Just about to book my holiday for the end of July and realised I need to renew my passport. Should I book and risk it?

[PangoDilloDog]

I'm usually pretty risk averse but if the standard turnaround is 3 weeks. It'll be fine. Is there any way I can find out if there are delays?

Can’t you do the fast turnaround?

To clarify, should I book my holiday while I wait for my passport or wait until I have received it?

Mine only took a week (on the standard service)when I got mine done but that wasn't in the summer. There's a one week fast track service.

I did mine online and it took 5 days. It is easy as long as you have a friend to take your photo and you follow the instructions to the letter.
You can't upload an actual photo, you have to use a third party that supplies a code to input. It still works out cheaper than doing it by post.

Thanks @Ineffable23

@endofthelinefinally how recently did you renew yours?

As sunshine who has literally just lost a whole two week holiday due to passport delays I wouldn't

@Overthebow I could. I suppose I'm trying to work out whether I need to spend the extra money. It's a stretch for me as it is.

Oh @lovemelongtime I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?

If money is an issue better to renew passport before booking holiday?!

A couple of years ago.

Will you need to enter your passport details when you book as the number will be different on your new passport?

What are the start and expiry details on your passport OP? Do you actually have to renew it (there’s a lot of misinformation about what the rules are now).

I am doing a renewal now and used a professional photo shop for the photo. You have to send your old passport back and that can take a couple of days. Passport office received my old PP on 16/06 and they still haven't updated anything online.

You can't book a plane ticket until you have a new passport as it will have a new number.

PP office are saying three weeks.

I did get my EHIP (GHIP?) card today though which took three days.

My DDs came in two weeks but that was last year. There’s just no way of knowing. Even if 100 people tell you it will be fine it all comes down to how much you’re willing to risk your holiday? Are you likely to be able to cancel or reschedule if it’s not arrived in time. Can you move your annual leave? Can you afford to loose the money? Personally, I’d sooner wait till the passport was here and find another holiday deal than find the holiday and risk loosing it

Mine took 10 days. About a month ago.

@HakunaMafuckit I was wondering at what point I have to add passport details. I thought it was so many weeks before date of travel, rather than at the point of booking. Is that not the case?

You can check current processing times online
https://www.passportwaitingtime.co.uk/

If you can, book the fast turnaround service.

airlines vary, but most want passport at booking.

just renew it now, then book.

we did this last year, arrived the Monday, flew the Wednesday.

Hell no. We are entering peak travel season. Passport staff have annual leave too you know so this is their mega busy time. If money is tight could you really afford to lose the holiday, incur costs by changing dates etc. way too stressful in my opinion.

Ok @wanttokickoffbutcant that gives me the most recent info. I shall sit tight and hope I get it back quickly. There will still be holdiays available.

@OhBettyCalmDown you're right. I was trying to wing it.

It expired a while go @CheeseWisely

@Cismyfatarse thank you, I shall sort it tomorrow and sit by the letterbox until it arrives.

I take your point @CoCoJones26

@pteromum there will always be holidays available.

Point taken @Sidebeforeself

You can't book a plane ticket until you have a new passport as it will have a new number

Not true.

You could do the fast track service

Just read your pp. Not sure I’d risk it as standard. You’ll probably get it back ik

Which bit isnt true @Bjorkdidit? Different passport number or not being able to book a flight?

Yes it's the not knowing how long it will take that makes it risky @EasternStandard

Sorry, you don't need to give a passport number to book a plane ticket, you just need to add it on check in.