Passports

In order to exit (or enter) the U.S., you must have a valid passport. You will not be allowed to board any international US Airways flight without a passport.

Brazil

A tourist visa is required for most travelers to Brazil, including U.S., Canadian and Mexican citizens. If you don’t have the appropriate visa, you’ll be unable to board your flight to Rio de Janeiro. You can request a visa from your state’s Consulate of Brazil.

The Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Latin America and Europe

A valid passport or passport and visa may be required depending on your nationality, travel destination and the country or countries in which you connect.

Effective July 13, 2009, Canada requires all Mexican citizens to have a visa in order to enter. You can request a visa from the Canadian Consulate in Mexico City or online.

Requirements for minors

In order to travel internationally, all children (regardless of age) must have a passport and the travel documents required by the countries visited on an international itinerary.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry and exit points, which may include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not present.

Emergency contact information

The Department of Transportation requires that U.S. airlines obtain emergency contact information from U.S. citizens traveling internationally. Emergency contacts do not have to be relatives and all information is kept confidential. All US Airways customers flying between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Europe must provide contact information.

Visa waiver program

As of January 12, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires all eligible travelers to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), for travel to the U.S. as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

All citizens of VWP eligible countries will be required to fill out an application from ESTA and beginning September 8, 2010, a $14 charge per application will be charged by the Department of Homeland Security.

Submit your application any time prior to travel, we suggest that you apply for authorization when you begin planning your trip to the U.S. In most cases, ESTA will provide an immediate determination of eligibility for the VWP.

An approved ESTA travel authorization is:

  • valid for up to two years or your passport expires, whichever comes first
  • valid for multiple entries into the U.S.
  • not a guarantee of admissibility to the U.S., ESTA approval only authorizes you to board a carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP

Participating Visa Waiver Program countries

AndorraHungaryNew Zealand
AustraliaIcelandNorway
AustriaIrelandPortugal
BelgiumItalySan Marino
BruneiJapanSingapore
Czech RepublicLatviaSlovakia
DenmarkLiechtensteinSlovenia
EstoniaLithuaniaSouth Korea
FinlandLuxembourgSpain
FranceMaltaSweden
GermanyMonacoSwitzerland
GreeceNetherlandsTaiwan
  The United Kingdom

I-94 form

This form will be distributed at check-in or in-flight returning to the U.S., and must be completed by all persons except U.S. citizens, returning resident aliens, aliens with immigrant visas or Canadian citizens visiting or in transit.

Insecticides on international flights

To protect public health, agriculture and the environment, the World Health Organization (WHO) requires aircraft to be sprayed with insecticide in some countries. Although the WHO concluded that there is no health risk, some customers may experience some discomfort.