Can’t check in at airport as Iceland Air app asks for ESTA visa

[Dragonsarereal 14]

Morning! I don’t know where to start this post as I can’t find a Travel area. Sorry for that.

 

so, here I am, we arrived yesterday at Heathrow airport and stayed overnight at our hotel.

At the correct time I attempted to check in with Iceland air. First leg of the trip, to Iceland, fine. Second part of the trip they won’t allow me to check in.

 

the message the app gives is about seeking permission to enter the USA first.

i went to a chat with an officer of Iceland air and she was very unhelpful, only say I can today go check in at the desk.

 

which means I will be one of the last ones to check in, in a possibly overbooked flight, and won’t be able to order a meal either in advance.

 

I don’t think they will ask for an ESTA visa just to travel?

we are going at 10 am for check in and flight is at 12:50.

 

wish me luck!

[powerpuff 6,685]

*** Thread moved to Moving to the US & Your new life in America forum ***
 

Some airlines just operate that way. 
 

I was flying SAS (Scandinavian) with a layover in Denmark. On the Denmark - US route, I could not check in online. I had to go to the desk during my layover and check in. I was already a permanent resident at that point too. 

[TBoneTX 45,259]

Get there early, check in at the desk, explain that it's a K-1 visa that gives permission without qualification to enter the U.S., and keep asking for supervisors of higher and higher rank until one can find his butt-cheek without needing both hands plus outside help.

[Lemonslice 4,831]

Page 45 (document page, not pdf page), and Part IV if they have further questions.  Should not be a problem though, very common to travel with a visa. 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2023-Nov/Carrier Information Guide ENGLISH.pdf

[Dashinka 24,481]

This is fairly normal particularly with flights to the US for foreign soil.  I remember traveling to Mexico for work, and I could not check-in on Aeromexico's site/app for my flight back to the US, but instead I had to wait in line and check-in at the airport.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

This sounds like standard procedure.  Human eyes have to check the authenticity of your documents.

[Verrou 1,962]

if you have a confirmed ticket and just cant check in on app, it doesnt mean you will be check in by them the last. even if it's full flight, you should have confirmed seat, unless you are on standby which i think u dont. just go there earlier

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

is Iceland a layover or the itinerary has two parts?

we see where buying online you get a ticket to one country and have to pick up ticket there for the US

then,  a visa (esta) is needed for the 1st as its not a layover but 2 separate flights

 

Maybe did not explain weill but example

 

moroccan buys online to fly to Paris to US

ticket to paris is one and has to pick up at ticket counter another for US even collecting luggage and rechecking it

that needs French visa

as the person who flys in could get off plane and stay in France and not continue on to US

 

If ticket is all as 1 with the Paris layover no visa needed and can not leave airport