To be panicking because kids passports haven't arrived

[Livingmybestliferight]

So my husband has family in Spain. We planned to see them 14 months ago and flights were booked and paid in full and accommodation separately. Then along came coronavirus!
We assumed it would be cancelled. Then by mid May realised it might not be. So both my kid's passports had just expired and I applied for new ones 30th May. Got all relevant documents straight away and they have been processed since 12th June. Apparently they are in the last stage but no one can say if they will be back. Flight goes on 15th July. Office is closed so no premium services available. I was snottily told I shouldn't have booked anything which isn't very helpful and also that they wouldn't mark as urgent as its 'just a holiday'. Like I booked it last week or something. It's not just a holiday to us. Its a chance to see my husband's sister, meet her newborn and the rest of the family. I'm gutted. We will lose everything if we don't get them back. Is there any advice anyone can offer?

No advice about the passport, but I'd be more worried about going to Spain when the foreign office is advising against it, effectively cancelling any medical/travel insurance you have.

Personally I'd try and get a refund based on the foreign office advice and rebook for another time.

They are supposed to be changing it aren't they? If not getting a full refund wouldn't be a problem. But check in for the flight has opened today, if the flight goes we won't be covered

Can you change the date?

Sorry to be harsh, but it is just a holiday. One that the foreign office advises against.

Could you embellish the truth and explain you are there to help a vulnerable relative? Someone who just has a baby is vulnerable

@LouiseTrees

Could you embellish the truth and explain you are there to help a vulnerable relative? Someone who just has a baby is vulnerable

I was snottily told I shouldn't have booked anything which isn't very helpful and also that they wouldn't mark as urgent as its 'just a holiday'.

These are the facts though?

That's unfortunate timing as most of the airlines have now cancelled up to 15th July, so if you'd booked for just a day earlier, it would have been taken out of your hands and your flights would have been cancelled anyway.

You probably just have to hang on for now and hope that your passports come in time or if not, the cancellation dates get moved on again, probably to the end of July. The FCO advisory against all but essential travel has yet to be lifted, and Jet2 at least have said that they won't fly until this is lifted, as they're almost exclusively used by holidaymakers, so not essential travel, no matter how much you feel you need a holiday.

Hopefully any changes for the second half of July will be announced within the next few days, so at least you'll know whether or not your flight is going - because currently it's only 'not yet cancelled' rather than 'is definitely going'.

Hopefully they’ll be approved soon. DS’s was being processed on 29 May, approved 16 June , so 19 days total. Yours are day 20 so hopefully close now!
Mine went to Durham if that makes a difference.

The foreign office advice is a red herring as change is widely expected before 15 July.

I don’t know what you can do about the passports. Call again and beg?

If the flight goes, you should still be able to get a refund if you don't get on the plane, because your reasons for travel aren't essential.

The flight probably will go; there have been flights coming and going from Europe pretty much throughout this. But if you get on the plane and the official advice is still not to travel, then your insurance probably won't cover you while you're out there (up to you if you want to take this risk, but I wouldn't).

The foreign office probably will change the advice soon, but they might not. Doubt you'll be able to get a refund if you apply after they've changed it, so I'd do it now personally.

Apparently some passport applications are taking 3 months, and not having a passport isn't covered by most insurance:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/#passports

I sent my daughters off just before lockdown and it wasn’t approved until middle of may. It was in ‘processing’ stage for ages then all of a sudden approved and posted out. I was told back in may that they are prioritising urgent applications (government officials, people returning to Home Countries) but still processing others on a slower basis

You could drop them a message on Twitter and see if they will give you an update? I did a renewal recently and the processing bit took about two weeks, I think. Seems to depend on which passport office they’re sent to as well.

Hope the passports arrive in time and that you have a wonderful trip.

They are both at Durham together. Have been processing since 12th June. They won't mark as urgent. I just didn't know if an emergency document could be given?

I also sent my sons to Durham just before lockdown and it didn’t appear until the beginning of June - it took about 3 months in total.

Ours was also Durham- said processing 25 April then arrived in the post on 16 June. As the new blue design I don’t know if that additionally held things up along with C19?

My childs took about 3 weeks recently, it was digital though so might have been quicker than doing it manually.

Sorry I don't think there is anything you can do other than wait and cross your fingers. If it's being processed now there is a very good chance it will be with you, so plan to go. Don't lie and tell them there is an ill relative, they have said they can check. And you'd be hard pressed to prove you were in desperate need to see a desperately ill relative using flights you booked 14 months ago!

I'm going to phone again Fri and cry and beg!!! Don't know what else I can do. Check in is open for the flight so Jet 2 are obviously planning on flying... with or without us.

@Livingmybestliferight any updates? I've just sent my children's off for renewal and am having a little panic that they won't be back in time for 21st August

same as @caroloro due to fly 20th August but only realised ours were out of date on Tuesday - photos taken & verified and old passport all sent back that day but would also be interested to know if/when you all got yours back. All still subject to any changes to Spanish travel.