API Security Regs for Spain (Merged)
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API Required for Flights to Spain
I've just received a message from BA stating that, as of June 13th 2007, Advance Passenger Information will be required to be submitted when flying to Spain. What sort of information would they be asking for that isn't already available from Passport, credit cards etc?
Anybody out there know any more?
Hombre
This is the info received from BA
FROM 13 JUNE 2007 ADVANCED PASSENGER INFORMATION (API) REQUIRED FOR TRAVELLERS TO SPAIN
To ensure your journey with British Airways is as streamlined as possible, I am writing to advise you about new Spanish Government regulations that require all passengers flying to Spain to submit Advance Passenger Information (API) before arrival.
From 13th June, when you fly to Spain with BA please don't forget to submit your API information. When travelling with your Passport the easiest way to give your API details is to enter them at ba.com, either when you book, or at a later stage through Manage My Booking, at which point you will be able to save this to your Executive Club profile to prevent you having to re-enter this information when you next travel.
Please note that if your booking is made directly with Iberia, our partner airline, you should follow their guidelines for submitting your API information prior to departure.
If you haven't provided this information before entering Spain it could cause significant delays at immigration, so please check that the relevant information for you and anyone travelling with you has been completed.
S37
Anybody out there know any more?
Hombre
This is the info received from BA
FROM 13 JUNE 2007 ADVANCED PASSENGER INFORMATION (API) REQUIRED FOR TRAVELLERS TO SPAIN
To ensure your journey with British Airways is as streamlined as possible, I am writing to advise you about new Spanish Government regulations that require all passengers flying to Spain to submit Advance Passenger Information (API) before arrival.
From 13th June, when you fly to Spain with BA please don't forget to submit your API information. When travelling with your Passport the easiest way to give your API details is to enter them at ba.com, either when you book, or at a later stage through Manage My Booking, at which point you will be able to save this to your Executive Club profile to prevent you having to re-enter this information when you next travel.
Please note that if your booking is made directly with Iberia, our partner airline, you should follow their guidelines for submitting your API information prior to departure.
If you haven't provided this information before entering Spain it could cause significant delays at immigration, so please check that the relevant information for you and anyone travelling with you has been completed.
S37
Last edited by Shack37; 15th May 2007 at 15:07.
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This is news to me. I live in Spain and commute to UK every month with same airline albeit not BA.
As I am on their database I would have thought if this was a new Regulation they would have told me too.
As I am on their database I would have thought if this was a new Regulation they would have told me too.
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Anyone else had this ?
I'm a regular traveller to Spain with BA but have heard nothing of this (and have tickets booked byond this date).
According to BA.com Spain is on the list of countries requiring API with the following information needed
Spain
Laws already in force in Spain require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to Spain, prior to travel.
Passport information, including :
According to BA.com Spain is on the list of countries requiring API with the following information needed
Spain
Laws already in force in Spain require British Airways to collect the following information from all passengers travelling to Spain, prior to travel.
Passport information, including :
- passport number
- given names (as they appear on the passport)
- last name
- gender
- date of birth
- nationality
Last edited by k3lvc; 16th May 2007 at 07:58. Reason: spelling
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I received the email from ba yesterday morning so that's about a months notice. My edit is a direct cut and paste from the ba email which states the new reg comes into force on 13th June 2007.
I too live semi permanently in Spain but continue to work out of UK. I leave again this weekend and won't return until after the API rule comes in.
I'll see what info our travel department has on this.
S37
I too live semi permanently in Spain but continue to work out of UK. I leave again this weekend and won't return until after the API rule comes in.
I'll see what info our travel department has on this.
S37
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k3lvc
From the info you've posted it looks to me that, although this regulation OFFICIALLY becomes active on June 13, the process has been routinely carried out for some time.
S37
From the info you've posted it looks to me that, although this regulation OFFICIALLY becomes active on June 13, the process has been routinely carried out for some time.
S37
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According to what is specified in the Article 66 of Title III of the "Organic Law 4/2000, of 11 January, on rights and freedoms of the foreigners in Spain and their social integration"
1. Whenever Spanish authorities determine, with respect to the routes coming from outside the Schengen Space, where the intensity of the migratory flows makes it necessary, in order to fight illegal immigration and to guarantee public security, every company, transportation enterprise or freight carrier will be obliged, at the end time of the shipment and before the departure of the means of transport, to send to the Spanish authorities in charge of the entrance control the information related to the passengers transferred, either by air, sea or land, and irrespective of whether the transportation occurs either in transit or as a final destination to the Spanish territory
The information will include the name and surnames of each passenger, about his or her date of birth, nationality, number of passport or the travel document that accredits his/her identity.
