For security reasons it is absolutely essential that the name on your booking, ticket and passport are exactly the same.

If not, you will be unable to board the flight. This also applies to marriage or maiden names; we can no longer allow passengers to travel by accepting marriage certificates or decree absolutes in conjunction with a passport.

Your booking and ticket must reflect your first and last names only. Middle names are not required.

If a mistake has been made, you can amend the name on your booking and ticket to reflect the correct spelling in your passport, up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. However you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.

To amend the name on your ticket please contact your travel agent, tour operator or our contact centre. There will be a charge of £30 to amend each name.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is upgrading from collecting 2 to collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors when they enter the United States. This change enhances security and facilitates legitimate travel by more accurately and efficiently establishing and verifying visitors’ identities.

Read more about the US fingerprinting scheme.

It has been brought to our attention that passengers and members of the public have been receiving email communications that use the Virgin Atlantic Airways name and logo, or otherwise purport to be from Virgin Atlantic Airways. The emails ask for personal information and in some cases, money.

Virgin Atlantic Airways can confirm that it is not associated with these rogue communications in any way. They are fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information and in some cases, money.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS IF YOU RECEIVE ONE.

Virgin Atlantic Airways will never ask any of our passengers for personal information by email.

If you are a holder of a non-US passport and were born in the United States of America you need to be aware of a change in policy by the US Government. US law states that anyone born in the USA is considered to be a US citizen and if that person attempts to travel to the US on any document other than a US passport , they must carry with them a "loss of nationality letter". These letters can be obtained from US Embassies.

As the US Immigration Service will refuse entry to the US of any person born in the USA attempting to enter the US on a non-US passport without the loss of nationality letter, Virgin Atlantic is not able to carry such passengers unless they have the "letter". We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause to our passengers

From 4 October 2005, if you are travelling to or from the US there will be some important additions to the information you will need to provide to us before you travel.

Find out more about Advance Passenger Information