Effective from 18 August 2008, the office hour of Ticketing Department of Virgin Atlantic (Hong Kong) will change as follows:

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.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is upgrading from collecting 2 to collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors when they enter the United States. This change enhances security and facilitates legitimate travel by more accurately and efficiently establishing and verifying visitors’ identities.

Read more about the US fingerprinting scheme.

Any Duty Free purchases made at London Heathrow and and Hong Kong airport, will not be allowed onboard your flight to Australia. Also, purchases made onboard and during your flight from London to Hong Kong, will not be allowed on board your flight to Australia.

However, Duty Free purchases are allowed onboard your flight from Hong Kong to Australia.

Passengers with international connections departing Sydney, can only purchase Duty Free liquids, gels and aerosols at Sydney airport departure lounge, after clearing security at the international transit point.

Passengers with domestic connections departing Sydney can purchase Duty Free liquids, gels and aerosols either inflight the Hong Kong - Sydney flight or after landing at Sydney airport.

Please note that purchases made at any other point will be confiscated in Hong Kong airport, at the secondary gate search.

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.

Some personal electronic devices haven't been allowed on our flights in the past. But now there has been a change.

To view these changes please see our PED use Onboard page.

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.