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.

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.

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 USA 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

From 4 October 2005, 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