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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a holiday before a passport arrives?

74 replies

MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 21:18

Found a really good deal today for a week’s holiday abroad during Easter. Got all excited, dug the passports out and have realised that ds(12)’s is out of date! 😫… This would never have happened I’d it wasn’t for bloody Covid!!

Anyway, I’ve booked a fast track, so it’ll be here for 5th April… as long as the week fast track works! Doe any one have experience of it not working?

The date of the holiday is 8th, so cutting it very fine!

Would you?!

OP posts:
resuwen · 20/03/2022 21:55

I always rolled my eyes at these, until I miscalculated the length of time left on DS's passport and realised 8 days before a long anticipated, very expensive long-haul trip with a big group of friends. Cue an emergency six hour drive to the nearest passport office and lots of crossed fingers, it all worked out, but it was very stressful! So no, I don't think I'd do it again on purpose!

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 22:08

@MurmuratingStarling

And all the LOLz at yet ANOTHER 'we are going on holiday, and I just discovered my child's passport is out of date' thread.

We were due one. Been at least a week. Wink

Thanks @MurmuratingStarling That’s was your second snotty comment. This was your first (and totally unnecessary)….

MurmuratingStarling

HaggisBurger
@MurmuratingStarling the whole point of the fast track is you are guaranteed it in one week though!! And they check it when you bring the form ….
I didn't notice the OP say she wanted to use 1-week fast track blush

My bad. And I am not even drinking!

As you were. I'm out. Sorry. Hope you get your passport @MsWalterMitty

OP posts:
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 22:10

@resuwen

I always rolled my eyes at these, until I miscalculated the length of time left on DS's passport and realised 8 days before a long anticipated, very expensive long-haul trip with a big group of friends. Cue an emergency six hour drive to the nearest passport office and lots of crossed fingers, it all worked out, but it was very stressful! So no, I don't think I'd do it again on purpose!
In the 12 yrs my ds has been alive he has always had an in date passport as pre-covid we were away all the time.

Not going away for the past 2 years has meant it’s lapsed without me even thinking about it!

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 20/03/2022 22:12

We’ve booked but not til June and both mine and DDs passports needed renewing.

On the non fast track it’s taken 16 days for me to receive the notice that they are now en route and should be here tomorrow.

Hope yours come through in time, but it’s be a bit too squeaky bum time for me.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 20/03/2022 22:13

Does the one week in fast track include the delivery? That can take longer than usual atm and you don’t have much wriggle room.

You’re braver than me op if you book a holiday without even starting the renewal process,

Have you checked your other passports are actually within the 10 years from their start dates, not just their expiry dates, and your EHIC cards too while you’re at it?

betwixtlives · 20/03/2022 22:15

How is it covid’s fault? Confused

Singlebutmarried · 20/03/2022 22:17

@betwixtlives

How is it covid’s fault? Confused
I’d not looked at ours for the last two years as we haven’t needed to use them.

So when I booked and then looked at them it was a bit of an opps moment.

So yes, due to Covid our passports expired. I’ve not needed any photo ID in that time either.

HaggisBurger · 20/03/2022 22:17

When you book the one week thing you can pay a little extra to get tracked delivery. As I say - I did book my holiday knowing I’d have to do this. You don’t need your passport number til the day or so before. I’m hopeful all will be well. The British passport office is pretty damn efficient in my experience (that’s why I decided to get a first British passport on the one week fast track for my child rather than renew with the other nationality we are entitled to 😉).

Muchtoomuchtodo · 20/03/2022 22:17

@betwixtlives

How is it covid’s fault? Confused
I assume because many people used to travel overseas far more regularly so would have kept a more frequent eye on things like passport expiry dates,
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 22:18

@Muchtoomuchtodo

Does the one week in fast track include the delivery? That can take longer than usual atm and you don’t have much wriggle room.

You’re braver than me op if you book a holiday without even starting the renewal process,

Have you checked your other passports are actually within the 10 years from their start dates, not just their expiry dates, and your EHIC cards too while you’re at it?

Yeah, it’s supposed to include delivery in that too. But we’ll see.

I’m still in 2 minds about booking.

