Using PR Card to Transit Flying United Airlines.

[phillyphil]

Hello,

I am flying from Vancouver BC with United Airlines (US Airlines) to London Heathrow. I will not be laying over at all in the United States (To and Fro). I am permanent resident and have a PR Card. I know that I don't need "air side visa" to layover at London Heathrow. But I am worried that since I am travelling with United Airlines they might ask me for a "US Transit visa". Does anyone or has anyone had this experience of using united airlines to fly but not having to transit through the US and not requiring a US TRANSIT VISA at Vancouver BC airport?

Thank you

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello,

I am flying from Vancouver BC with United Airlines (US Airlines) to London Heathrow. I will not be laying over at all in the United States (To and Fro). I am permanent resident and have a PR Card. I know that I don't need "air side visa" to layover at London Heathrow. But I am worried that since I am travelling with United Airlines they might ask me for a "US Transit visa". Does anyone or has anyone had this experience of using united airlines to fly but not having to transit through the US and not requiring a US TRANSIT VISA at Vancouver BC airport?

Thank you

If you aren't flying through the US, why would you think you need a US Visa?

 

[phillyphil]

If you aren't flying through the US, why would you think you need a US Visa?

Because its an American Airlines flight (sorry not United Airlines). As I understand immigration is involved somehow at the airport when travelling to the states (I am not at all in my case). But I am just making sure that I will not indeed need a US Transit Visa because I am on an American Airlines flight. As I said my flight goes directly from Vancouver BC straight to London Heathrow. Maybe I am just worried about needing a US Transit Visa at all (I don't have lots of time left before I fly, so I won't get one if I tried to any time soon)? (To add the flight is operated by British Airways; which means when I go to the airport I will be checking in with British Airways not American Airlines, don't know if that will help you help me answer this question).

Thanks again for your prompt response.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Because its an American Airlines flight (sorry not United Airlines). As I understand immigration is involved somehow at the airport when travelling to the states (I am not at all in my case). But I am just making sure that I will not indeed need a US Transit Visa because I am on an American Airlines flight. As I said my flight goes directly from Vancouver BC straight to London Heathrow. Maybe I am just worried about needing a US Transit Visa at all (I don't have lots of time left before I fly, so I won't get one if I tried to any time soon)? (To add the flight is operated by British Airways; which means when I go to the airport I will be checking in with British Airways not American Airlines, don't know if that will help you help me answer this question).

Thanks again for your prompt response.

I repeat, you aren't flying to the US, so why would a US Visa be necessary?

 

[phillyphil]

I am not sure. I figured with any american airline or US airline it would be safe to have a US Visa. But judging from your answer, I won't bother with one. Thank you!!

 

[lampbreaker]

Most likely it is only a codeshare, operated by a Canadian/British airline.

 

[phillyphil]

It is actually operated by British airways. What is a codeshare again ?

 

[Bs65]

It is actually operated by British airways. What is a codeshare again ?

An airline code share is where airlines cooperate on their routes in an attempt to provide ‘seemless’ travel connections across their networks where one airline may fly to destinations the other code share does not. The airlines also provide ability to gain/use frequent flyer points across each other’s networks.

BA and American Airlines are in the Oneworld codeshare alliance and as you say you are flying BA to the UK given AA doesn’t fly from Canada to the UK.

https://www.oneworld.com/

If you were flying to the UK say via a US city then sure you would need a visa or if US visa exempt an ESTA and you would pre clear US immigration/customs at Vancouver but not applicable otherwise.