for Spain (which is imposing it despite the EU free movement rules). The UK government site is hopeless vague on the subject.
This still seems to be muddy water, and really needs to be clarified. The simplest thing would be to request full names on the booking form!!!
-
Thanks everyone. I've been on Easyjet's website but short of putting in a request for a name change I cant seem to find anywhere that says I can change details that are held for me :(
-
We only spotted this on our Thomsons Final invoice after paying the balance. We submitted ours straight away. The information has only been needed since earlier this year.
-
It cannot be made a requirement for an airline to demand this information BEFORE a flight from the UK to Greece. This is clearly laid out in the EU's information service summary of the Directive:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/349&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
The key words here are:
"Such personal data are typically taken from the machine-readable part of passengers’ passports and forwarded to the authorities after the completion of check-in."
Note the "after".
It's important in this age of identity theft that we don't needlessly spray information such as passport numbers across possibly compromised internet links, and I would urge anybody feeling that they want to be bullied into doing this to do it by telephone. This is basically a lazy catch-all for airlines in case people are flying to (say) the USA, where there are additional requirements. If you are an EU citizen you have a right to travel with adequate documentation at the border.
Looking at our Thomson's booking confirmation, this request is at the very bottom, after in-flight meals, seat reservations, and other trivia. If it's a show-stopper, why isn't it in the initial booking phase?
The answer to that is that it's easier for them to request it, even if it's not necessary. I doubt if this information is actually used for European flights until after check-in. After all, I can book with whatever details I like. Only at the desk is this information validated. Do you really think that Thomson's and EasyJet are transmitting this stuff to Kerkira airport the second you submit it?
-
Had an email from Thomson yesterday where they highlight that this has to be done. Was not aware of this as I did not read this thread!!
-
The airlines appear to be going over the top on this. So - for peace of mind - I suggest going along with it.
Earlier this year the Thomson's API web page would not accept the booking reference, despite several attempts. The same thing happened yesterday. I then phoned. 28 minutes of awful music-on-hold later and I eventually got through to a bored young woman who simply repeated parrot fashion that it was a requirement. Why, I then asked, was it the case that:
* This information was not requested on the flight/holiday booking form?
* The requirement was a tiny paragraph at the bottom of the acknowledgement email?
* The web form was at best unreliable, and mostly unusable?
* I appeared to be charged 10p per minute for listening to second-rate pop music?
She did not have an answer to any of these questions. I then laboriously read out the details, which she eventually seemed to get right.
This situation is ridiculous, and I intend to raise it with Thomsons, and also with Baroness Ludford. If this is information is vital it should be made easy for people to supply it.
-
we registered our details prior to holiday in May.....whilst at check-in at Birmingham Airport, we mentioned it to the girl on the desk......she said it makes no difference whatsoever to check in whether passports are registered or not.........that may have changed by now i guess but.........
we still do it..just to be on the safe side even if it appears to be irrelevant....
Sarah H
-
sharris - You seem to be quite right. They are probably doing nothing with this information, and causing people unnecessary worry.
I will do my best!
-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Foreigntravel/AirTravel/DG_176737
British MisGovernment MisInformation service info !
-
Yes - that's full of "mays" etc and really doesn't make it at all clear!
-
It does have a lot of reading though!
-
The API website (government) says that the travel companies release the details just prior to flight to the COUNTRY you are going to- I take it that means the Greek Borders Agency or whatever they have over there. Shame it was not announced more loudly given the threat of flight refusal, and what happens if you do not have any computers to register the details?? So next year I will have to go through the stupid charade three times ::)
-
Note.... We never get asked to leave a passport at reception on arrival. Does the API get passed all down the line. For example immigration departments?
-
You can find the text of the email that I have sent to Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP here:
http://www.melissi.co.uk/ludford/ludford.rtf
I hope you will all agree with this. If not, raise any other points and I will pass them on. What concerns me is not that we have to give the details, but that the process may be frightening for some people.
-
Well reasoned letter Jim and lucidly put. You have hit upon one very good point...so what is the point of the passport scanners at the airports- surely this info can be sent down the line. I for one am uncomfortable with any government organisation holding details given their cavalier attitude to security and ahem, losing data.
-
Thanks! It's not the government that's getting this information - it's the airline. Given Thomson's inability to make a working web-form I don't have much confidence in their security!
