Are us passports more security sensitive than ours???

[wtfisgoingonhere]

Ok bear with me

I'm organising my sister's hen do and it's abroad (she wanted it to be, I know hens are hotly debated on MN)

I have gotspecial rates for groups etc. Collected all monies and now just need to confirm passenger details on airline website

Now I know not everyone travels regularly so asked for a picture of people's passport into when I booked flights in march

Had all info except one girl. My sister's best friend from America.

She seemed to be dragging her heels giving me info in dribs and drabs anyway, such as just dob when I said need full info, plus I don't know her middle names/how they're spelt.

Tonight when I chase her (data HAS TO BE added by tomorrow or they COULD cancel our seats, not that I think they will but don't want to risk it) as I have to enter all passenger info in one go, she says she's sent me all the detail and doesn't want to send picture of the page

I said if it's the pic she's worried about she can hide it, but I want to be 100% all the details are correct and I won't show anyone, and she said she doesn't 'want it out there' then proceeded to tell ME to stop being difficult

Aibu?
Or are us passports special or something? (Or she's just a pain I'm the arse? !)

I do the bookings for our trips and have passport to hand to complete API. Recently I travelled with a friend. As I was in charge ofvtge booking she emailed me a photocopy of her passport. Hence I was able to fill out the forms without having to keep badgering her for info.

As for photocopying your passport: isn't it advised to take a copy with you when travelling anyway? In case original is lost or stolen.

I wouldn't give anyone a photocopy of my passport either. Why would I?

Er because employers these days have to prove you have a right to work in the UK and the easiest way is to show your passport. They have to be able to prove they have checked your info and the easiest way is with a photocopy of a passport.

You sound officious and patronising. You're demanding copies from people who may not 'travel a lot'. Are you scared they can't spell their own middle name? I'd've told you to fuck off by now. Just list what information you need. It's not that difficult to do.

I'm another one who would have told you to do one by now. And "officious and patronising" is spot on.
You don't need copies of the pages, just the details. Which she's given to you.
If I was being chased for info by someone who wanted to be "100% correct" - meaning that I'd have to dig my passport out AGAIN and email a pic over, when I'm already too busy to do the things I actually want to do - I'd be pissed off.
Just tell her which details you need, that you haven't got already, and calm down...

You only need the details. I really don't see why you're asking for a copy.

Just give her the login details so she can do it herself.

As you describe her as a girl, presumably she's here with her parents and so you could contact them for the remaining information you need.

I don't think you should have a go at a girl, who may well be under parental instructions (reinforced in school) not to put personal information online in any form.

Never ever email a photocopy of your passport. Get the information via telephone. Can she enter the details herself. Not not you have to cancel her only and explain why. Maybe she can make our arrangements.

Give her the booking refs and let her input all the details herself.

I once booked for a group and received an incorrect passport number. It was easily rectified for the flight at check-in, but the massive last minute panic to reapply for an ESTA wasn't worth it. I never stop being amazed that the US originally approved a visa for a non-existent person/passport combo.

Airbnb require a picture of your passport for your account. I understand that not everybody has to do this security check - it's a random selection - but I did.

I worked for the police for 12 weeks. Passports and other ID was routinely photocopied during recruitment processes. I recently needed Home Office security clearance which also required passport/ driving licence photocopying.

Anyway, yabu. It's her money and her risk surely? Tell her to check the details to ensure you've entered them correctly as if she doesn't and they're wrong you accept no responsibility.

American officials are very strict for obvious reasons. I travelled to Houston in March 2002 and was shit scared of the reception I got from passport control. It didn't help that a friend and I accidentally mixed up our Passports when inspecting each other's respective mug shot. We didn't realise our mistake until our Passports were inspected. But seriously I was 22 at the time and felt like a terrorist. I would imagine things have not become any more welcoming.

Sorry I mean I worked for the police for 12 years, not weeks!

Passports (like bank details) aren't wildly confidential. To do anything useful with passport details an attacker has two problems if they only have a copy of the picture page: they don't have a physical passport that would fool even a barman just before closing time, and (assuming an unexpired UK or US passport) they don't have the chip which would permit a border guard to pull additional information. So all they have is the passport number and date and place of issue, which is enough to identify an individual but not enough to prove that identity to even the most minimal standard; it wouldn't be enough to satisfy UK right to work legislation, for example.

I'm also pretty certain there's nothing useful to an attacker on the photopage other than the stuff you need to provide for API anyway (number, expiration, sometimes place of issue).

