The Importance of checking your ESTA expiry date..

[bighal]

The other day at work I was checking in a family of 4 going to Turkey who should have been going to Florida a couple of days before. They found out at Manchester airport checking into their Thomas Cook flight that 2 of their ESTA's had expired the day before. They managed to apply for the Esta's at the airport but as they did not get instance approval, which came through 30 minutes after the flight left, they were refused travel. Thomas Cook would not even transfer them to a later flight without them paying over £2600, so the family lost their Florida holiday and all monies paid.


So moral of this story is to check and check again the expiry date. If they had had 1 more day they would have been fine.

[Guest]

Oh gosh that must have been so distressing for them. Quite hard to have to give that message too I would imagine.

Yes, check and double check.

[Guest]

If you were checking them in four days later I hope that was because there was a happy ending to this?

[Miss_Shell]

My ESTA is my number one priority whenever I am in holiday mode. First thing I do, apply and pay for one, then next is travel insurance. The above scenario is my absolute worst nightmare and don't understand how some people can be so indifferent to their importance

[darbs]

Originally Posted by FamilyGWales

If you were checking them in four days later I hope that was because there was a happy ending to this?

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Looks like they went to Turkey instead. I cant imagine how upset they must have been at finding out at check in that they couldn't go to florida!

[pompeyboy]

My DD got an e mail saying her ESTA was about to expire, we were confused as we had all applied on the same day. Turned out it was her Passport that was expiring, that was a close one

[ziggyzag]

We are hoping to go again next may, our Estas run this October, if I can find bargain flights in September, Il be renewing them before expiry date, may actually renew them this week lol

[lizzie145]

Originally Posted by FamilyGWales

If you were checking them in four days later I hope that was because there was a happy ending to this?

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they went to Turkey instead

[tspill]

I would never book a flight to the US or Canada without having an ESTA/ETA valid for the dates. If my ESTA/ETA expired before the travel date I renew these first before booking.
An expensive mistake. And still there are people come on to forums suggesting leaving it to the last minute to eek out their ESTA for another trip for $14.

[toonarmani]

Originally Posted by pompeyboy

My DD got an e mail saying her ESTA was about to expire, we were confused as we had all applied on the same day. Turned out it was her Passport that was expiring, that was a close one

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The ESTA will have still expired (at the same time as the passport). You need a new one for a new passport so hope you’ve reapplied.