Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - London Travel Documents

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"Americans now have to do the due diligence they've never worried about before."

Yep. Back in the old days, people used travel agents to book most things and relied on them to provide the latest info on document requirements. When travelers decided they could DIY their trips, they lost that handy resource.

I still work with a travel agent for business travel. For a small fee, it's nice to know I have someone who can use their many contacts to fix a problem while I carry on with my trip.

Jean i enjoy booking my own trips and leaning on Fodor for help.

As far as additional documentation I agree countries should know who’s arriving and for how long. I now have an understanding of what I need to do and grateful for everyone’s guidance.

TY

The price of the ETA is due to increase from 10GBP to 16GBP on 2 April.

I also found applying online via a laptop easier/quicker than attempting to do so on a phone app. However, in doing so, you need to carefully bypass many suggestions in large bold font and 'green buttoned' prompts to download the app. Keep scrolling until you find a very small link which simply says 'apply online', under a heading in bold 'If you cannot use the app'. Even then, after you have clicked on the link, you will be faced with more strong suggestions to apply using the app. Keep scrolling until you reach a link 'I cannot apply on the UK ETA app'. This link will lead you to another page recommending the app! Click on link at bottom of page "Continue application online'. Phew! You are then free to carry on with the application. It should be accepted in seconds!

Of coure the app may work perfectly for you!

:) I noticed that too. It was so easy on the website / laptop, but they seem to really REALLY want us to use the app. I don't have the biggest phone in the world and much prefer using my laptop for this sort of thing. Using the website was a piece of cake -- once I got to the actual application pages.

I eventually defaulted to my phone because the website (when using my laptop) wasn't cooperating. And, normally I will do anything I can to avoid using the phone for something like this.

The phone app had some glitches and didn't seem intuitive at all.

But, I had my approval within 30 seconds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by janisj (Post 17641810)

wildiowa -- it does sound like you are angry with the airline. They are not shirking their duty or being 'lazy'. Honest - it is not an airline's (any airline) responsibility to inform travelers what sorts of documentation might be needed. It is the traveler's responsibility and most people in other countries are well aware of that. Americans now have to do the due diligence they've never worried about before. Visa / other documentation can change from one day to the next, people can have different requirements - sometimes even in the same family.

Most airlines do post something like "It's your responsibility to carry proof of permission to enter the country and all transit countries." If one missies or ignores that advisory it is on them.

Look -- the airlines do lots of things 'wrong' IMO, but this isn't one of them.

When I book flights on Lufthansa for me and my husband, a reminder about the need for an ESTA always pops up on my husband's reservation. I don't need one because I have a US passport. (Actually I have three passports.)