Last year in March I flew from Catania to London. The Italian ticket agent asked me for proof of my ETA. I said that the official website indicated that the ETA was electronically tied to the passport number and the agent insisted she needed to see proof of the ETA. Luckily I had my email informing me that I was approved, which I showed her on my telephone and that satisfied her. I posted this info here on the forum with the suggestion to print out and carry a copy of the approval email.. Some responses suggested that maybe it happened because of a misinformed agent as the requirement was still pretty new. In April of last year, just a few weeks weeks later, I flew from Madrid to London and was not asked for it. Well, two days ago, and this is now one year later, I flew from Orlando to London with two relatives and all three of us were asked to show proof of our ETA. We all had copies of our acceptance emails with us which we showed the agent. So I am again suggesting that you print out your email ETA approval notice and keep it with your passport, just in case you are asked for it.
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
11601 posts
Or, if you’re like me and you hate printing things out, you could just bump it to the top of your email to keep it handy if you need to show it. 😊
Posted by
Virginia
1316 posts
United has not asked. But, yeah, in my Gmail I just created a folder titled "European Entry Documents" and that's where the ETA approval lives.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16914 posts
Thanks for the update. So exasperating.
I too have it saved in several locations including taking a screenshot and adding it to an album and to my Notes app.
I'll add that I flew Spokane->EDI via Atlanta on Delta last summer and was not asked by the Delta agent here in Spokane or by the gate agent on boarding. I did have it handy because I'm not sure how many International travelers they see from here and at the end of Covid one desk agent asked for some unneeded documentation for a flight ending in Paris.
Which airline was your most recent flight on? I'd probably do a chat with their CS.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8496 posts
Interesting, because we were not asked for ETA proof when we flew from MCO to London last December on British Airways.
Posted by
Chicago
4173 posts
I’ve been asked twice if I have it, but wasn’t asked for proof. This was at O’Hare with United Airlines and British Airways.
I keep a printout of the confirmation email and also have the email.
I feel it’s always better to be prepared.
Posted by
Singapore
1174 posts
I travel to the UK 4-5 times a year and have never been asked for proof of visa/ETA/residency status although once the checkin staff member if I had an ETA, but didn't ask to see proof.
When airlines submit their advance passenger information they get an automated response to say whether they should board, check and refuse to board the passenger, but clearly not all staff are properly informed on this, so good to have proof just in case
My Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode was just approved and the approval email says "Most carriers should be able to check your immigration status automatically." Note the word "most"...
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2529 posts
Thanks for the reminder to have a printed/photo of confirmation.