-
Thanks! It's not the government that's getting this information - it's the airline. Given Thomson's inability to make a working web-form I don't have much confidence in their security!
Sorry to quibble mate, but read here, you will see that the info goes to E-Borders...
This page describes our procedures for collecting information about passengers before they travel to or from the UK, and how these may affect you.
Every year, more than 200 million passengers cross the UK border. To help secure the border, we use an electronic system called e-Borders to carry out checks on travellers before they begin their journey. This allows our officers to identify those who should not be in the UK or who intend harm.
All you need to do is provide your carrier with information from your passport or travel document before you travel, and the carrier then provides e-Borders with passenger and crew details for the journey.
You can request access to personal information held by e-Borders, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1988. To request a copy of your records, you should make a 'subject access request' in writing. The Requests for personal data page of this website contains more information.
If you are in the transport industry, you can find detailed information about your responsibilities under e-Borders in the e-Borders requirements for carriers and ports section of this website. That section also contains information for the owners and operators of fishing boats, leisure craft (such as yachts) and light aircraft, although they do not yet need to provide information to e-Borders
-
The airlines are required to provide this information, they do not have a choice and I can't see a problem with doing so. It took me a couple of minutes only to fill in our details on the Thomsons website, those without a computer can ring up to provide the info. maybe it would be a good idea if the facility was there at the time of booking, hopefully this will be the way forward. To me it is not a problem and i have no objections to providing the info.
It also explains clearly on Thomsons website and other tour operator websites the need for them to provide the info.
-
swedebasher - Sure - it goes to the border agencies eventually, but it's the carrier who is holding the information.
lilly - The Thomson page for this has consistently refused to accept our identification. This is for two trips this year. As I said earlier, I had to hang on for about half an hour to do this by phone. I'm not exactly computer illiterate - I program the things!
The airlines are not required to, and almost certainly don't, transmit this information until check-in is complete. The carriers can't request this information until it's less than 28 days before travel. They must delete it 48 hours after arrival. That leaves the interesting problem of getting home, where there appears to be no such requirement.
This is a mess. The airlines are NOT required to do this under the EU Directive, except before departure, which means check-in time. When the friendly person at the desk sticks your passport under the scanner I am pretty sure that if you're on a no-fly list you'll soon be surrounded by Special Branch officers and AK47s or equivalent.
It's still entirely possible to turn up at an airport 2 hours before a plane takes off, buy a ticket, and fly. Where does API fit into this? We have a right, as EU citizens, to treat aeroplanes like taxis.
You fill in (if it will let you!) your passport number, DOB, and other useful information for identity thieves. This stuff is really not safe.
All I am asking for is an absolutely clear definition of our status.
-
Jimbo, it does say on Thomsons website/other tour operators that they are required to provide this info and goes on to explain why.
I can see your point though, hope you get a reply to your letter, maybe then things will become clearer.x
-
This is the kind of bullying that's going on - Olympic:
"Please note that we will not remind passengers who have failed to provide API no later than 2 clear days before departure of their flight. Initially this information will be collected by the airline at check-in at the departure airport although this may cause additional delay and might require additional security screening; but it may also result in passengers being charged for the additional responsibility involved in collection of the information at the airport, or ultimately passengers may be denied boarding."
It's conspicuous rubbish to say that it takes more time. Put passport on scanner - press button - wait for big flashing red lights.
All I'm asking for is complete clarity as to what our rights and obligations are, and a less intimidating approach. I think lots of people are being scared by this stuff.
-
Im with Jim on this...two entities holding info and neither seem to have total security.
-
Does seem slightly gobbledy Gook and like someone referred too earlier, late bookings or even standy by passengers? ???
-
~only just noticed this now, booked on line with Thomson didn't have any email to say to complete never really had final invoice but did receive phone call from thomson asking if everthing ok and did we want to book seats together etc, they didn't at this point mention this.
therefore never completed and didn't have any problems everything just as when we have travelled to greece or any other other country previously.
I would imagine if compulsary that it would have to be better advertised and future bookings unable to go ahead with out completing the form at tiem of booking
-
skiingemu - Totally agree, and thanks. I'm trying to get this clarified on everybody's behalf.
-
Just a update from another ski site I visit,
seems people are starting to pay for there January hols on line and have had to complete API as this is compulsory from next year
Janet