VS E-Mail re OLCI and ESTA.

Received an e-mail from VS this afternoon entitled 'Important information for your flight next week'. The message extols the virtues of OLCI (thanks, will do) Bag Drop (thanks, will do) the provison of ESTA info (thanks, have done) and - allegedly - provides a link to an 'online visa waiver form which replaces the onboard forms and is available for you to complete now.

The link actually takes me to the VWP and ESTA page on the VS website and provides really good advice on these subjects, but no online VWP form. Is this VS' subtle way of telling me that the green VWP forms are no more? Any ideas guys [?]

Incidentally, VS have my booking reference which links my flight date, number and time but I am still addressed as 'Dear customer'. Too much to expect a 'Dear Mr Treelo' [:(]









Edit to thread title by mod..... Nick

[Nottingham Nick]

We still used the used the green waiver forms on Thursday - no reference was ever made to our ESTA approvals. [?]

Nick

Hi,

Visited these pages many times over the last couple of years and, like many before me, thought it was time to contribute.

I have just completed a LHR-LAX-LHR trip and it was the same for me -green forms on board and no mention of the ESTA approval i completed before travel.

Correct even if you have completed ESTA you will still need to complete a green visa waiver form.

Some of the forms have a printing error on them and boxes 12 and 13 ask where your visa was issued and date issued, if you have one of these newer forms then you just need to leave the boxes blank.

If you have an older Green form then you can fill it in as normal.

Guess thats technology for you!

Don't forget to complete the Advanced Passenger Information fields for each of your party on your booking.

When I checked in for my flight the other day, I heard people being asked if they'd completed their ESTA application.

I had one of these on my recent trip - I was thoroughly confused - as were the cabin crew who hadn't seen that box before when I asked... As you suggest I left it blank and all was fine.

quote:Originally posted by declansmith


Some of the forms have a printing error on them and boxes 12 and 13 ask where your visa was issued and date issued, if you have one of these newer forms then you just need to leave the boxes blank.

I was n't asked about ESTA when we traveled on the 25th March by Virgin or when we got to Boston. I'm heading to SF on Saturday, so I'll report back after I get there.

Mark

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
When I checked in for my flight the other day, I heard people being asked if they'd completed their ESTA application.

I've been asked on all recent trips too.

the green visa forms were supposed to be being used for the next 6 months (from Jan 12th) so technically they should be gone soon enough, hopefully.
Also, the virgin check-in system is being updateded to accomodate for the esta's and is (apparently) being trialed in LHR, when it's all up and running it will automatically tell check-in staff wether an esta has been applied for, approved or denied, if not esta is required of the pax needs to apply for one, maybe when that's all sorted they will be gotton rid of.

I have been told that check-in staff are supposed to be asking if an ESTA has been filed.

In relation to the onboard forms, yes there is a printing error, but we are advising pax to leave this box blank.
When the new system came in, as crew we had the same info as passengers so very confusing.

A additional section has been added into the PA that is made in relation to imigration, to ensure that all passengers are aware that the green WVP form is completed prior to leaving the aircraft.

I do know that we are having increased issues, with stock level of forms as alot of people are not picking them up at checkin/bag drop as they think they dont need them because of ESTA. No dates have been issued to crew and therefore forms will need to be completed and herd otherwise. maybe that is what the email is about ????

A

we hand out green forms to all pax at MAN to an array of 'what was the point?!' 'do we still?! harharhar' 'it's ridiculous' etc as if it's somehow our fault; nehoo nevermind!

I get exactly the same response from my clients when they get back from the states at the moment. I have taken to warning them they will have to repeat the excercise!

I heard today it could be up to another year before we get rid of the visa forms!