When did QF require APIS for ticketing?

[_TheTraveller_]

I don't complain much on here but my experience on phone was irritating for me. I would like some of your thoughts on this new supposed procedure.

I attempted to make a booking with a voucher a couple days for the Alaska promotion assuming everything was completed when I entered my credit card details. Come today I checked my card statement and there was no charge. No email requesting any information either.

I called up Qantas a couple minutes ago and they said I needed APIS information entered before ticketing can happen. When has this been the case? If you're ready to accept my card information then you should be ready to ticket. Allowing me to enter my card details and click 'Pay with card' is disingenuous and deceptive.

Even now as I try and test this to see whether it's true or not, it allows me to pay without entering my APIS for flights to the US. No passport number no DOB required.

I would also like to add that the consultant handled poorly when I asked 'since when was this required?' and replied with 'do you want this ticketed or not? If you don't ticket this now, we'll have to cancel it.' Is this standard procedure?

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[RooFlyer]

I've usually had the opportunity to add APIS after ticketing, under 'Manage my booking'. That's not to say that its not some recent 'security enhancement'.

May be some technicality as it is a booking to the USA?

 

[Mattg]

This doesn't seem all that unreasonable to me. I believe it only applies to USA bookings, in any case.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

This doesn't seem all that unreasonable to me. I believe it only applies to USA bookings, in any case.

I don't have a problem with Qantas implementing it but the issue lies with how it's been implemented and the resulting problems from it.

Assuming your average Joe makes a booking and doesn't enter their DoB because it's not a mandatory field. You proceed to payment and enter your details. A PNR is generated but it isn't ticketed. No emails requesting information from you and your PNR says 'confirmed'. Come to the day of travel, a shocking surprise that your ticket wasn't actually ticketed.

Is it the customer's role to actively check whether they've been charged and whether ticketing has been done correctly? If my PNR said 'confirmed', why would there be anything in doubt?

 

[amaroo]

FWIW - I've requested and had 8 award seats released in the past 2 weeks for a trip to USA. I didn't encounter the OP's issue. Seats were released, fees paid and ticketed within an hour... I entered APIS details in the last couple of days via the standard method of MMB.

 

[blackcat20]

It’s always required for US bookings, and you do eventually get an email asking for you to complete the APIS section for it to be ticketed.

 

[Mattg]

I don't have a problem with Qantas implementing it but the issue lies with how it's been implemented and the resulting problems from it.

Assuming your average Joe makes a booking and doesn't enter their DoB because it's not a mandatory field. You proceed to payment and enter your details. A PNR is generated but it isn't ticketed. No emails requesting information from you and your PNR says 'confirmed'. Come to the day of travel, a shocking surprise that your ticket wasn't actually ticketed.

Is it the customer's role to actively check whether they've been charged and whether ticketing has been done correctly? If my PNR said 'confirmed', why would there be anything in doubt?

FWIW, I recently made a booking to the USA with Qantas and was bombarded by emails requesting APIS information, with a warning that the ticket would be cancelled if I didn't provide the info. So I don't think the scenario you've described is likely.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Yes for US bookings. Last time I got chased up with phone calls in the QF SIN lounge for an upcoming SYD-HNL for which I hadn't done my APIS . Honestly, trying to take a phone call in the SIN lounge with screaming children running riot is just not pleasant. But I digress.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

FWIW, I recently made a booking to the USA with Qantas and was bombarded by emails requesting APIS information, with a warning that the ticket would be cancelled if I didn't provide the info. So I don't think the scenario you've described is likely.

If that's the case then I must be the exception. By using the voucher, I broke the intended emails I was suppose to receive. Booked on the 30/4 and no phone call or email by 2/5 6pm. How long does it take QF to send these emails out?

This goes back to the intended customer experience. I don't understand why can't passengers to the USA be notified during the booking process that they must enter their DOB for ticketing. Instead it becomes a multi-step process that requires systems not to fail to guarantee a seamless experience.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

If that's the case then I must be the exception. By using the voucher, I broke the intended emails I was suppose to receive. Booked on the 30/4 and no phone call or email by 2/5 6pm. How long does it take QF to send these emails out?

