Flying to the US, UK, Canada or India: the entry document each one asks for, how arrival and connections work, and the booking points to check before you pay.
Published 23 Jul 2026 · Updated 21 Aug 2026 · FlyLemo
Each of the four countries FlyLemo serves asks arriving air travelers for a different piece of paperwork, and the name of that document is what most people get wrong. Below is the document for each, then what arrival actually looks like, then the booking points that catch people on each route. Rules depend on your nationality and change with little notice, so treat this as orientation and confirm on the official government site before you pay for a fare.
| Destination | What visa-exempt visitors usually need | Everyone else |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ESTA authorization, applied for online before departure | A visitor visa issued by a US consulate |
| United Kingdom | An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) linked to the passport | A Standard Visitor visa |
| Canada | An eTA for arrivals by air; US citizens are exempt | A visitor visa (TRV) |
| India | An e-Visa obtained online, open to many nationalities | A regular visa from an Indian mission |
Airlines check these at the departure counter. Without the right one you will not board, and the fare is not refundable for that reason. Apply as soon as your dates are set: most electronic authorizations come back quickly, but an application can be referred for review and take longer.
Most flights from the US, UK and Canada land at Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR) or Hyderabad (HYD), either non-stop or through a Gulf or European hub. Immigration lines late at night, when most long-haul flights arrive, can be long; a printed e-Visa and your hotel address speed things up. The e-Visa is valid only for entry at designated airports, so check that your arrival airport is on the list if you are flying into a smaller city.
Booking notes: India routes are where unpublished consolidator fares matter most, and where a two-piece checked allowance is common. Ask for a phone quote if you are carrying for family, and compare the total with bags, not the base fare. Domestic onward flights inside India often allow only 15 kg checked, so pack for the smaller allowance if you connect on a separate ticket.
Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montréal (YUL) handle most international arrivals. Arrival kiosks take your declaration; have the address of where you are staying ready. Distances inside the country are large. Toronto to Vancouver is a five-hour flight, so a "domestic connection" can be as long as your transatlantic leg.
Booking notes: if you are flying from Canada to the US, the major Canadian airports have US preclearance, meaning you pass US immigration and customs before boarding and land in the US as a domestic passenger. Allow extra time at the Canadian airport for it, and walk straight out at the other end.
London has six airports and they are far apart. Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) carry most long-haul flights; Stansted, Luton and Southend are mostly short-haul; City is small and central. Before you book, look at where you are staying and how you will get there. Heathrow has a direct train and the Underground, Gatwick a fast train to Victoria, while Stansted and Luton are further out. Manchester (MAN), Edinburgh (EDI) and Birmingham (BHX) are worth pricing if you are not staying in London.
Booking notes: eligible passport holders can use the eGates on arrival, which is usually quick. UK departure tax is built into the fare and is higher on long-haul and premium cabins, which is part of why a return starting in the UK can cost more than the same trip starting elsewhere.
Every international arrival clears immigration and customs at the first US airport it touches, even when the final destination is somewhere else. That means collecting your bags, walking them through customs, re-checking them, and going through security again before the onward flight. Build at least two hours into any connection that involves a US entry; three is more comfortable at New York JFK, Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare or Miami.
Booking notes: domestic US basic economy fares often include no overhead-bin bag, so read the baggage line. For travel to, from or within the US, a booking made directly with an airline at least seven days out can be cancelled within 24 hours for a full refund under federal rules, which makes it safe to grab a good fare the moment you see it.
