slackbloke

I believe it is a mandatory requirement for airlines to gather API for passengers when travelling to certain countries which include the UK and Australia (not necessarily prior to check-in but some airlines seem to be doing that depending on how it is booked). It is only in relation to the arrival point, not departure.

BritInParis

Australia requires its citizens to enter and exit the country on their Australian passports whereas the UK doesn't. As such, if you are going to provide API details either online or at at check-in, it makes sense to use your Australian passport details to prevent being flagged on the Australian immigration system.

As a UK non-visa national the airline is not going to query the purpose of your travel. That's a job for the UK government. On arrival in the UK simply present your British passport to be admitted as a British citizen. In the unlikely event of being challenged at any point in your journey then simply present both passports and allow the airline/immigration to choose whichever passport is most expedient.

slackbloke

What do you mean about 'being flagged on the Australian immigration system' ?

BritInParis

The system says you left Australia on a foreign passport with no record of your entry when you entered legally on an Australian passport. Then you're either pulled up then and there or the next time you come home by immigration officers for a grilling and a ticking-off.

slackbloke

You can provide a British passport at check-in (for the purposes of API) but still leave Australia using an Oz passport via immigration control. i.e. you enter and leave Australian immigration using your Australian passport and do the same in the UK but that doesn't have to be the same information provided at check-in (as that is only for your point of arrival).
As far as I know, if you are leaving Australia, DIBP don't have access to your API but happy to be corrected if that is wrong.

Pollyana

Exactly how I do it

Bermudashorts

My not providing details when I buy a ticket is not making life harder for anyone.

I have never been asked for such details in advance. I have never seen any option for providing them. I am very efficient at check in, two minutes tops. I glower at people in front of me whilst they take five or ten minutes and wonder what in earth they could be doing / talking about.

I have a pending booking with Qantas, just gone into it and am not asked for passport information. I am going to cancel this and fly BA instead, will see if they have started asking for details when I do that.

Pollyana

I know there is an option on the Qantas FF page to add passport details, but i have never been specifically asked to do so ( not in 15 years!) and i have never added my details. i just provide the relevant passport at check in and have never had a problem or a query

louie

For BA, go into Manage My Booking, then Passenger Information, then see the right hand side of the screen. Without this information being provided you cannot check in online; if you don't check in online there is a greater likelihood of getting bumped if the flight is full.

astera

Likewise, if you are unable to check-in online... that is usually a good thing and you might be positively surprised during traditional check-in.

louie

Depends on your appetite for risk. Your chances of getting bumped and upgraded (obviously not on the same flight!) are both higher if you don't check in online.

astera

I would gladly accept the risk if the flight is to/from the EU where severe compensation would apply for being IDB'ed.

Definitely worth the risk if you are in PE as there is a pretty decent chance of being pushed up into Club.