But on the other hand, passports are the sort of stuff that most people think of as being rather personal, and even if rationally the security risks are very low, there's a sort of WTF? response. I wouldn't give the OP a copy of my passport: I'd give her the API information she needs. Similarly, if someone needs to pay me some money I give them my bank account details and not a picture of my debit card in case I'm too stupid to read numbers. Rationally, I know it makes little difference, but why give away information you don't need to? Particularly when someone's just being bossy.

Hmm, I do kind of see what the OP is after in that when I have checked us in online I've needed passport number, date of issue, date of expiry, country issued. It's a fair bit of information which is easily provided by just having the picture page. However, if the attendee doesn't wish to show her that's her prerogative too and the OP should stop pushing. Just tell her exactly what information you need and leave it there.

As an aside, you don't need her middle names. Airlines don't use them, and there's not usually space to add them anyway.

As long as the first name and surname are entered exactly as per passport that's fine. For advance passport info you also need passport number, date of birth, start/expiry date of passport and I believe place of birth.

(I work for a travel company selling domestic & european flights, and I also travel frequently myself)

To those questioning photocopying passports, there are copies of both mine & DH's in my desk drawer at work, and quite often when you check into a hotel they take a copy of it too. In fact, it's advisable to leave a photocopy at home with a trusted relative or friend when you travel, as it can be helpful if you lose the original.

Okay yes I have photocopied passport. pages before. But then I was told that you.were only allowed to copy the page for an official purpose and.it.had.to.be.done by an official person. So for work purposes it's fine. This was actually the case a few years ago but has probably changed now.
No I didn't copy my daughter's passport. We were chatting on messenger so I sent the information that way.

It's illegal to make a colour copy, see 1.22

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/301072/part-1-process-guidance-yr7.pdf

I was told that you.were only allowed to copy the page for an official purpose and.it.had.to.be.done by an official person. So for work purposes it's fine. This was actually the case a few years ago

No it wasn't. Or, more gently, "citation needed" (assuming we're talking about the UK). What would make an employer "an official person"?

It was the first of many links that were on a quick Google hearts

Stuff out of fuel regulations isn't authoritative. Here's the actual facts:

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/reproduction-british-passport.pdf

which is the April 2014 "Guidance approved by Her Majesty??s Passport Office and the Lord Chamberlain's Office".

where copies of the bio-data, observations or visa pages are required, copies may be taken in either black and white or colour, and may be held electronically or in paper format. The person or organisation taking the image must ensure that it complies with the Data Protection Act when holding personal information

The DPA is only of marginal interest here because what the OP is doing almost certainly falls under the domestic exemption.

And the very first category of people who can copy passports is "the holder/owner of the passport:" The list is presumably not exhaustive, but that's a bit unclear.

If she's given you the info you don't need a copy of her passport - I've checked in groups before and from memory you need name, date of birth, date of issue and expiry of passport - if she's given you those details that's enough

However I have personably copied my passport numerous times, they wanted a copy when I got married abroad, and when I started a new job - but right now you do not need a copy so leave it

Hi all,

Just to clarify a few points....

I wasn't trying to be patronising about people 'not travelling regularly', what I mean by that was people may not have their passport to hand, and may not have their details to hand (eg I've saved a photo of mine to my phone in case I ever lost it etc) so i asked them early on for the details so people had plenty of time to dig their details out /check passports etc

Regarding being picky about wanting a picture, I asked everyone for a picture of the info page as i thought this was the easiest way to capture all their information (correct spelling of names etc)

This girl sent me pieces of info and not all of it

I pushed her for a picture of the page as despite telling her the info I need, and chasing her over the last few weeks because she HASN'T provided all the info I needed, despite me telling her what was required
(of course if she had I wouldn't be bothered about a picture again just thought it was easiest way to capture it all)

I can't give her the website to add her details herself as it states on the page (BA Group bookings) when I log in, that all details must be added in ONE sitting

If she doesntt provide any info they would cancel her seat not the whole booking
Same goes for if there's issues with what she did provide at check - in

I know if there's an issue with info she provided/wont provide its 'her problem' as some of you said, but my sister would be devastated and I would feel bad for her

I sent the girl a screen shot of the website showing exactly what I need last night, and guess just need to wait and see.... deadline is tomorrow

I'll bear in mind what some of you said about not copying passports - I never knew that (fwiw I asked for it on messenger not via email)

Thanks all - fingers crossed I get the info today

I'd wonder if there was something erong with her passport.
Out of date, damaged etc

How old is this person? You keep calling her a "girl."