I'm getting ready to book our return one way ticket from FRA to SAN on Condor Airlines, and this message is highlighted right below where I entered our names:
"Secure Flight details need to be provided before departure. Note: It is necessary to present a return/on- going ticket or the relevant residence permit. Otherwise entry is not possible."
What does that mean?
Thanks for your help! :)
P.S. I should add that we are U.S. citizens
I'm not sure what country's passport you are flying on but the booking website is most likely assuming non-US passport when flying one way to the US. They are pretty much saying that if you're flying one way to the US and you are not a US citizen you would need to supply proof of on-going or return ticket before entering the US or you may be denied entry. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident your passport should suffice.
EDIT: oops, missed your PS.
Condor Airlines?
Awesome! Thanks so much, Nancy.
Kent - yes
Kent:
https://www.condor.com/us/index.jsp
This German-based airline is aimed at vacation travel in the low-cost style. The holiday packager Thomas Cook is involved and it has some link, unclear to me, to Lufthansa.
Thanks for the tip about Condor Airlines.
Ooops! Didn't realize you hadn't heard of Condor or I would've answered differently, Kent. I thought you were concerned with my choice. :) (Maybe because I am a little.)
FRA = Frankfurt airport (Germany)
SAN = San Diego airport (USA)
I had to look those up!
This means you have to tell the airline your passport details, and if you need one your visa and return ticket details, before you are allowed to check in. You normally do this online, and the website won't let you check-in online until you have entered your passport details.
The visa/residence permit and return ticket requirement are only for non-citizens.
This is standard requirement, which you also have to do before flying into the Schengen Area, the UK and many other countries.
Relax. Secure flight is for just about everyone flying. It will ask your name, DOB, passport Information, and nationality. Once it sees you are a U.S. citizen you don't have to worry about the rest. This information is sent via computer to the U.S. to make sure you are safe to fly.
Non- U.S. citizens must show either a return ticket or a residency permit to be allowed in the country. As a U.S. citizen, you cannot legally be denied entry.
As others have said, that message is a generic warning that does not apply to you as a US citizen. You do need to enter your passport details in the booking process, but that is it.
Be sure to head to the gate at Frankfurt a good hour before the departure time. There is a separate document check ( not security screening) you must pass to enter the boarding area for the Condor flight.
The connection with Lufthansa: Condor used to be a subsidiary of Lufthansa, but now they are wholly owned by Thomas Cook. However, they still have a partnership with Lufthansa in that you can book a connecting flight on Lufthansa as part of your Condor ticket.
When we flew Condor home to Seattle last August, we could not find the Condor check-in desk until we realized it was signed "Thomas Cook". But maybe they have a Condor sign up now.
The flight was smooth and comfortable, although our business class seats were not the true "lie flat" style we have on British Airways. Since it was a daytime flight, that did not matter as much as it would going eastbound. We would fly Condor again.
I sometimes fly to and from Europe with two (2) one way tickets-typically when using miles. That includes separately booking each way with the same carrier (Delta) or flying one way on on a discount carrier like Condor (Iceland Air) paired with Delta for the return. I recommend that you keep both of your one-way itineraries close at hand when you head to the airport-both ways. Even for those times when I flew with the same carrier, I was required to show them my return itinerary before they let me on the plane. In addition, I almost missed my flight in Amsterdam back to the US last year when I was not able to readily show them verification of how and when I entered Europe. I would’ve assumed that my passport stamp would have been sufficient enough for that, however, that was not the case.
If anyone ever wants to verify they have the correct documentation for entering a specific country, all the airlines use the same IATA database for passenger checks, which is called TIMATIC. United has a public TIMATIC portal/database here:
https://www.united.com/web/en-us/apps/vendors/default.aspx?i=TIMATIC
In addition, I almost missed my flight in Amsterdam back to the US last year when I was not able to readily show them verification of how and when I entered Europe. I would’ve assumed that my passport stamp would have been sufficient enough for that, however, that was not the case.
Who/what found the passport stamp insufficient evidence?
"In addition, I almost missed my flight in Amsterdam back to the US last year when I was not able to readily show them verification of how and when I entered Europe. I would’ve assumed that my passport stamp would have been sufficient enough for that, however, that was not the case.
Q: Who/what found the passport stamp insufficient evidence?"
A: AMS is typically my arrival/departure point in Europe. Starting in 2016, AMS initiated a Pre-Departure Center for required security screening in on select/most flights to the US. For me, predominately a Delta flyer, after passing through security, you head to gate D1 for another round of security. This is the moment where the security personnel has always required that I show documentation of my inbound flight (IF I did not book a round trip). This security appears to be a joint effort of AMS security personnel and Delta.
The only other airport I was asked to show my arrival information when passing through security on my way back to the US was in Dublin, Ireland, which has the US Pre-Clearance process in place. I have to assume that was a one off, as I have never been asked to provide that information prior to and since then. However, due to the fact that I have had to have my one-way itinerary available at the Delta PDC EVERYTIME while passing through, I keep both itineraries at the ready and recommend other travelers do the same, especially passing through AMS.
I do NOT bother doing this when I book round trip, only when booking two separate one way itineraries.
Thank you Chris F, Frank II, Jay MN & selkie
Lola- thanks for the tips- good to know! We will be prepared.
