Travel to the USA Requirements

For travel to, from or within the USA, you must provide your customer’s information as required by the US authorities under the Secure Flight and Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) programmes.
Qantas inhibits ticket issuance until the required information has been added. This applies to both initial ticket issuance and any subsequent reissues.

Mandatory information can be added to your customer's booking through Manage Booking or via your Technology Partner connected to the Qantas Distribution Platform and other technology systems. For bookings made within 72 hours of departure, this information must be added to the PNR immediately.

General Information

Secure Flight Information

  • Secure flight information enables pre-screening of passengers travelling on flights to, from, within or over the USA.
  • The following information must be added to your customer’s booking before the ticket can be issued:
    • Passenger full name exactly as it appears on the passenger's travel document
    • Date of birth
    • Gender
    • Redress Number^ (if available)

^ A redress number is a unique number that helps the TSA eliminate watch list misidentification. If a passenger has experienced screening difficulties or believes they have been mistakenly matched to a name on the watch list, they may apply to DHSOpens in a new tab or window for a redress number.

Back to top

Advance Passenger Information (APIS) Requirements

The following Advance Passenger Information is required by The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

  • Passport number
  • Passport expiry date
  • Country of passport issue
  • Nationality
  • Destination address in the USA
  • Country of residence for flights arriving into the US
  • Alien Registration Number (where applicable)

Back to top

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)

ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

It is mandatory for all eligible nationalsOpens in a new tab or window travelling to the USA under the VWP to obtain an Electronic System for Travel AuthorisationOpens in a new tab or window (ESTA) at the US Customs and Border Protection website prior to departure.

To be eligible, your customer must hold a machine readable e-passport issued by one of the participating countries.

Customers not eligible under the VWP need to apply for a visa.

Qantas will not permit your customer to board a flight to the USA unless US Customs and Border Protection clearance has been received.

Further Information:

Back to top

Refusal of Visa and Refunds

ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA is not a visa. An ESTA ‘Travel Not Authorised’ response is not considered a ‘Visa Refusal’ for refund purposes. Customers who are not eligible for the VWP are advised to apply for a visa with the Department of State.

A full refund can only be requested through BSPlink for your customers who have been denied an entry visa.

Back to top

Your Customer's Information

Formats for Adding Secure Flight Information

Please refer to your Technology Partner for any additional information regarding adding Secure Flight Information via the Qantas Distribution Platform.  

Alternatively, please use the example entry formats below to add Secure Flight Information.

The below SSR entry code is used to enter Secure Flight Information:

DOCS Passenger passport/travel document information

Formats:

 GDS  Description  Entry
 Amadeus  Secure Flight  SR DOCS QF HK1-----30JUN73-M--BAKER-JOHN-MICHAEL/P1
 Travelport - Galileo  Secure Flight  SI.P1S1/DOCS*////30JUN73/M//BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL 
 Sabre  Secure Flight  3DOCS/DB/30JUN73/M/BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL-1.1
 Travelport - Worldspan Secure Flight 3SSRDOCSQFHK1/////30JUN73/M/BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL-1.1

Formats for Adding Advanced Passenger Information

Please refer to your Technology Partner for any additional information regarding adding Advanced Passenger Information via the Qantas Distribution Platform.  

Alternatively, please use the example entry formats below to add Advanced Passenger Information.

The below SSR entry codes are used to enter Secure Flight Information, APIS and redress numbers:
DOCS     Passenger passport/travel document information
DOCA     Passenger residence and/or destination address
DOCO     Passenger Visa and other pertinent document information

Formats:

 GDS  Description  Entry
Amadeus  Secure Flight plus APIS Document Information SR DOCS QF HK1-P-AU-M2345678-AU-30JUN73-M-14APR20-BAKER-JOHN-MICHAEL/P1
Amadeus  APIS USA Address Information SR DOCA QF HK1-D-USA-301 PARK AVENUE-NEW YORK-NY-10022/P1/S3
Amadeus  Redress Number SR DOCO QF HK1--R-123456789/P1
     
Travelport - Galileo

Secure Flight plus APIS Document Information
SI.P1S1/DOCS*P/AU/M2345678/AU/30JUN73/M/14APR20/BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL
Travelport - Galileo

 APIS USA Address Information
SI.P1S1/DOCA*D/USA/301 PARK AVENUE/NEW YORK/NY/10022
Travelport - Galileo

 Redress Number
SI.P1S1/DOCO*/R/123456789///USA
     
 Sabre  Secure Flight plus APIS Document Information
3DOCS/P/AU/M2345678/AU/30JUN73/M/14APR20/BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL-1.1
 Sabre  APIS USA Address Information
3DOCA QF HK1-D-USA-301 PARK AVENUE-NEW YORK-10022-1.1
 Sabre  Redress Number
3DOCO/R/123456789-1.1
     
Travelport - Worldspan Secure Flight plus APIS Document Information 3SSRDOCSQFHK1/P/AU/M2345678/AU/30JUN73/BAKER/JOHN/MICHAEL-1.1
Travelport - Worldspan APIS USA Address Information 3SSRDOCAQFHK1/D/USA/301 PARK AVENUE/NEW YORK/NY/10022-1.1
Travelport -Worldspan Redress Number 3SSRDOCOQFHK1/V/123456789-1.1

Full Entry Breakdown to Assist in Reading the Example Entries:

 P   Passport
 D   Destination
 AU   Country of Issue
 M2345678   Travel Document Number
 14APR20   Travel Document Expiry
 AU   Passenger Nationality
 30JUN73   Date of Birth
 M   Gender
 Baker   Surname
 John   First name
 Michael   Second Given Name
123456789   Redress Number^

^ A redress number is a unique number that helps the TSA eliminate watch list misidentification. If a passenger has experienced screening difficulties or believes they have been mistakenly matched to a name on the watch list, they may apply to DHSOpens in a new tab or window for a redress number.

Back to top