Expired passport day of travel - weekend edition
June 25, 2022 2:24 PM Subscribe
My travel companion found their passport has expired. We have plane tickets to leave the US tomorrow (Sunday) for international travel (EU). Is there ANYTHING we can do?
First try to make an appointment today at a Passport Agency for Monday (phone number on that page, no indication of hours). I have no idea how likely it is that you can get an appointment that soon, though. You can show your current tickets and tell them you are working with the airline to reschedule the flight.
Once you have the appointment, call the airline and ask them to change your flight(s) to the next day. Even if you bought non-refundable tickets, you may be able to pay a change fee or cancel and retain a partial credit to apply to a new flight. What is the airline?
posted by soelo at 4:30 PM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Once you have the appointment, call the airline and ask them to change your flight(s) to the next day. Even if you bought non-refundable tickets, you may be able to pay a change fee or cancel and retain a partial credit to apply to a new flight. What is the airline?
posted by soelo at 4:30 PM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Apparently there are Post Office Passport Centers, if you can reschedule the flight to Tuesday.
posted by dum spiro spero at 4:48 PM on June 25, 2022
posted by dum spiro spero at 4:48 PM on June 25, 2022
Although, the Passport Centers may not be able to issue same-day passports.
posted by dum spiro spero at 5:01 PM on June 25, 2022
posted by dum spiro spero at 5:01 PM on June 25, 2022
Right you need to go to an Agency and not just a passport center since they can turn them around same day. The DMV and PO type places just submit your application and you wait in line with everyone else.
Try to get some pictures (Walgreens did my last set) and all their documents together before the appointment. Make sure you have the fee in cash or whatever form they require.
posted by soelo at 5:21 PM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Try to get some pictures (Walgreens did my last set) and all their documents together before the appointment. Make sure you have the fee in cash or whatever form they require.
posted by soelo at 5:21 PM on June 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Definitely try to postpone your flight. Then contact your county representative or state senator by phone. They can often try to assist with getting an appointment at a passport agency for same day renewal. It's very hard to get those appointments over phone. Unfortunately, if you're travelling tomorrow over the weekend and can't change your flight, there's very little you can do.
posted by ajarbaday at 7:44 PM on June 25, 2022
posted by ajarbaday at 7:44 PM on June 25, 2022
Only the first airport matters. The airline is not going to let you get on a plane without proper documentation.
Situations like this are why I have a reminder on my travel checklist to put physical hands on our passports two weeks before a trip. Two weeks is uncomfortably short but doable, overnight is often not, especially in the pandemic. If you move your flight, you might want to try at least 21 days out, as it is often cheaper. If you move by a day, it may be a full-fare "walkup" rate and very expensive.
posted by wnissen at 10:17 AM on June 27, 2022
Situations like this are why I have a reminder on my travel checklist to put physical hands on our passports two weeks before a trip. Two weeks is uncomfortably short but doable, overnight is often not, especially in the pandemic. If you move your flight, you might want to try at least 21 days out, as it is often cheaper. If you move by a day, it may be a full-fare "walkup" rate and very expensive.
posted by wnissen at 10:17 AM on June 27, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by happy_cat at 2:43 PM on June 25, 2022