Travellers’ checklist
Each year over
We’d like to help you prepare for your journey by giving you all the information you need right here.
Travellers’ checklist
Important information
Manage My Booking
You can access your itinerary and information relating to your booking when you use
- check in for your flight (within
24 hours) - provide
Advance Passenger Information for travel to relevant countries (including the US) - view, print or email your itinerary
- print or email your
e-ticket receipt (if applicable) - change the
date/time of your flight - view check in times
- get your baggage allowance
- request a seat
Providing Advance Passenger Information
The governments of various countries require
We will tell you if you need to give us
The information required differs by country but generally follows this format:
- passport number, country of issue and expiry date
- your name as it appears on the passport
- nationality
- date of birth
- gender
Additional information for travel to the US:
- country of residence
- destination address in the US (except US citizens or residents)
- The Alien Registration Number (Green Card) for US residents only
Passports and visas
It may sound obvious, but make sure your passport is valid for travel to your destination and any countries that you are transiting.
- Many countries require your passport to be valid during and beyond the length of your stay, so check what applies to you.
- You also need to check and obtain the necessary visas for your destination, including transit visas if required.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents for your journey. Entry and transit requirements are subject to change and you are advised to check the requirements with the Consulate or Embassy of all countries on your itinerary.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
IATA is an independent organisation that provides the most up-to-date passport and visa information for destinations worldwide.
You can find out about passport and visa requirements for your destination at IATA's Travel Centre.
Vaccination and health information
It is important to check with your doctor
Health
We also have a wealth of medical knowledge and advice in our health and well being section.
Contacts
- Have the local
British Airways phone numbers with you. We have a list of all the numbers for our offices worldwide.
- Bring with you the address and phone number of your country’s Embassy,
High Commission or Consulate for each country you plan to visit.
UK Government advice about travel
The
- Official Foreign Office travel advice about over 200 countries, country specific Travellers’ Tips, and links to travel advice of foreign governments
- ‘Know Before You Go’ - government advice for your travel abroad
- Security and general tips on laws and customs abroad
- What you should do if something goes wrong during your trip
- Answers to the most frequently asked questions
Be prepared
Checking in
- Check in at ba.com
From24 hours before your flight, you can choose your seat and print your own boarding pass, before you even get to the airport.
- Airport kiosks
Our easy to use, touch screen kiosks allow you to check in within a minute.
- Bag Drop
If you have baggage to check in, just go to theBag Drop desk after you’vechecked in, and an agent will tag and take your baggage. - Special assistance check in
If you have additional needs or cannot usecheck in atba.com or an airportcheck in kiosk, there arecheck in desks available at the airport.
Packing your bags
- Find out your checked and hand baggage allowances.
- Don’t pack valuables in your checked baggage.
- Carry medication, money and important documents in your hand baggage.
- Have a look at our baggage tips.
Order currency
- You can buy currency at the airport, although facilities may be limited at smaller airports.
- At large airports there are usually a number of bureau de change or banks, which stock the most commonly used currencies.
- If you’re travelling to a more obscure country, you may need to order your currency with your local bank before you travel.
- Most banks or bureau de change will charge commission, and exchange rates will vary, so it’s worth comparing them to find out the total price.
In the UK
You can order currency at
Special assistance requirements
Please let us know, before you travel, if you need any special assistance including travelling with a wheelchair, children travelling alone who need to be escorted, or making special arrangements for your pet to travel.
Please use the links below to find out more about:
Timetables
If your plans change while you’re away, you can find out easily what your options are when you have a copy of the timetable. You can check our online timetable now or download a version to take with you.
Downloadable timetables
Before you fly
Hotels and transfers
- Make sure you have your hotel address details written down in case you need to provide them on immigration entry forms.
- When travelling to the USA you will have to give the address and zip code for where you are staying, to fully complete the I-94W Immigration form when you arrive.
- If you haven’t already booked a hotel for your trip, you can do it through
ba.com. You can add transfers between yourBritish Airways hotel and the airport too.
Airport parking
It is a good idea to find out the cost of long stay parking at your local airport, and make any pre-booking arrangements.
Make sure you allow enough time to travel from the car park to the airport terminal, as they are often quite a distance apart.
In the UK
You can pre-book airport parking through
Security checks at the airport
Please allow yourself plenty time to go through airport security checks, as you may have to queue, particularly at peak times.
- Only passengers with tickets are allowed beyond the security checkpoints, except for those with specific medical or parental needs.
- All electronic items, such as laptops and mobile/cell phones, will be subjected to additional screening.
- Be sure to remove your laptop from its travel case so that both can be X-rayed separately.
- Keep your boarding pass and ID within easy reach to show to security staff.
- Wear shoes that can be taken off and put back on relatively easily.
- Limit the amount of jewellery or other metal objects that you wear.
- Remove all metal objects prior to passing through the metal detectors.
Lounges
You can enjoy access to the comfort and facilities of over
You can catch up on work before you travel, enjoy a snack or simply unwind. Our lounges allow you to relax away from the busy airport environment.
On board
When you’ve taken your seat on board the aircraft, you can sit back and relax. We will offer you:
- complimentary meals and drinks, suited to the time of your flight
- a choice of in-flight entertainment*; video and audio channels
- duty free shopping*
*Available on all longhaul and some European flights.
Destination guides
Once you arrive at your destination, you will need some basic information to help you get around. We have comprehensive city and country guides to get you started:
Free online restaurant booking
Find out all about the top restaurants at your destination and take advantage of loads of great deals. If you’ve got something special planned or you just want to experience great dining while you’re away, you can take advantage of our free service, powered by toptable.
You can take a look at the menu, read other diners’ reviews and see a 360 view of the restaurant, as well as booking online for free.
The service is available for a number of cities including London, New York, Paris and Rome.
