PSA for anyone traveling to the UK right now: the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) system has been down for ~2 days. Thousands of travelers stuck, missing flights worldwide. Here's what I've learned the hard way. 🧵
1/ The ETA is mandatory for visa-exempt visitors (US, EU, etc.) as of Feb 2026. £16, usually approved in minutes. But right now there's a backend outage and applications are stuck in a queue with no approvals coming through.
2/ Both the app and website are affected. It's not a front-end glitch, it's the processing system itself. Reapplying does not help. Third-party "expedite" services do not help (they just submit to the same gov system). Save your money.
3/ You cannot board without approval. Airlines face fines for carrying travelers without a valid ETA, so a "processing" confirmation email will not get you on the plane. Multiple people denied boarding at the gate and check-in.
4/ Useful lead most people don't know: ask your airline to use the Home Office "Carrier Support Hub," a 24/7 service that lets carriers verify permission to travel. It helps most if your ETA is approved but not syncing to their system.
5/ If you get stranded: make sure the check-in desk NOTES that you physically showed up, or you risk being marked a no-show and losing any refund/credit. Document everything.
6/ Biggest lesson: apply for your ETA the moment you book, not the week of travel. I know the system "usually" takes minutes. Until it doesn't, and you're sitting in an airport watching your flight leave.
Stay safe out there, fellow travelers. And UK Home Office, a public status page and a manual fallback process would go a long way. 🇬🇧