Travel to the United States/Canada

When you fly to the United States or Canada, special regulations apply. One of these is that airlines are required to collect personal details from passengers.

US-FLIGHTS ONLY: If you are not required to have a visa, you will need something else: an electronic travel authorisation. 

ON THIS PAGE:

• I'm travelling to the United States. What do I need to keep in mind?
• ESTA — Electronic travel authorisation for travellers to the United States
• How to apply for ESTA
• Passport
• Checking in
• APIS — Advanced Passenger Information System
• Baggage rules

I'm travelling to the United States. What do I need to keep in mind?

ALL NON US CITIZENS TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES MUST EITHER OBTAIN A VISA FROM U.S. AUTHORITIES, OR TRAVEL UNDER THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM.

The Visa Waiver Program
If you are a national citizen of a country, participating in the Visa Waiver Program, you can visit the United States for business or leisure purposes for up to 90 days.
- More information on the VWP program on the US State Department Website

You must take the following measures to travel under the Visa Waiver Program:
- Be a national citizen of a country participating in the program.
- Have a confirmed flight back from the Unites States. 
- Have a valid Machine Readable Passport (MRP). NO EXCEPTIONS MADE. More on MRP here.
Apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). More on ESTA here.

If your application for entry into the United States is denied, you must either contact the nearest U.S. embassy, or search for additional information here.

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ESTA — Electronic travel authorisation for travellers to the United States

ALL PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO THE UNITED STATES MUST EITHER OBTAIN A VISA FROM US AUTHORITIES, OR TRAVEL UNDER THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM.

Under the Visa Waiver Programme, residents of certain countries may travel to the United States without having to request a visa. However, travellers from these countries will need to apply for a supplementary travel authorisation (ESTA).

All passengers travelling to the United States with ESTA, are required to present the authorisation in printing at US passport control. A failure to comply with this will result in a fine of $3.300 per passenger.

All information entered into the ESTA system needs to be identical to you passport. If there are discrepancies in our information you might be denied boarding without compensation or reimbursement.

All passengers with a planned stay of 90 days or more in the  United States, have to apply for a visa at the nearest US embassy.

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How to apply for ESTA

You can apply for this authorization on the web, and although it will eventually replace the old system of handing over a written form once in the US, both versions are required for the time being.

Passenger is solely responsible for finishing this application within normal time limits and no later then 72 hrs. prior to departure. US authorities try to process applications sent less than 72 hrs. before, but can not guarantee a conclusion in time before the flight departure.

Beginning on September 8 2010, all Visa Waiver Program travelers to the U.S. will be required to pay a US$ 14 fee when submitting their ESTA application.

Please note that all passenger names must be typed into the ESTA application form as displayed in the machine readable information segment in the passangers passport. See demo (opens in a new window)

If you don't possess an ESTA authorization at the time of departure, your flight will be cancelled without a refund.

Once travel authorizartion has been confirmed, it is valid for a two year period. If a passenger want to reenter the country within that time limit, he/she only has to update the information for that particular journey, i.e. flight info and temporary address in the United States.

If you encounter any problems when applying for a visa, please contact the nearest US embassy for further assistance. 

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Passport

All travellers to the United States must have an e-passport that has a digital photo and a built-in chip, and can be read by machine (also known as an MRP or machine-readable passport). Even babies and older children have to have their own passports.
Children may not travel on the passport of one of their parents.

If you have a temporary or emergency passport that is not an e-passport, you can no longer travel under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). You must then apply for a visa for your trip to the United States. Passengers travelling under the VWP without machine readable passport, can expect a $3.300 fine, applied by US immigration authorities.

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Checking in

Upon checking in for your flight to the United States, you are obliged to provide the following information:

- Flight reservation reference number (PNR)
- Family name and first name
- Date of birth and gender
- Passport number
- Country that issued the passport
- Passport expiration date
- Nationality and the country in which the passenger resides
- Temporary address in the United States where the passenger will be staying. This address must include the house number, street, city/town, abbreviation used for the state, and the zip code. This information is not required for passengers with American nationality and for passengers who have a Permanent Resident Card.

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APIS — Advanced Passenger Information System

APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) are information requested by US authorities, from everyone travelling to the United States, arriving via air or sea on a signatory carrier. All transporting companies, including Iceland Express, are obliged to deliver this information to US authorities prior to flight departure.
All Iceland Express passengers travelling to the United States must complete a form at the time of booking and no later then 72 hrs before departure. This is especially important to avoid any inconvenience or delays at the airport prior to your departure.

The requested information are:

- Gender
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Country of birth 
- ID (usually passport)
- ID-number (valid until and issuing country)
- Residence in the United States 

Passengers can complete this form at the time of booking or access the booking at a later date, though no later then 72 hrs prior to departure.

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Baggage rules

Baggage in Hold: Each passenger is allowed to check in, free of charge, one suitcase of baggage weighing no more than 20 kg (44 lbs). This baggage limit is non-transferable between flight legs or passengers. Passengers can purchase extra baggage allowance for one or more extra suitcases prior to departure see pricing for extra baggage allowance (opens in a new window). Pre-order is available online, or by contacting our call center, with up to 20% discount.

Surplus Weight: If any one or more suitcases weighs more then 20 kg (44 lbs), a seperate overwight fee is charged for that item. The fee is set regardless of the amount of surplus weight. See price for surplus weight (opens in a new window). The maximum weight of one suitcase can although never be more than 32 kg (70 lbs).

Hand Baggage: You may take one piece of hand baggage with you on board, no larger than 55x35x25cm (21x14x10 inches). Please note that in order to avoid delays, our passengers to USA can temporarily only travel with one item of light hand luggage. That is lap-tops, wallets and coats, as well as any required medication, medical equipment, baby formula or other similar necessary items. Larger items will be checked in as hold luggage

Please pay special attention to rules on liquids in hand baggage.

Due to the need to inspect baggage, you are not permitted to lock your hold baggage.

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