This goes back to the intended customer experience. I don't understand why can't passengers to the USA be notified during the booking process that they must enter their DOB for ticketing. Instead it becomes a multi-step process that requires systems not to fail to guarantee a seamless experience.

I booked with a voucher. Actually now I think about it I kinda realised why the flight hadn't been ticketed so I didn't enter APIS to delay the residual charge going to my credit card. I got the phone call from QF probably 6 weeks after I made the booking.

 

[Austman]

Two separate tickets booked tonight. Minutes from each other. Identical flights. Both Australian citizens. Neither used vouchers - both were credit card bookings. One e-ticket was issued immediately. The other needs the APIS. That was done but still no e-ticket.

Go figure.

 

[Pushka]

i just checked our flights. I’d entered one lot of passport info for one flight but for the return flight, separately ticketed, Honolulu to Melbourne, it doesn’t accept Expiry date. Surely it doesn’t want me to reverse the month and date as it originates in USA?

 

[Pushka]

Have entered it twice now and no go. But it has been ticketed according to Finnair. I’ll just leave it then. I’m already in the USA anyway by then anyway.

 

[Lynda2475]

I have an upcoming US trop which has been ticketed without providing APIS, however i was logged into my Qff account which has my dob on fiile anyway - wonder if that isbbthe difference? At the time of boking i didnt have my new passport. I only just got around to doing my esta application tonight, as soon as that is approved i will go in and add my APIS.

Did notice manage my booking is alsonrequesting apis for my hong kong trip, so dont think its just the usa.

 

[mrsterryn]

My Honolulu trip next month has a pretty yellow banner on my Qantas page reminding me to enter APIS .

 

[amaroo]

It’s always required for US bookings, and you do eventually get an email asking for you to complete the APIS section for it to be ticketed.

Hmmm, maybe not "for it to be ticketed" ... see post #5

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Happens for all my NZ trips, (Air)NZ, VA when they used to be tied in with (Air)NZ, and also QF, and their tie in with EK, (always booked via the QF website to get QF flight number).
Supposedly it helps QF so that when you actually do check in, your passport details is already there.
Think its mainly for the US and their ESTA, but also "supposedly" its needed for our overseas visits to other countries as well.
Have always had it (as mentioned above) in QF's MMB.
Guess as your (OP)'s trip to to the US, APIS info is essential, apart from ESTA.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I have an upcoming US trop which has been ticketed without providing APIS, however i was logged into my Qff account which has my dob on fiile anyway - wonder if that isbbthe difference? At the time of boking i didnt have my new passport. I only just got around to doing my esta application tonight, as soon as that is approved i will go in and add my APIS.

Did notice manage my booking is alsonrequesting apis for my hong kong trip, so dont think its just the usa.

Date of birth only is not enough.
You need to enter your Aust passport details too, passport number, passport expiry date, etc.

 

[blackcat20]

Hmmm, maybe not "for it to be ticketed" ... see post #5

I've never had a booking ticket without it.

 

[madrooster]

Hmmm, maybe not "for it to be ticketed" ... see post #5

SFPD (secure flight passenger data not the San Francisco Police Department ) is required to issue tickets where there is carriage to/from/within the US or a US territory. SFPD is simply gender and date of birth only.

API (advanced passenger information) is only required when checking in where there is carriage to/from the following countries:

Australia
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
China
Cuba
France
India
Jamaica
Japan
Maldives
Mexico
Panama
South Korea
Russia
Spain
Taiwan
US
UK
... and a number of others.

API consists of full passport details - that is surname, given names, date of birth, gender, expiry date, issuing country, country of residence (some countries) and destination address (US only).

Filling in the API also meets the SFPD requirements as API is submitted in the same way that SFPD is (using SSR DOCS).

Lots of countries don't actually require advanced passenger information. Airlines generally have the data on file, but don't actually submit it to anyone for countries that don't require it.

As an example, Australia requires API for the smartgates both outbound and inbound to work. As a general rule of thumb, every country that operates self service gates/kiosks for immigration purposes, requires API.

Many countries use the data to screen passengers after check in but before boarding and will issue a message back to the airline to deny boarding if there's a passenger they do not like.