advance passenger info
will be using the Tunnel for the first time on our return from France and had cause to check our booking. at the bottom of the page it stated that I needed to ring Eurotunnel and give them our passport details prior to departing.....
odd, had never done that on any of our ferry crossings each year....
so, rang them and the lady said that it was necessary, and that ALL transport from the UK (ferry, plane, tunnel etc) required this info and it has been in force from 2015.
yes, we've had to do this, AFAIR, firstly to the States and then for all our flights, but never on a ferry, although obviously passports get checked at the port.
she then checked our booking and noticed it was only a single back to the UK (we sailed out Poole-Cherbourg) and announced that we didn't need to provide this data (as we were entering the UK not leaving it.....Doh!...) and that our passports would just be checked at the port as usual.
im confused now as it seemed that we needed to do it on ET (but not on ferries) but now that it applies on entering the UK (but not necessarily when leaving..).
anyone know why the 'discrepancies'.....and wouldn't one think that the UK Govt would be more concerned about who was coming into the country than who was leaving?
never had any of this on our umpteen ferry booking since this 'changed' in 2015...
flights, yes, but ferries....not so far....
anyone else provide API to the club when booking a ferry, or directly to a ferry company?
Comments
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We have had to provide it to Eurotunnel, as you have. But, like you, never on a ferry crossing. Once you've recorded it once it's a simple 'tick box' on the next booking to say the API is the same as the last booking, but if you take an additional passenger then you must record their data too.
I understand it is required even by ferry operators. At the ferry port our passports have always been taken and scanned on a machine at check-in and I've always thought this is the way they collect API. On Eurotunnel you do 'self check in' with a booking number, and if you've pre-recorded your API then it doesn't appear that passports are scanned - just glanced at to see if you match the picture!
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I don't recall having provided it so far for BF for my pending trip. Have always had to do it for the cruises I've been on. I wonder if I'm going to grind the boarding queue to a standstill?
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Might the difference with the Eurotunnel be that French passport and immigration checks are done on the UK side of the Channel for the UK-France crossing? I suppose it is also possible that the powers that be perceive the Tunnel to be a greater security risk? We have been using the Tunnel exclusively for crossing the Channel since 2005 but I think it has only been in recent years that you have had to provide the details mentioned. Passports are still checked but they are very cursory and sometimes coming from France you are asked if you stopped anywhere en route to the Calais Terminal. Be interesting to know what you make of it.
David
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