Passport expiring in two months, trouble for my friend?

[Patri]

Just talked to a friend who is going to Germany next week. She happened to mention her passport expires in April. Is she going to run into trouble here or there? I told her about the six month deal. She said, “Oh, well, I’ll renew it when I get back.”

 

[DeniseM]

They may not let her board the plane - she should contact the airline immediately. If she needs a new passport, she can get an expedited one for a fee, but she should go to work on it immediately.

 

[sponger76]

Just talked to a friend who is going to Germany next week. She happened to mention her passport expires in April. Is she going to run into trouble here or there? I told her about the six month deal. She said, “Oh, well, I’ll renew it when I get back.”

Her passport will be required to have a validity a certain number of months beyond the period of intended stay. If the airline is doing things properly, she won't even be able to board the plane. If she somehow does get to Germany, she will be refused entry, the airline will be fined, and she'll be forced to return to the U.S. She should look at getting an appointment for an expedited passport issuance.

 

[dioxide45]

While the country may allow someone to travel with a passport less than six months from expiration, some airlines and even individual airline employees don't know or don't care. It is best to read the State Department information as well as information for the destination country. It does seem that a passport valid for three months beyond your planned date of departure is required when traveling to the Europe Schengen Area. If she acts now she can get a passport in time if she visits a passport office.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Your friend should apply for expedited passport renewal online STAT or she will ruin her trip. Does she have have trip insurance if she is denied entry and must cancel or cannot get the passport in time.

 

[dioxide45]

Your friend should apply for expedited passport renewal online STAT or they will ruin their trip. Do they have trip insurance if they are denied entry and must cancel?

I don't even think an online expedited would be fast enough for next week. Monday is also a holiday. They probably need to visit in person and get a same day passport. Trip insurance usually won't cover issues related to lack of travel documentation.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I don't even think an online expedited would be fast enough for next week. Monday is also a holiday. They probably need to visit in person and get a same day passport. Trip insurance usually won't cover issues related to lack of travel documentation.

Got it. I misread the title that said 2 months. Either way, not a good situation.

 

[DeniseM]

She can get a walk-in passport at some passport offices - I got one at the San Francisco office. Her local senator or representative can help her get an appointment if she calls them.

 

[Patri]

I thought all this might be true. I did read about Schengen. She refuses to learn how to use the internet, so she can’t even look all this up. She is a talker, but I will steel myself and call her.
I just did. She was floored with the news. The flight is Monday. She is calling the airline now. Lufthansa.

 

[Patri]

Yep, my concern was valid. The agent said she might get to Germany, but they would send her right back home. So I saved her lots of grief. She is not going.
Thank you, everyone.

 

[dioxide45]

Yep, my concern was valid. The agent said she might get to Germany, but they would send her right back home. So I saved her lots of grief. She is not going.
Thank you, everyone.

She is able to easily cancel the trip like that without penalty?

 

[moonstone]

Just talked to a friend who is going to Germany next week. She happened to mention her passport expires in April. Is she going to run into trouble here or there? I told her about the six month deal. She said, “Oh, well, I’ll renew it when I get back.”

She might want to renew using the emergency renewal route, assuming the USA has one like we have in Canada where we can get one in 48 hrs.
As per Schengen rules; "PASSPORT VALIDITY: Three months beyond planned date of departure from the Schengen area." But then from Google for rules to visit Germany; No visa needed for stays under 90 days, but your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date.


~Diane

 

[davidvel]

She might want to renew using the emergency renewal route, assuming the USA has one like we have in Canada where we can get one in 48 hrs.
As per Schengen rules; "PASSPORT VALIDITY: Three months beyond planned date of departure from the Schengen area." But then from Google for rules to visit Germany; No visa needed for stays under 90 days, but your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date.


~Diane

Her flight is in 2 days. Both of which are weekend/holidays. The earliest she could get in would be a day after her flight.

 

[dioxide45]

Her flight is in 2 days. Both of which are weekend/holidays. The earliest she could get in would be a day after her flight.

