British Airways is urging all its customers flying from Northern Ireland to the United States to enter their immigration details on the airline's website, ba.com, before they come to the airport.

>From October 4, 2005, new US Government legislation means that all airlines flying to the United States must provide extra Advance Passenger Information (API) to the US authorities before the aircraft takes off.

The new information required by the US authorities includes the customers' country of residence and an address for their first night's stay. This is in addition to the information already provided by the airlines to the US authorities before take-off, which includes:

* Passport number

* Country which issues passport

* Passport expiry date

* Given names (as they appear on passport)

* Last name

* Gender

* Date of birth

* Nationality

Jacquelyn Scott, British Airways Northern Ireland Business Manager, said: "We have further improved our website, ba.com, so that customers can enter all the required API details either at the time of booking or at any time before their flight."Every customer can use 'Manage My Booking' on ba.com to enter their API details, even if they haven't bought their ticket on line.

"We have also put a comprehensive section about API on our website to help answer customers' questions. "We are always looking at ways to make travel on British Airways even easier so if you visit ba.com and add your email address to your booking we will send you an automatic prompt in the days before your flight so you don't forget any vital pieces of information or documentation as you prepare for your trip."

The Manage My Booking facility on ba.com is an industry leading piece of technology that enables customers to enter their API details, choose a seat or special diet meal or update their personal Executive Club account ­ all from the comfort of their own home or office computer.