The others are all in date

OP posts:
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 22:20

@betwixtlives

How is it covid’s fault? Confused
Well it’s not actually covid’s fault! It’s mine for not checking. But the reason I haven’t checked as regularly as I usually do… or noticed. Is because I haven’t been away in the past 2 years, which is because of covid
OP posts:
thinkfast · 20/03/2022 22:27

My son's 1 week fast track last summer took 10 days

HaggisBurger · 20/03/2022 22:29

@thinkfast

My son's 1 week fast track last summer took 10 days
Oh god! 😬
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 20/03/2022 22:46

@thinkfast

My son's 1 week fast track last summer took 10 days
Did you complain?
OP posts:
ChristmasCovid · 20/03/2022 22:59

It’s guaranteed 7 days unless there is a problem.

If the photos are rejected - it’s delayed.
If your countersignature person is rejected - it’s delayed.
If you don’t take all the correct paperwork - it’s delayed.
If you make a mistake on the form, spell a name wrong, put incorrect dob etc it’s delayed.
If the examiner asks for extra details it’s delayed.
If the courier decides they need a signature (which they can at any time) and you are not in to sign - it’s delayed.

If your going to do it, check everything - take a spare form with you. Make sure the photos meet the guidelines.
Good luck.

Yes used to work for pp office, still amazes me how many people fill in details incorrectly on the forms.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 20/03/2022 23:02

I got my passport renewal in less than a week a few months ago and that was not with fast track service so I think you'll be fine. However, as pp said, I think you'll need the passport number to actually book the holiday but that won't change with a new passport will it, so you could just copy the number now
Or is that a stupid question?

ChristmasCovid · 20/03/2022 23:06

You get a new ppt number with every ppt btw.- they are not the same.
You shouldn’t actually need the ppt number to book the holiday, but you do have to provide it to the airline before the flight.

HaggisBurger · 21/03/2022 08:58

@QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat

I got my passport renewal in less than a week a few months ago and that was not with fast track service so I think you'll be fine. However, as pp said, I think you'll need the passport number to actually book the holiday but that won't change with a new passport will it, so you could just copy the number now Or is that a stupid question?
It’s definitely a new passport number!! But you don’t need a passport number to book a flight or a holiday no. The only exception is the US (Esta form) or somewhere with a visa which I’m highly doubting is the case here). You’d need it about 24 hours in advance for a passenger locator form or equivalent
HaggisBurger · 22/03/2022 11:29

@MsWalterMitty - what did you do? Not book? Just got a text to say the passport will be out in a few days (this was from the Fast Track appt late on Friday). It says officially they don’t update you. But I take that to mean someone else has physically looked at the form and approved it as there was always a possibility of queries (even though it was checked at the counter in the passport office). 🤞🏼 I get it tomorrow or Thursday.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 22/03/2022 11:39

I love a good passport thread - why hasn't anyone been on to blame Brexit yet?

bakermummy21 · 22/03/2022 11:47

Our passports came a few days ago and took under 3 weeks to arrive. Normal & and not fast tracked.

HotChoc10 · 22/03/2022 11:49

With a fast track it should be fine - that's the point surely! I got mine (non fast tracked) in 2 weeks recently.

LGY1 · 22/03/2022 11:51

Had the 7 day fast track appointment on 10th March.
Still waiting for passport, we go on Friday! I spent 7 hours on the phone getting nowhere yesterday!!
Even the phone operators tell you it’s not 7 days, could be 10+ (not what the website says!!)

Flockameanie · 22/03/2022 12:04

@LGY1

Had the 7 day fast track appointment on 10th March. Still waiting for passport, we go on Friday! I spent 7 hours on the phone getting nowhere yesterday!! Even the phone operators tell you it’s not 7 days, could be 10+ (not what the website says!!)
Oh god don’t say that!

We’ve got a fast track apt next week for DS’s passport for a much-needed holiday on 9th April. They’d need to get it back to us in 8 working days. It’s beyond stressful.

(By the way, we did send his passport off the usual method about 3.5 weeks ago, but I think they or the post office lost it - many many phone calls to the passport office over the past 10 days trying to find out whether they have it or not have been like banging our head against the wall. So we cut out losses and booked a fast track apt. Next Weds is the first available date one is us able to get to London for the apt…)

ChicCroissant · 22/03/2022 12:09

No, I wouldn't risk it. We still don't get mail every day here so even if the passport was processed I'd be worried about the delivery.

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