Frequently Asked Questions

You need to provide Advance Passenger Information (API) before you go on holiday if you’re travelling with TUI. It’s also called APIS, Secure Flight or e-Borders. In a nutshell, this is information from your passport that’s required by the government of the country you’re travelling to.

TUI also needs this information for Aviation Security purposes.
 
Flying with another airline? If your flight is with another airline then you’ll need to provide your API details at check-in – you won’t be able to do this before you travel.

If you’re not sure who you’re flying with, take a look at ‘Which airline am I flying with?’

For TUI flights, visit our secure API website and enter your details. You’ll need to log in using your First Choice booking reference number, the surname of the lead passenger – AKA the Top Dog – and your departure date, this can all be found on your booking confirmation or invoice.

If online check-in’s open for your TUI flight, you can enter your API information when you check-in.

Just so you know – If you’ve chosen Select Your Seat, Seats with Extra Space, Seats with Extra Legroom or Premium seats, online check-in opens 14 days before your outward flight.  If not, you can check-in online from 7 days before.

Alternatively, pop in to one of our travel shops along with your booking reference and all the passports of your party. 

For flights with one of our chartered airlines*, you can enter your details the same way that you would with a TUI flight.

If you’re flying with another airline not listed above, you’ll need to go directly to that airline’s website to enter your API details. Use your booking reference for that airline, rather than your TUI booking reference, and you’ll be able to log in.

If you’re not sure who you’re flying with, take a look at ‘Which airline am I flying with?’

*Our chartered airlines are Air Europa, Albastar, ASL Airlines France, ASL Airlines Ireland, Evelop Airlines, Germania, Norwegian, Travel Service, TUI operated by Norwegian, and Volotea.
 

If you’ve made changes to your booking since providing your API details, you’ll need to log in again and resubmit your API information.

To meet API requirements, you’ll need to give us the following details for everyone travelling on your booking:

For all destinations
Full name, as shown on your passport or travel document
Gender
Date of birth
Travel document type e.g. passport (P).

If you’re travelling on a group passport, details for each passenger listed on the passport should be entered under the same travel document type and passport number.

Travel document number
Travel document country of issue
Travel document expiry date
Nationality

Additional information for all US destinations
Country of residence
First night address you’re staying at in the USA
Redress number, if one has been supplied to you by the US Department of homeland security

Additional information for Mexico
Country of residence
Redress number, if applicable

Don’t know your address in the USA?
– Fly drive holidays – Please provide the name and location of the car hire company and where you plan to stop first.
– Cruises – If you’re joining a cruise ship, provide the cruise ship name and the port your cruise leaves from.
– Accommodation allocated on arrival – Please provide the details of our resort office, which is:

Welcome USA
7769 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee
Florida 34747

– Backpackers – Please give an indication of where you’ll spend your first night.
– Transferring to another flight – Please give details of the departing flight number and destination.

Other travel requirements
You’ll need to provide API alongside any other requirements that apply for your destination, like visas, or ESTA if you’re going to the USA. If you’re completing ESTA, your API information will need to match the details you give.

Flying with another airline? 
If you’re flying with the below airlines, you’ll be able to provide your API details through online check-in or at the airport.

Air Europa, Albastar, ASL Airlines France, ASL Airlines Ireland, Evelop Airlines, Germania, Norwegian, Travel Service, Volotea.

If your flight is with another airline, then you’ll need to provide your API details at check-in via their own portal or at the airport if offered.

If you’re not sure who you’re flying with, take a look at  “Which airline am I flying with?”
 

If you’re travelling with TUI, you need to give us your API information any time from when you book, up until six hours before you’re due to go.

Visit our Flight Extras website to supply your API information.

Booking late?
If you’re booking less than four days before you travel, you’ll need to provide your API at the check-in desk. Please make sure you allow more time for any extra checks.

Flights with other airlines
When you need to provide your API details varies depending on which airline you’re travelling with.  If the airline still offers check-in desks at the airport, you’ll be able to supply API information when you arrive at the airport.

If you’re not sure who you’re flying with, take a look at ‘Which airline am I flying with?’

API information is required by the border control and security authorities of various different countries. They use the details to do routine checks on the identity of passengers before they arrive in the country. It’s a condition of your booking that you must provide your API information.

Once you’ve given us your API information, it’s stored securely on our system until it needs to be sent to the government authorities. The information is then transmitted through a secure network up to 72 hours before your flight is due to go, or sometimes after it’s departed. After the information has been sent, it will be stored to meet API requirements and then destroyed.

Keeping your information secure
We comply with UK and EU data protection laws, so you can rest assured that your details are secure. Your API information will only be sent to authorised government agencies for border control and security purposes.

You’ll need to provide API details for all airlines that you travel with. You can submit your API details online with us if you’re travelling with TUI.
 
If you’re travelling with any other airline, you’ll usually be able to do this online – please follow the instructions on your e-ticket/confirmation email.  If the airline still offers check-in desks at the airport, you’ll be able to supply API information when you arrive at the airport.

If you’re not sure who you’re flying with, take a look at “Which airline my I flying with?”

If your birthday falls on a leap year, you can enter your API details by first selecting the year you were born. Once you’ve done this, you’ll see 29th February appear as an option.

When you enter your API details on our Flight Extras site you won’t receive any confirmation.
 
However, you can check if your details have been saved by logging in to the website again – you should see the details you’ve entered saved in the fields.
 
If you can’t see your API details, you’ll need to add them again for all passengers and click save when you’ve finished.