Today, after months of planning and saving for our honeymoon in Italy, my wife and I were turned away at the airport because my passport only has a month until it expires, even though it's only a five-day trip. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I went to the airport to start the amazing 3 week vacation in Costa Rica that I've been saving for and planning for more than a year. They wouldn't let me on the plane because my passport expires in less than 6 months. FML
Today, after cancelling work, arguing with my family, scrambling to pack my bags, speeding to the airport and filling in immigration forms to fly out to have a much needed holiday, I wasn't allowed to check in. My passport has less than 6 months away from expiration on it. Yes, that's a thing, apparently. FML
Today, the day before my wife and I leave for our 1 year anniversary trip, I realized my passport expires in 2014, not 2015. Instead of a week's stay at an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, we'll be spending three days in Louisville. Three angry days in Louisville. FML
Today, my husband told me that he can't find his passport. We're supposed to be leaving for Prague in two days. He's known about the trip for months. It was the anniversary vacation that was going to help our frayed relationship. Now my money is going to a hotel in Prague, but I'm not. FML
Today, I finally received my passport. Too bad my flight to Italy left last week. FML
Today, I found out that my passport expired two days ago, two days before my first vacation abroad. I only found out when the airline employee scanned it at check-in, looked at me with sympathy, and said, "I don't think you're going anywhere today." My friends are currently posting beach photos while I'm filling out passport renewal forms. FML
Today, I went with my girlfriend to the airport for some much needed vacation time. We arrived on time but were stopped at the gate when they told me I didn't have the right passport. The plane left without me. My girlfriend did too. FML
Today, after spending 2 years saving for my flights, I was denied boarding due to issues with my passport. I heading straight to the embassy only to be told a replacement will take 8 days. The airline will only hold my place for 7. FML
Today, after we got married five months ago, my wife and I planned a trip to France and Spain as a honeymoon. We’re supposed to be leaving on Saturday. She just told me last night, “I am so not looking forward to the trip.” FML
Today, I went to the airport for my two week trip to explore Europe. My ticket was denied and the workers turned me away. When I asked why, they told me to check the date. My ticket was for June 22nd, not July. FML
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Top comments
sherri_baby88 36
Well I for one had no idea it was like that. I don't think OP deserved it at all. That's awful because their dream honeymoon was ruined.
lukcy_basartd 11
Despite all the rules, regulations and basic shit that you should have an understanding of, NOBODY deserves this shit. Dumbass procedures and policies revolving around an unexpired passport...what a ******* joke. Sorry OP, hope you newly weds still find a time n place to have a honeymoon. Furthermore, I really hope you got a decent amount of coin back from what you paid into.
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Comments (113)
wdunh69733 24
I'm a former airline supervisor. The two common reasons we had to deny boarding was booking in the married name and traveling with a maiden name on the passport and the passport expiration. Not all countries have the six month rule though. What you have to understand, from the airlines perspective, is if you're denied entry into a country for travel documents, the airline is fined and is responsible fit your return. It isn't the airline making the rules, it's the state departments of each country. It sucked to tell someone they couldn't go. But at the same time, travelers should take the time to research visa and entry requirements. It's why travel agents are invaluable for foreign travel.
mrBearBear 11
That really sucks but it should've been something you look into. Even if it's "only a 5 day trip" people spontaneously extend their stays all the time so I'm sure that's why that rule is in place.
edmunson 22
Ok, everyone "THAT TRAVELS INTERNATIONALLY AT ALL" should know that less than 6 months remaining on your passport gets you denied access, but for those that only travel once every few years it is your responsibility to LEARN THE RULES before you buy your tickets! Sorry, but YDI on this one.
lovely234_fml 16
This is super weird, but last weekend my grandma told me about a person ahead of her in line at the airport who had this exact problem. I wonder if it was you? I think they were in Chicago. I'll have to ask her, because that would be weird.
rockydify 22
You deserve it. It's pretty basic. You need six months on your passport. Why did you now know this?
PrincessShiraz 11
Everyone commenting YDI is condescending and lame. Who checks to see if something unexpired is still usable? Is there anything else in the entire world that this is true for? So why would you ever think it would be true for this? Might as well say YDI for getting food poisoning from x unexpired food because "everyone knows" that one particular food goes bad three weeks before its expiration date.
ReilyStafford 13
Well, think of it like this. Would you let someone into your country knowing their single identification document would become invalid before they had to leave?? Many countries have this rule and it is up to the recipient country to accept or deny someone. So yeh, this is a YDI in my book. Ignorance of the law isn't a good excuse.
brezzyanna 17
ReilyStafford You're being a condescending dick. How do you know these rules about the passport? Because someone told you. Not everyone travels often, and it's not an obvious thing to check for.
Nastally 7
The food/passport comparison is ridiculous. This is very basic travel knowledge, nobody 'told' me this, I found it out while doing my research before I first travelled abroad independently in my early 20s.
catanita 18
This is a well known fact amongst those who travel abroad often. Bot for those who travel once or twice a year is a novelty. I think when you go and apply for a passport, those authorities must inform you about this kind of stuff. I think the passport is no longer usable if it has six months or less until it expires.
tounces7 28
Since when can you be turned away because something is "almost" expired? Do they not understand the concept of expiration?
ReilyStafford 13
You get a 90 day visa to stay in Italy. Why should they give you that if your passport will expire in < 90 days?? Don't you get the concept of a visa?
Nastally 7
Since when do people not know how passports work?
spellwing 1
I work at a passport center, and here's what's mist likely going on: Italy, like most European countries, impose a requirement that our American passports must have 6months validity left on it. This requirement varies from country to country, so you should always check at our website, travel.state.gov, and see that. I don't know if op has an American passport or not, but that's my best guess.
howyagoin 4
The terms and conditions of travel are outlined in your e-ticket. With international travel you generally can't travel on a passport with less than 6 months remaining.