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 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.
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)
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:
- US Customs recommends that ESTA applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.
- Any accompanied or unaccompanied children, regardless of age, are required to obtain an independent ESTA approval.
- Once granted, the ESTA is valid for two years or expiry date of passport (if less than two years) and can be applied for any time.
- All customers will still be required to complete arrivals information and present to US Customs on arrival into the US.
- Further information can be found on the Qantas website regarding travelling to the USOpens in a new tab or window and the Non Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel Final Ruling.Opens in a new tab or window
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.
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Your Customer's 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 |
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 | 3SSRDCOCQFHKG1/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.