API data is basic information about passengers and crew members. It includes your name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, and travel document data (e.g. passport number). This information is available from the machine-readable zone of your passport.

Advanced Passenger Information (API) and the Passenger Name Record (PNR) are two distinct but related sets of data used by airlines and governments for security and border control. API contains the biographical data found in your passport, such as your full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number. This is usually collected at check-in and sent to the destination country's border authorities before the flight lands to screen against "no-fly" lists. PNR, on the other hand, is much more extensive; it is the "digital folder" created when you book your ticket. It includes your itinerary, contact details, payment info (credit card number), seat assignments, baggage details, and even special meal requests or frequent flyer numbers. Governments use PNR data to look for "patterns of behavior" that might indicate criminal activity. While API is about who you are, PNR is about how and when you travel. In 2026, these systems are almost entirely automated, but failing to provide accurate API can result in being denied boarding at the gate.