From 8th September 2010, US Customs and Border Protection will be applying a charge of $14 USD dollar per application for an electronic travel authority through the ESTA system.

Once granted, an ESTA authority is valid for 2 years (or less if the passport expires during this period). Therefore, until the new $14 USD charge is applied, you can obtain your ESTA free of charge by visiting the U.S. Government website.

All persons travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme must have a valid travel authority, and without one, Virgin Atlantic is not permitted to allow you to board your flight.

Travellers may check the validity of their passport to use the Waiver Program on the U.S. Department of State website.

As of the 10th August 2010, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America and Virgin Blue/V Australia – known throughout the world for their stylish, innovative and value-based flying experience, are teaming up to offer each airline's loyalty programme members the opportunity to earn miles or points when taking flights on their sister-branded airlines.

Guests flying on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, and V Australia/Virgin Blue are all eligible to earn miles or points for their flights that can later be redeemed under any of the carrier’s frequent flyer programs. The reciprocal agreements enable Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club members to earn Flying Club miles/status points; Virgin America's Elevate members to earn Elevate points; and V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members to earn Velocity points – wherever they are flying on a Virgin-branded carrier around the world.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members and V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members can redeem their miles on either of the airlines. V Australia/Virgin Blue Velocity members and Virgin America Elevate members will be eligible to spend their miles or points to fly on either airline as of the fourth quarter of 2010. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members and Virgin America Elevate members will be eligible to spend their miles or points on either airline as of the second quarter of 2011.

To celebrate this Virgin milestone, Virgin Atlantic is offering members who fly with Virgin Atlantic plus at least one other Virgin branded airline between now and December 31, 2011, the chance to win a week's holiday in the British Virgin Islands on Sir Richard Branson's private island, Necker**.

**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 31/1/11. To enter and for Official Rules, please visit:

www.virginatlantic.com/neckerprizedraw

To comply with US legislation we are required to conduct a security check of every aircraft en-route to San Juan when it lands in Antigua. As space is limited at the airport we are unable to disembark any passengers travelling onwards to San Juan. The routine security check will therefore be carried out whilst passengers travelling to San Juan remain onboard. Whilst the security checks are carried out, all passengers travelling on to San Juan will be required to collect their personal belongings and vacate their seats for a short period of time.

In order to minimise this inconvenience, we will seat all passengers travelling to San Juan within the same section of the aircraft. We are therefore unable to offer Advanced Seat Assignment when travelling to San Juan in our Economy cabin. Passengers will be able to check in on-line or at the airport as normal and will be allocated seats within the dedicated section of the aircraft. Seat numbers will be advised at check-in and cannot be changed online.

If you are travelling in Upper Class or Premium Economy, advanced seat assignment will still be available.

For security reasons it is absolutely essential that the name on your booking, ticket and passport are exactly the same.

If not, you will be unable to board the flight. This also applies to marriage or maiden names; we can no longer allow passengers to travel by accepting marriage certificates or decree absolutes in conjunction with a passport.

Your booking and ticket must reflect your first and last names only. Middle names are not required.

If a mistake has been made, you can amend the name on your booking and ticket to reflect the correct spelling in your passport, up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. However you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.

To amend the name on your ticket please contact your travel agent, tour operator or our contact centre. There will be a charge of £30 to amend each name.

We've made another enhancement to booking flights on this website. Now you can buy any flight from any departure points and pay for it with a credit card from any country*. So if you live in Romania and want to book a flight from Hong Kong to London, you can!

All you have to do is select your billing address country on the same page you fill in your passenger details.

* There are still a few departure points that remain restricted, these include flights departing from Ghana and Nigeria. Credit cards with a Nigerian billing address are also currently restricted.

It has been brought to our attention that passengers and members of the public have been receiving email communications that use the Virgin Atlantic Airways name and logo, or otherwise purport to be from Virgin Atlantic Airways. The emails ask for personal information and in some cases, money.

Virgin Atlantic Airways can confirm that it is not associated with these rogue communications in any way. They are fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information and in some cases, money.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS IF YOU RECEIVE ONE.

Virgin Atlantic Airways will never ask any of our passengers for personal information by email.

When travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) you must hold a valid, individual machine readable passport if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: the United Kingdom, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

New passport requirements now take effect for passports issued on or after 26 October 2005. US authorities will require all the above countries participating in the VWP to issue passports with a digital photo of the passport holder's face printed on the data page of the passport. Passengers wishing to travel on the VWP without digital photos issued after 26 October 2005 will require a visa to enter the US.

Since 1st August 2008 the US have offered an electronic alternative for those travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme. An electronic travel authority from the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) website should make your journey smoother both at check in and on arrival at US Customs. The ESTA scheme has now become mandatory as of 12 Jan 2009.

It is the passenger's responsibility to make their application and ensure they have a valid travel authority before they travel. This will make the check-in process much easier for them. Those nationalities not eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program will need to process a visa before travel.

You can obtain your ESTA free of charge by visiting the U.S. Government website. This must be done within 72 hours in advance of your journey. For FAQs about ESTA, please visit https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Further information on these requirements

Alternatively, for passengers who require a bespoke service, Virgin Atlantic has partnered with CIBT where for a set fee they will determine your eligibility and apply for an ESTA or a formal US visa on your behalf.

Visit CIBT now

If you are a holder of a non-US passport and were born in the United States of America you need to be aware of a change in policy by the US Government. US law states that anyone born in the United States is considered to be a US citizen and if that person attempts to travel to the US on any document other than a US passport, they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality letter'. These letters can be obtained from US Embassies.

As the US Immigration Service will refuse entry to the US of any person born in the USA attempting to enter the US on a non-US passport without the loss of nationality letter, Virgin Atlantic is not able to carry such passengers unless they have the "letter". We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause to our passengers.

If you are travelling to or from the US there will be some important additions to the information you will need to provide to us before you travel.

Find out more about Advance Passenger Information