1. Whenever Spanish authorities determine, with respect to the routes coming from outside the Schengen Space, where the intensity of the migratory flows makes it necessary, in order to fight illegal immigration and to guarantee public security, every company, transportation enterprise or freight carrier will be obliged, at the end time of the shipment and before the departure of the means of transport, to send to the Spanish authorities in charge of the entrance control the information related to the passengers transferred, either by air, sea or land, and irrespective of whether the transportation occurs either in transit or as a final destination to the Spanish territory
The information will include the name and surnames of each passenger, about his or her date of birth, nationality, number of passport or the travel document that accredits his/her identity.
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API Security Regs for Spain (Merged)
From another site just read
Spain is to bring in new security rules from 13 June 2007, the harshest yet imposed by a European government on intra-EU services.
From that date onwards passengers on all flights to and from Spain will have to supply advance passenger information (API) to the Spanish authorities. British Airways, probably the first airline to highlight this requirement, says that in order to minimise unnecessary delays at the airport, it is essential that, where possible, all customers provide the API prior totravelling: This information is compulsory.
The Spanish authorities require the full given names, surname, nationality, date of birth and travel document details, namely a passport number.
For BA passengers who are reasonably computer literate, this will not prove too much of a problem, the facility being available at ba.com online and normally carried out at the same time as checking in and making a seat selection. For those booking via a travel agent this should be part of the service provided.
At some airports, an option of providing API via a self-service kiosk may be available. However this method is not guaranteed at all airports and staff at check-in desks will also be able to collect API data.
What this in fact does in many ways is harmonise the system with that operated to the United States. It is expected that other European countries will follow suit.
Spain is to bring in new security rules from 13 June 2007, the harshest yet imposed by a European government on intra-EU services.
From that date onwards passengers on all flights to and from Spain will have to supply advance passenger information (API) to the Spanish authorities. British Airways, probably the first airline to highlight this requirement, says that in order to minimise unnecessary delays at the airport, it is essential that, where possible, all customers provide the API prior totravelling: This information is compulsory.
The Spanish authorities require the full given names, surname, nationality, date of birth and travel document details, namely a passport number.
For BA passengers who are reasonably computer literate, this will not prove too much of a problem, the facility being available at ba.com online and normally carried out at the same time as checking in and making a seat selection. For those booking via a travel agent this should be part of the service provided.
At some airports, an option of providing API via a self-service kiosk may be available. However this method is not guaranteed at all airports and staff at check-in desks will also be able to collect API data.
What this in fact does in many ways is harmonise the system with that operated to the United States. It is expected that other European countries will follow suit.
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so what happened to free movement between states? presumably they will apply the same rules to those arriving by sea/rail/car? or will they just p-off the air traveller
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AFAIK, if you go from France to Spain by car or train, it's the same as from France to Belgium or Germany: no check at the border at all, unless that has changed very recently.
Somebody French going to Spain doesn't even NEED a passport, a "carte nationale d'identité" is sufficient.
Somebody French going to Spain doesn't even NEED a passport, a "carte nationale d'identité" is sufficient.
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Originally Posted by yeoman
I believe this is part of the reason UK operators have been relocated to the North side at PMI - Schengen countries are on the South side.
The answer to "why are they doing it" can be found in Icarus' contribution yesterday.
It applies only to non-Schengen arrivals. Schengen, as I am sure you know, is a European treaty allowing unhimderred moving accross participants borders. Most of the longer standing EU states, and also Norway, and recently Switzerland have signed up. Predicably, the UK (and Ireland) have not.
This puts arrivals from non-Schengen countries in the same boat as those from other, third world countries from which migration is a problem for Spain. Hence the gathering of this information.
The solution, for non-Schengen European states at least is to grow up, and sign up, which would make travel to and from the UK by land, sea or air a good deal less hassle. Dream on Andrew!!!
It applies only to non-Schengen arrivals. Schengen, as I am sure you know, is a European treaty allowing unhimderred moving accross participants borders. Most of the longer standing EU states, and also Norway, and recently Switzerland have signed up. Predicably, the UK (and Ireland) have not.
This puts arrivals from non-Schengen countries in the same boat as those from other, third world countries from which migration is a problem for Spain. Hence the gathering of this information.
The solution, for non-Schengen European states at least is to grow up, and sign up, which would make travel to and from the UK by land, sea or air a good deal less hassle. Dream on Andrew!!!
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Uk flights to and from Spain always have had to go trough passport control at Spain, itīs not new. You can show your National ID card if you are european and itīs valid.