How long before a flight do you need API?

Smooth Sailing with TUI: Your Guide to Advance Passenger Information (API)

For a hassle-free holiday with TUI Airways, understanding and submitting your Advance Passenger Information (API) is crucial. While often overlooked, this mandatory pre-departure requirement can significantly impact your travel plans if not handled correctly. So, how long before your flight do you need to provide your API? And what exactly is it?

API, sometimes referred to as APIS or Secure Flight, is a set of data points about each passenger that airlines are required to transmit to destination countries before departure. This information typically includes details from your passport, such as full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number. It’s a security measure implemented globally to enhance border control and facilitate smoother immigration processes.

TUI Airways strongly advises submitting your API as soon as possible after booking your flight. While there isn’t a strict deadline imposed by the airline itself, leaving it to the last minute can create unnecessary stress and potential complications. The information needs to be processed and transmitted, and any discrepancies or missing details could delay your check-in process or even prevent you from boarding your flight.

Think of submitting your API as ticking off an essential item on your pre-holiday checklist. Just as you wouldn’t leave packing your suitcase until the last minute, providing your API well in advance ensures a more relaxed and enjoyable travel experience.

Here’s why submitting your API early is beneficial:

• Avoids last-minute stress: Dealing with API requirements at the airport can be stressful, especially if there are unexpected issues or long queues.
• Allows time for corrections: If there are any discrepancies in the information provided, submitting early allows ample time to rectify them without impacting your travel plans.
• Ensures a smooth check-in: Having your API already processed means a quicker and more efficient check-in experience, allowing you to start your holiday sooner.
• Minimizes the risk of delays or denied boarding: Failing to provide API information could lead to significant delays or, in worst-case scenarios, being denied boarding altogether.

How to submit your API:

You can usually submit your API information through the TUI website’s “Manage My Booking” section. The process is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Alternatively, you can contact TUI customer service for assistance.

In conclusion, while not tied to a specific timeframe imposed by TUI Airways, submitting your API as soon as you book your flight is the best practice. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in ensuring a smooth and stress-free start to your well-deserved holiday. Don’t leave it to chance – get it done early and enjoy peace of mind.