Flight legal requirements

[GaryS]

Just completed ours on the Thomas Crook website. Its almost as if they don't want you to know about it, very strange. Anyway speaking of Thomas Crook, Me and Carolyn still have not been given the refund on the £90 voucher from our problems in 2008. We were promised the money for Carolyns mams birthday trip to Crete last September and they have not replied to our last letter dated 21st December 2009.......so much for their responding in 28 days eh?

[Sandy x]

I have just phoned Palmair as my dad and I are travelling with them from Bournemouth airport on 5 May - their first flight of the season to Corfu. I asked about API and the woman had clearly never heard of it and insisted they were not asking their clients for any information in advance as all passports are scanned at Bournemouth and they will get the information then. I thought passports were scanned at ALL British airports these days.....So I just hope she is right and we don't encounter any problems when we get to the airport.

[ger]

have just phoned thomas cook about our visit in june, and was told all the info and instructions are on our invoice, (better go and read it more thoroughly!) but the api should be done on line from 3weeks upto 7 days before departure
ger x

[Janis]

It makes you wonder, doesn't it Ger - what about the old folk that don't have a computer? These are the people that need holidays in the sun and struggle with paperwork in any case....

Janis x

[Sandy x]

I still don't understand why some airlines are requesting it and not others.

[harold]

After reading this thread i did mine yesterday for my flight with Thompson on May 14th,i did not know anything about it till i read it here.I dont see how its for security reasons though,how many terrorist would say in advance oh yes heres my passport details and booking number and by the way i am a terrorist.None that i dont know .It just seems another load of unnessersary rubbish to me.There was a program on radio 4 last week and they were interviewing people as to why they have stopped flying,most said it was all the hassle at airports these daysThis just seems like another one.

[Janis]

It certainly does, Harold!
Look forward to meeting you again (we arrive on 17th).  Pity Sally can't be there

Janis x

[GaryS]

Harold, it sure does make you wonder.

Arrive at airport, looked at suspiciously by security.
Check-in, passports checked, so many questions and API now.
Head to departures, someone asks for your boarding card.
Reach security, STRIP!!!
X-Ray. No Liquids unless tiny and in a clear bag
Metal detector - remember the loose change you forgot and now body searched as a result.
Why do they ask you to take belts off but metal watches seem fine?
Asked to proove that your ipod isn't a thermo nuclear device
At Duty free (sorry tax free, sorry more expensive than Tesco's) they ask for you boarding card again. Like I could get this far without one!!
Qustion - Why do they have suitcase shops in departures? Surely its too late?
Go to gate, show boarding card again and passport.
Up up up the steps to the plane and show that boarding card again.

Simples!

[Lindypops]

I understand all the security stuff etc, but why oh why do I always get pulled? Frisked,(usually by the biggest/ugliest), shoes off, and now the sniffer dog has to have a good old look about! I must look suspicious or something.

[helenw]

Thanks a lot for this info
I have just gone through our booking with Olympic and there was nothing about it ! I also went in to their web site and followed the instructions ( totally impossible) the link doesn't work.
I have spoken to them and the lady on the end of the phone tried via their site and ended up doing it manually for me so they are aware of the problem and have informed their technical team
I would have lost the plot in the airport if i had to part with my cash LOL
Thanks again H

[Janis]

It just shows how invaluable this forum is, as well as the input from all its members, Helenw!

Janis x

[JohnTheRef&Dot]

I spoke to my sister about API as she is off to Turkey in September
She booked at the co-op and they took all her information at the time of booking.

BIG STAR FOR THE CO-OP
SHAME ON YOU BIG PLAYERS (tc, thompsons, olympic)

[Janina C]

Hi everyone who's fed up with the constant checks.

API is not a security measure it is an immigration statistical collection by HM Gov.

Here is the address of the official website. (if you are remotely interested).
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingtotheuk/beforetravel/advanceinfopassengers/

They say that they monitor 150million people crossing the UK borders and can tell in advance whether you mean harm or you have the right to enter the country.

Just another Big Brother control being put into place.

[GaryS]

Its nothing more than a cheap way of propping up their crumbling boarder control system by getting us to identify ourselves. As for stopping terrorists, they can just come by sea or come as normal on a fake passport. All this system does is keep a tighter control on decent folk.

[martin-w]

Hi All!
Just picked up on this topic. I booked my flight with Thomson some time ago, and the first thing I noticed was a 'reminder' which was not very prominent on the 'confirmation of booking' and in small print on the printout. I tried to do the API details a.s.a.p but couldn't. On ringing Thomson I was told that I had to wait 48 hours, then go to a different site to input my details. I did as I was told, but after imputing the required details got no confirmation that the details had been accepted. Hence a further call to their 08---- number at further cost to me to be told by a very charming lady 'all was in order'.
I have since received a further email from Thomson. 'It is the passenger's duty to check that departure times have not changed since booking, as if these times are changed for any reason, Thomson will not reimburse the cost of a missed flight.'
Not long to go now, will check a week before I go. 'Semper non liiegitimum carborundem!'
(don't let the b******s grind you down).
Yammas,
Martin.