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Original poster

DS passport has expired - we fly on Wednesday

94 replies

feemcgee · 04/07/2019 10:14

We have completely screwed up! DH went to check in online this morning for our holiday on Wednesday - discovered that DS passport has expired! Can't believe we've done this. Passport office says they can't fast track a child's application like they can for adults, and there's no guarantee it will arrive on time. I've just been into the Glasgow passport office to be told that I have to make an appointment - but they can't make them, I had to phone another number - then was told you have to make an appointment online - either late tomorrow in Glasgow, or first thing tomorrow in Liverpool.
I'm trying to be practical about this without losing it!

OP posts:
RickAstleyGaveMeUp · 04/07/2019 11:15

Oooh whereabouts are you going? We did AI in Ibiza last year, it was fab.

KatoPotato · 04/07/2019 11:18

I remember we had to make absolutely sure that our name was on our door so they could post them through (they used a private courier)

trackingmedown · 04/07/2019 11:22

We did this a few years ago. To make it worse it wasn’t a holiday with us but the GP taking DC away. We managed to get an appointment at Victoria for later in the week and the problem was solved. I didn’t tell my mum until the crisis was over as I knew she’d go ballistic. And she did!!

And to the clever-clogs saying we should have checked sooner all I can say is ‘duuh’!

Hecketyheck · 04/07/2019 11:30

OP - thank you SO much for this thread. Just checked ours and DH's is out of date - FFS. We go in a month though so I'm hoping it should be ready in time if we do online renewal today.

Good luck with yours!

PirateOfPenzance · 04/07/2019 11:34

we also did this last year for a holiday at xmas with flights we couldn't move

even worse, I realised the day before we were due to fly Blush (in our case, it was because ds didn't have 6 months left on his passport)

I also only realised as I bought the visas for where we were going the day before (which you can do, you can also get them on arrival). If I hadn't done this, we would only have found out when we went to the airport!

luckily Victoria had an appointment the day we were due to fly

appointment was at 945am only one they had, passport was ready at 4pm, we got the train to the airport and met dd at 5pm and we flew at 6pm. I have NEVER in all my life appeared so calm but inwardly was going OH MY FUCKING GOD WE ARE GOING TO MISS THE FLIGHT AND LOSE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS

poor ds kept saying go without me if I can't come :( so I didn't want to let on how tight it was. I kept saying 'yeah it's fine, it's all going to be fine'. Even the passport woman said you are incredibly relaxed for someone who doesn't have a passport who is flying tonight Grin

good luck - show them your flight. They can fasttrack these things for idiots like us Grin

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 04/07/2019 11:35

Surely you would check all the passports when you're booking
FFS
there's always one.

Good luck OP.

user1497997754 · 04/07/2019 11:41

Yes it will be fine now I am sure..let us know we all have our fingers crossed for you.....double check before you leave for alot you have everything you need. How exciting Ibiza and all inclusive you will have a fabulous time xxx.

VanGoghsDog · 04/07/2019 11:44

Heh, my ex and I took [ex]DSS on holiday with an expird passport. Ex had not checked and I checked it the day we were setting off so we had no chance.

No-one seemed to notice on the way out and on the way back they told us it was out of date and to make sure we renewed it before we travelled next.

I would not recommend trying this though! It was channel tunnel too so not the same checks as flying really.

Someone I know went on holiday with her son's passport instead of her own and didn't notice until they got there.

RunDeBumBum · 04/07/2019 11:59

What's done is done, or not as the case may be Wink

Good luck OP Wine

Mothersruin75 · 04/07/2019 12:04

I've just done check and send via the Post office for child renewal - sent last Friday (28 June), new passport arrived today. If they can turn around that quickly for a 'normal' passport application hoping you shouldn't have a problem.

SylviaAndSidney · 04/07/2019 12:05

This is the kind of shit I have nightmares about!

Good luck OP and enjoy your holiday Wine

MrsKappa · 04/07/2019 12:07

I completely screwed up my children's first passports a few years ago. No-one I spoke to on the phone was helpful or optimistic but we went to Newport, had an appointment Wednesday afternoon and they arrived Friday. We flew the following Tuesday. Good luck x

SoupDragon · 04/07/2019 12:12

Dont they ask for passport numbers for the booking anymore?

How is that helpful?

Anyway, AFAIK they don't. You can put that information in later.

SylviaAndSidney · 04/07/2019 12:16

Dont they ask for passport numbers for the booking anymore?

You only need the passport numbers when checking in online.

LauderSyme · 04/07/2019 12:16

Oh dear OP, I really hope you get it sorted in time. Sounds like there is hope so fingers crossed you get to enjoy your long-awaited holiday without a hitch.

This seems to be quite common. A friend of mine lost £1200 having paid for flights they couldn't take for this very reason. It was her husband's mistake and she seriously considered divorce...

Dont they ask for passport numbers for the booking anymore? Not always at the booking stage, no. You do have to submit Advance Passenger Information before you fly but this can be done just a few days in advance. I only realised that children's passports are issued for five years instead of ten when I submitted ours.

GrapefruitIsGross · 04/07/2019 12:20

I paid for a child’s fast track appointment in May- we had the appointment on Wednesday afternoon and they arrived via courier on the Saturday morning.

Luckily I’m in Belfast where there are always plenty of appointments- if every day is critical it might be worth looking to see if you can get a cheap flight over, I’ve seen others on here do it.

noodlenosefraggle · 04/07/2019 12:26

I did the same thing last year but it was the night before Shock I've never been so stressed but we managed to beg the hotel to move our booking and paid for the flights to be changed so didn't lose loads of money and had a lovely time in the end! Good 🤞

notacooldad · 04/07/2019 12:28

Surely you would check all the passports when you're booking? Mine was out of date and I immediately sent for it
Helpful🙄

Teddybear45 · 04/07/2019 12:28

Go in person to a passport office today if possible. Peterborough / london etc can turn around children’s applications in 48 hours but you may need to collect in person.

Ivegotthree · 04/07/2019 12:30

I had this for mine and had to do a day trip to Liverpool

willyloman · 04/07/2019 12:33

Temporary travel document? They issue them if you lose a passport and are overseas. Good luck!

happybunny007 · 04/07/2019 12:38

I second what someone says about putting a note on your door for the courier! The first time they tried to deliver I got a text saying they had tried to deliver but THEY HAD NOT! So when they were due for Redelivery I put a note on the door explaining exactly which buzzer it was!!!

OneThreadOnly0101 · 04/07/2019 12:40

Emergency travel documents are to get you home if you've lost your passport overseas, not to send you on holiday if you've forgotten to renew...

Go for the tomorrow morning appointment. We did postal applications for lost passport replacements very recently and they only took a week, so if you fast track, fingers crossed you'll be OK.

lazymare · 04/07/2019 12:44

Surely you would check all the passports when you're booking? Mine was out of date and I immediately sent for it

How helpful.

Twistedinknots · 04/07/2019 12:44

I needed a passport during the crisis.

I phoned up and they told me it was 6 weeks for an appointment.
I asked if they could get me an appointment at another branch.
Peterborough could fit me in the next day!

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