I know that oh sh*t feeling well! My airline caught my ineligible passport AFTER I’d already taken my connecting flight from LA to JFK on the way to Rome. It was expiring within the next 6 months and they don’t let you out of the country in that case. Fortunately the airline accepted responsibility for letting me on at LAX and comped us a hotel for the night and meal vouchers and rebooked us for the next day. A car rental and side trip to Connecticut later we were back on the way to Rome. My wife still loves telling that story when she wants to tease me to friends.
I don’t have any travel planned out of the country, but I just checked my passport card the other day and panicked, because with my contacts and the lighting it looked like it said my passport had just expired. I dug out my passport, and it doesn’t expire until 2026, but I did have a moment of panic because I do have some domestic travel planned and my Washington DL isn’t REAL ID compliant.
I grew up in San Diego, crossing the border into Mexico, you never needed a passport. I was going to a funeral in Mexico City in 2003 and didn't have a passport on me. They wouldn't let me on the plane....unless...I was given the number to a roving notary at the airport and get a temporary travel permit. I was supposed to be down for three days, so she did it for six just in case. $200 bucks later I was on the flight.
Good job with the passport, although I was half expecting you ending the tale with getting caught in a lake-effect storm. We typically fly out of BWI, and always try to eat at the Silver Diner there. The staff treat you well, and keep flight demands in mind.
Thanks as ever for the top 100. The companion piece slicing-and- dicing by Levi, et al, was a good thought, although unfortunately a bit slipshod and sloppy. I think I’ll keep doing a tally summary, if only for myself. Regardless, I’m looking forward to the just-missed and team system articles. Get some rest!
I pulled something similar. I grabbed my passport and my wife's and headed for the airport to fly to Miami and from there to Trinidad. We met friends in Miami who were joining us for Trinidad trip. One of them asked my wife to show them her new passport photo, since they knew we had recently renewed our passports. She showed them, only to realize in horror that I had grabbed our old, expired passports instead of the new ones! We were minutes from boarding the flight to Port of Spain and, after agonizing briefly, boarded the plane. Our thinking was that, if we couldn't clear customs, we could wait in the airport while a friend overnighted the right passports to us. To our surprise and relief, the customs agent didn't seem to notice anything amiss, even the obvious holes that had been punched in the expired passports, and let us through.
I know that oh sh*t feeling well! My airline caught my ineligible passport AFTER I’d already taken my connecting flight from LA to JFK on the way to Rome. It was expiring within the next 6 months and they don’t let you out of the country in that case. Fortunately the airline accepted responsibility for letting me on at LAX and comped us a hotel for the night and meal vouchers and rebooked us for the next day. A car rental and side trip to Connecticut later we were back on the way to Rome. My wife still loves telling that story when she wants to tease me to friends.
As a former Buffalonian, your mention of Betty’s warmed my heart!
I don’t have any travel planned out of the country, but I just checked my passport card the other day and panicked, because with my contacts and the lighting it looked like it said my passport had just expired. I dug out my passport, and it doesn’t expire until 2026, but I did have a moment of panic because I do have some domestic travel planned and my Washington DL isn’t REAL ID compliant.
You're going to be inundated with messages in January 2034 to renew your passport now.
As a native Baltimorean (who still lives in the area-ish), I heartily endorse all Silver Diner trips. Great local chain.
Thanks for the passport reminder. My son wants to do Niagara Falls this summer for his birthday and the last time we flew out of the country was 2022.
Did you fight the horde, or just sing and cry?
I grew up in San Diego, crossing the border into Mexico, you never needed a passport. I was going to a funeral in Mexico City in 2003 and didn't have a passport on me. They wouldn't let me on the plane....unless...I was given the number to a roving notary at the airport and get a temporary travel permit. I was supposed to be down for three days, so she did it for six just in case. $200 bucks later I was on the flight.
...Also, what 80's John Hughes movie are you going to be in with that hat?
Good job with the passport, although I was half expecting you ending the tale with getting caught in a lake-effect storm. We typically fly out of BWI, and always try to eat at the Silver Diner there. The staff treat you well, and keep flight demands in mind.
Thanks as ever for the top 100. The companion piece slicing-and- dicing by Levi, et al, was a good thought, although unfortunately a bit slipshod and sloppy. I think I’ll keep doing a tally summary, if only for myself. Regardless, I’m looking forward to the just-missed and team system articles. Get some rest!
I pulled something similar. I grabbed my passport and my wife's and headed for the airport to fly to Miami and from there to Trinidad. We met friends in Miami who were joining us for Trinidad trip. One of them asked my wife to show them her new passport photo, since they knew we had recently renewed our passports. She showed them, only to realize in horror that I had grabbed our old, expired passports instead of the new ones! We were minutes from boarding the flight to Port of Spain and, after agonizing briefly, boarded the plane. Our thinking was that, if we couldn't clear customs, we could wait in the airport while a friend overnighted the right passports to us. To our surprise and relief, the customs agent didn't seem to notice anything amiss, even the obvious holes that had been punched in the expired passports, and let us through.