ESTA query

jimmymcnulty

Hi, just had to renew this. My gf lives in the states, i have an authiriaztion approved with a number. Do i just print that or the whole thing includind all my details

jimi_man

Hi. You don’t need anything. When your passport is swiped at checkin and at US Immigration, the ESTA will show up automatically. 

I keep a copy of the email on my phone but no-one has ever asked for it. 

jimmymcnulty

cheers, thi has changed right as I have been asked for it many times, but guess two years ago was a different system. i have twice been called out at theathrow with airline staff wanting to see my esta form

la531983

jimmymcnulty said:

cheers, thi has changed right as I have been asked for it many times, but guess two years ago was a different system. i have twice been called out at theathrow with airline staff wanting to see my esta form

You didnt need to print it out two years ago either.
Or five years ago
Or even 10 years ago.

So unsure why staff were asking for it, unless it was a particular airline requirement to have it printed out.

jimi_man

I suspect it depends on the airline. I use BA and they never have, but then their core business is the US so one would hope they know about it. 

400ixl

Some years like this year we got asked for them at bag drop, other years haven't needed them.

Due to the inconsistency I tend to have a printed copy and also a PDF version on the phone.

jimi_man

It’s one of those annoying things in life. It’s a 100% electronic procedure and doesn’t require saving or printing out - other than for one’s own purposes so you know when it runs out. However there will always be airline staff, maybe brand new, inexperienced, or having a bad day maybe, who may ask for paper proof. Whilst it isn’t necessary and any refusal of boarding because you haven’t shown it would lead to Denial of Boarding compensation, that doesn’t help you as the passenger get where you want to go. 

So effectively we’re carrying it just in case other people don’t know their jobs. Hence why I tend to travel with larger airlines (and pay slightly more) so as to prevent this happening. 

DullGreyGuy

Have known check in staff to ask if you have an ESTA to which the people in front have decided to prove they have by handing over a printout but when I was asked just said yes and they didnt ask for evidence.