Virgin Atlantic has joined a growing list of carriers placing hard stops in their departure-control systems to catch travellers lacking the new Electronic Travel Authorisation or a linked eVisa. In a customer bulletin updated on 24 February the airline warns: **“From 25 February 2026, we won’t be able to let you start your journey without an ETA.”** (virginatlantic.com)
The notice reflects behind-the-scenes IT work underway across multiple global distribution systems. Check-in agents will see an automatic ‘board-reject’ if the interactive Advance Passenger Information System cannot match the passport number to a valid permission in the Home Office database. Travellers who arrive at the airport unaware of the requirement may therefore be stranded.
![Virgin Atlantic Issues Final Reminder as Airlines Start Blocking Passengers Without ETA/E-Visa]()
Virgin is advising visa-free passengers to apply for an ETA at least 72 hours before departure and eVisa holders to double-check that their UKVI account shows their current passport. The carrier also reminds corporate travellers making multiple stops that each entry into the UK—even on the same trip—requires that the ETA remains valid.
Need a hand navigating the new rules? VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers a quick eligibility check, step-by-step ETA filing and real-time status tracking, giving both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams a reliable safety net before they ever reach the check-in desk.
For mobility managers running group travel or last-minute deployments, the key takeaway is that compliance responsibility has effectively shifted from border officers to airlines: if the system says ‘no ETA’, the traveller will never reach the aircraft door.
The notice reflects behind-the-scenes IT work underway across multiple global distribution systems. Check-in agents will see an automatic ‘board-reject’ if the interactive Advance Passenger Information System cannot match the passport number to a valid permission in the Home Office database. Travellers who arrive at the airport unaware of the requirement may therefore be stranded.
Virgin is advising visa-free passengers to apply for an ETA at least 72 hours before departure and eVisa holders to double-check that their UKVI account shows their current passport. The carrier also reminds corporate travellers making multiple stops that each entry into the UK—even on the same trip—requires that the ETA remains valid.
Need a hand navigating the new rules? VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers a quick eligibility check, step-by-step ETA filing and real-time status tracking, giving both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams a reliable safety net before they ever reach the check-in desk.
For mobility managers running group travel or last-minute deployments, the key takeaway is that compliance responsibility has effectively shifted from border officers to airlines: if the system says ‘no ETA’, the traveller will never reach the aircraft door.