Passport offices can do same day passports. I went to Detroit to do one after I became a US Citizen and was traveling in a couple weeks. They didn't overnight mine to me since I didn't need it right away, but I could have returned that afternoon to pick it up. Of course there would have to be appointments available at their nearest location which could still be a long way from where they live.

Unfortunately that still likely won't help the OP's friend as they probably can't pick it up until after their flight has departed.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I hope her trip insurance covers this. Expensive mistake.

@Patri Although she must be upset at the messenger, you are a good friend to save her grief at the airport. No matter what she believes, this was her responsibility to take care of this renewal earlier.

 

[Patri]

She was flying alone. The flight was paid for using frequent flyer miles. She thought she could get them restored. Don't know how that works between cc companies and airlines. I told her to call the cc today to get that rolling. No idea if she will. She was going to visit friends in Germany and will call them tomorrow with the news (because of the time difference.) She did not have travel insurance. Might be a hard lesson for her.
Thanks CalGal. Sometimes she is annoying and I debated not bothering to alert her. She had even called someone else after me, and that person told her she’d be fine. But I will sleep better tonight knowing she will not be going on a doomed trip.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

If she is on frequent flyer miles and notifies the airline in advance she should be able to get her points re-deposited. Should not wait though. Many airlines will take the points if within a certain time of the flight departing. If she is staying with friends then that should not incur cost other than emotion of not being able to see them.

 

[dioxide45]

Many airlines have really loosened cancellation restrictions on award flights.

 

[Luanne]

You can pretty much cancel same day and get your frequent flyer miles back. You don't have to call, you can do it online. However since the friend doesn't use the internet she will need to call.

 

[davidvel]

Passport offices can do same day passports. I went to Detroit to do one after I became a US Citizen and was traveling in a couple weeks. They did overnight mine to me since I didn't need it right away, but I could have returned that afternoon to pick it up. Of course there would have to be appointments available at their nearest location which could still be a long way from where they live.

Unfortunately that still likely won't help the OP's friend as they probably can't pick it up until after their flight has departed.

I didn't know passport offices are open on weekends and federal holidays. Maybe for celebrities and other elites?

 

[dioxide45]

I didn't know passport offices are open on weekends and federal holidays. Maybe for celebrities and other elites?

No, if my reference was to if the friend was able to go Tuesday morning. They could still potentially pick it up the same day.

 

[pedro47]

Suggestion to the OP, your friend needs to locate the nearest Passport Office to them and visit it ASAP…..So much is changing with the federal government in 2025. They need to bring picture ID, birth certificate and their old Passport and cash or a credit card. They need to go early in the morning, so they can pick up their Passport later that same day. Probably after 4PM……IMHO.

good luck

 

[beejaybee]

Thanks CalGal. Sometimes she is annoying and I debated not bothering to alert her. She had even called someone else after me, and that person told her she’d be fine. But I will sleep better tonight knowing she will not be going on a doomed trip.

Patri, I have a friend like that. It is annoying to share facts only to be second-guessed. But it happens every time she asks for advice, or I inform her of a potential issue such as letting her know that to use her United Club passes she needed to show that day's boarding pass for a UA flight (she was flying Alaska). Of course, she had to call United to determine if I was correct. But if I'd kept my mouth shut, she'd have made her way to a different terminal at SeaTac with her husband with dementia in tow only to be turned away.

Kudos to you for your caring!

 

[am1]

I hope her trip insurance covers this. Expensive mistake.

@Patri Although she must be upset at the messenger, you are a good friend to save her grief at the airport. No matter what she believes, this was her responsibility to take care of this renewal earlier.

Why? That spreads her failure to plan any know the basics to all of us.

I feel the same about car insurance when people drive recklessly or have no wherewithal when it comes to driving.

 

[dioxide45]

I hope her trip insurance covers this. Expensive mistake.

I am not aware of a single trip insurance policy that covers lack of planning and failure to have the right documentation to travel. It sounds like they will likely get all their points back anyway. Though it may depend on how they booked. Did they use miles for a codeshare flight through United or another airline or direct using Lufthansa. There may be a cancellation fee and that wouldn't be covered by insurance either.