total c0ck up! HELP

popette
popette Posts: 2,089
edited August 2009 in The bottom bracket
When packing the passports for our holiday to France yesterday, I noticed, with horror, that my daughter's passport expired two weeks ago. I went to the passport office but they couldn't do anything until Monday. So, half my family are driving to France today and me and my daughter are going to the passport office and then hopefully on an easyjet flight to Geneva to catch up with them.

When I booked the flights yesterday, they asked for passport details. Of course, I can't enter details of the expired passport. I'll be able to provide details tomorrow either online from my laptop which I'll take to the passport office or in person at the airport. My appointment is 8.30, I need to be at the airport by 12.45. It's a fu<king nightmare, entirely of my own making. I feel sick that I'm separated from the others and my husband is having to drive 13 hours without his usual shift partner. Worse, I'm terrified of flying and think I'm going to have to get a bit drunk to get on the plane.

Has anyone else had to provide passport details before when booking a flight? have you done it on the same day as travelling? have you only provided details when you turned up at the airport? is it possible to book flights on the same day (I ask because if I miss the liverpool flight, I'm going to have to go from East Midlands).

And I thought my only dilemma about this holiday was whether to take the MTB or the Roadie (MTB in the end - supposed to be our family holiday so will be doing lots of slow bicycle riding with the kids).
http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com

Comments

  • BigG67
    BigG67 Posts: 582
    May sound obvious but call Easyjet now and explain, rather than risk it tomorrow.

    I don't use them but haven't been asked by other airlines for passport details for European travel only when travelling to the USA. So it sounds like an Easyjet policy rather than a Gov requirement.
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    If you can, get your daughters photos done today, I'm guessing she will need them? A friend of mine lost his passport recently, went to the Embassy in Geneva to get a new one so he could get home and they didn't have any facilities there to take photos. He had to leave the embassy and go hunting for somewhere to get them done.

    Maybe they will be able to take them at whichever passport office you go to, but maybe it will save you a bit of time to have them already done?
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    easier said than done - just trawled through their website and finally found a 65p a minute number but "due to regulations, your call has to be terminated immediately" (automated message). mmmmm.....

    I see that I can book flights for geneva today so I guess they don't need the passport number 24 hours before flying or anything like that.
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    If you can, get your daughters photos done today, I'm guessing she will need them? A friend of mine lost his passport recently, went to the Embassy in Geneva to get a new one so he could get home and they didn't have any facilities there to take photos. He had to leave the embassy and go hunting for somewhere to get them done.

    Maybe they will be able to take them at whichever passport office you go to, but maybe it will save you a bit of time to have them already done?

    hiya - yes, I have the photos and form etc - I got it all ready for yesterdays wild goose chase to the passport office. The helpline people said that I should go down to the office on the off chance that they had cancellations but I was stopped pretty much at the door.
    Thanks :-)
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Karen, do you want me to go and speak to Easyjet to find out?

    I'm at work so not a problem!
  • Special K
    Special K Posts: 449
    Put in what is obvious to a human as being a dummy number, or use the expired number. We used a dummy number for our daughter because we booked flights before she had a passport (in fact before she was born). Made no odds to the check in staff.
    "There are holes in the sky,
    Where the rain gets in.
    But they're ever so small
    That's why rain is thin. " Spike Milligan
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Karen, do you want me to go and speak to Easyjet to find out?

    I'm at work so not a problem!
    yes please Alex! that would be fantastic of you. I will have a passport tomorrow - just need to know if they need the passport details in advance (can also do that but will be a faff to find wifi at the passport office) or if presenting the passport at check in is sufficient. Thank you so much for offering to help :-)

    Just called Eurotunnel to see if my husband can pick up the tickets that I booked with my debit card without me being there with said credit card. First response was no, he wouldn't be able to travel but after some deliberation, they said he can present himself at the manual check in booth, tell the whole sorry story and he should be ok to go through.

    I need a drink. If I smoked, I would have one of them too.
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • Special K
    Special K Posts: 449
    Sorry, not so sure of my facts now. Will check with the wife as to what we did, but we definitely booked tickets before cost centre number 1 was born
    "There are holes in the sky,
    Where the rain gets in.
    But they're ever so small
    That's why rain is thin. " Spike Milligan
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Karen, PM me your mobile number, I'm going over now.
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    I'd echo the idea of using the old number, so long as you have the new one in time for the flight. The check in staff only want it as proof of ID for getting on the flight anyway. And whatever you do, DO NOT get even a little bit drunk and run the risk of not being allowed to board! :wink:
  • popette
    popette Posts: 2,089
    thanks specialK and GavH. I'll wait to hear from Alex and then will put in a fake number - well, can put the right number in but will edit the expiry dates.

    I'm with my 6 year old so can't get plastered anyway but just a little nip to take the edge off the nerves. I keep telling myself that I can get up Ventoux in 40 degree heat on the etape so I can definitely get on a plane for 2 hours. I think having her there will make me brave - Ithink that we'll be playing infinite games of hangman.

    Ok. Alex, you are great! as others said and Alex now confirms, the number is irrelevant. As long as I have a valid passport tomorrow, I should be fine.

    thank you everyone - I knew you'd have the answers.
    http://www.2010etape.blogspot.com
  • LittleB0b
    LittleB0b Posts: 416
    popette wrote:

    Just called Eurotunnel to see if my husband can pick up the tickets that I booked with my debit card without me being there with said credit card. First response was no, he wouldn't be able to travel but after some deliberation, they said he can present himself at the manual check in booth, tell the whole sorry story and he should be ok to go through.

    We travelled by euro tunnel over the summer - and even though they ask you to have the card - you don't need to use it - a computer reads your number plate - then a screeen asks you if xxxxxx is yours and if you are mrs xxxxx - you just say yes. We never had to do anything with the card we paid on.
    blog: bellevedere
  • BigG67
    BigG67 Posts: 582
    Now....relax, and look forward to a lovely holiday..... :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Seeing as you haven't got husband around, go out for lunch with a gf you have't seen in ages and hit the shops to help you relax!
  • sicknote
    sicknote Posts: 901
    If you need passport photo's and have a photo printer, you can do your own for free at epassportphoto.

    I have use it before and you will get 6 passport photo's on an 6x4 photo paper and easy to use. :):)

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