passport number required to book flight, or just online check in?

duchy

Kernow666 wrote: »

depends on the airline , sometimes i have been asked on booking sometimes not

Really ?
Which airline ?
I've come across airlines where you *can* add API data at time of booking but never that you *have* to

Blue264

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Who are you flying with to the USA? I fly to the states at least 4 times a year, at one point it was every fortnight, and never have had to provide API at the time of booking with any of the airlines or booking agents I've used.

Some may ask for it, if you happen to have it to hand, but never been conditional.

It's never happened to me, but it has happened to my clients, and it can be quite random.

Qantas are just one airline who insist on this before they will issue tickets to the U.S.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travel-to-the-usa/global/en

DTDfanBoy

Blue264 wrote: »

It's never happened to me, but it has happened to my clients, and it can be quite random.

Qantas are just one airline who insist on this before they will issue tickets to the U.S.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travel-to-the-usa/global/en

Perhaps you should read you own link, pretty much all airlines will not ticket without full name, DOB and gender, but I don't know of any that insist on passport information.

FWIW I've booked Qantas numerous times without providing PP information

Qantas wrote: »

What happens if I fail to provide this information?
If you have not provided your full name, date of birth and gender, your tickets will not be issued. The passport details and destination address for each passenger is also required at the time of booking on qantas.com. If you have not provided all of this information, you may be disrupted during check in and you may not be able to board your flight.

Blue264

I can't fathom why you're trying to score points when all I'm trying to do is help. When you book flights as your full time occupation (as I do), you become accustomed to tickets not being issued because the passport information is missing from the booking. It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen.

I fail to see which part of this you don't understand, but please fee free to take the matter up with the airline.

Step 2: Provide your Advance Passenger Information and Secure Flight Passenger Data through Manage Your Booking before we can issue your tickets. This information is mandatory for travel to the US.

jpsartre

I don't know whether Qantas will hold off on issuing tickets until API has been provided but it certainly looks as if it's possible to book a flight with them without providing this info which is what the OP is asking about. Like others in this thread I have never come across an airline that required a passport number to book a ticket.

DTDfanBoy

Blue264 wrote: »

I can't fathom why you're trying to score points when all I'm trying to do is help. When you book flights as your full time occupation (as I do), you become accustomed to tickets not being issued because the passport information is missing from the booking. It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen.

I fail to see which part of this you don't understand, but please fee free to take the matter up with the airline.

Why would I need to take the matter up with the airline, my current Qantas bookings have my full name, DOB and Gender listed in the API fields, all other fields are blank, Passport Number, Nationality, Expiry date, Country of Issue, Country of Residence.

My tickets have been issued with no problems, as they always are, including one for QF11.

Every API system in the world only requires a PP number to be submitted at check in, even the United States secure flight system only requires full name DOB and Gender 72 hrs prior to departure.

Heliflyguy

People arguing that as its never happened to them then it cant be happening to someone who as part of their work issues tickets, a lot of tickets!

For all I know it might be down to restrictions imposed by an airline on the GDS, IATA number or company pseudo code that stops ticket issue until added.

I only mentioned it in my first post as if the OP booked through an agent then they may get a similar result, it appears that booking direct with the airline or online is not an issue and unfortunately Blue264 is taking a bit unwarranted bashing in support my post.

I was hoping to post the system error that occurs but as has been said its rare and Im not going to start removing PP info from bookings just to satisfy those who seem up for an argument.

InsideInsurance

Heliflyguy wrote: »

People arguing that as its never happened to them then it cant be happening to someone who as part of their work issues tickets, a lot of tickets!

Not saying it cannot happen but saying that I've never heard of it ever happening and therefore I am interested to know who do do it especially as one of the destinations mentioned is one that I fly to frequently using a variety of airlines and many different booking mechanisms.

Often travel is booked last minute and if ABC Airlines is the one that always asks for passport at booking then I'd know to avoid them in the future as I have multiple passports and dont always have them with me when booking/ havent given thought to which one is where in terms of getting visas, having non-friendly stamps etc etc

jpsartre

Heliflyguy wrote: »

People arguing that as its never happened to them then it cant be happening to someone who as part of their work issues tickets, a lot of tickets!

I can't speak for everyone but I wasn't arguing that. That said, if anyone can give an example of an airline where you can't book a flight without providing passport info I'd be curious to see it.

Voyager2002

KittenChops wrote: »

It's been a few months since I booked a flight so I can't remember at which stage I will need to enter my passport number; is it required when you book, or not untilyou check in online?

(Context: I want to book a flight today / tomorrow but between booking and flying,I will need to renew my passport.)

If you are ready to book, I suggest that you do so. You will find out whether or not you are requested for passport details at this stage: if you are, you could enter a random string of digits or the number of your old passport.

If you wait until you have renewed your passport the air fare will have changed, and while it might go down it might also increase.