Andz
Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2016
- Posts
- 133
Booked and planned family trip in November 2017.
Arrived at the airport yesterday at 6am to fly Perth to Bail. Stood in the queue and when we got to the check-in desk we were refused boarding as my 5 yr old duaghter’s passport was 5 months and 2 weeks from expiring.
Stupidly my wife and I decided to split and she and my second daughter would fly ahead and I would join later that day or the next day.
Rushed to Perth passport office, first in line at 7.30am. Called the help line to make an appointment and the lovely lady told me that my wife was needed to sign the application form. Called her and and luckily the check-in systems had crashed and she hadn't check in. She joined me in the queue 30 min later.
Called the travel agent and no economy seats that night and business class at $3500 extra, ouch, temped. We would make a decision once we got the passport. Googled priority passport application and time frame varied between 5 hours to 2 days. We hoped for 5 hours.
Waited until 10.30 for an apportionment, had to produce original birth certificate. rushed home and got the certificate. Application submitted at 11am. Priority application takes up to 3 days. Paid for priority. "Can't guarantee when it would be ready". Decide to wait in the passport office. Waited until 4pm when they locked up and kicked us out and we went home realising that we had lost our outbound flight and holiday.
Called travel agent and we were able to save the inbound date and didn't lose the ticket (Lovely lady at BYOJET). Checked the internet for Friday departures and a one way, for 4 people, was $3500 (business class) ouch (school holiday)!!!!!.
The most stressful situation of my life, and I have been in many more dangerous ones. The family looking at you at the airport for superman to fly in with a replacement passport and save the day. Daughter looking at you with big open eyes that were saying...” What now DAD!!!!!!”.
Trying to make a bad situation worst by not accepting the situation and not cutting your loses is manic.
Decided that night to cut our loses, rescheduled out trip for 1 week, reschedule our leave, re booked vocational care and day care for next week and went to bed.
Got a call from the passport office this morning and collected the passport at 9am. Hotel changed our booking at no cost, booked new flights, cheaper than last night.
Cancelled inbound flight and got back taxes.leaving next Friday for 9 days....
Arrived at the airport yesterday at 6am to fly Perth to Bail. Stood in the queue and when we got to the check-in desk we were refused boarding as my 5 yr old duaghter’s passport was 5 months and 2 weeks from expiring.
Stupidly my wife and I decided to split and she and my second daughter would fly ahead and I would join later that day or the next day.
Rushed to Perth passport office, first in line at 7.30am. Called the help line to make an appointment and the lovely lady told me that my wife was needed to sign the application form. Called her and and luckily the check-in systems had crashed and she hadn't check in. She joined me in the queue 30 min later.
Called the travel agent and no economy seats that night and business class at $3500 extra, ouch, temped. We would make a decision once we got the passport. Googled priority passport application and time frame varied between 5 hours to 2 days. We hoped for 5 hours.
Waited until 10.30 for an apportionment, had to produce original birth certificate. rushed home and got the certificate. Application submitted at 11am. Priority application takes up to 3 days. Paid for priority. "Can't guarantee when it would be ready". Decide to wait in the passport office. Waited until 4pm when they locked up and kicked us out and we went home realising that we had lost our outbound flight and holiday.
Called travel agent and we were able to save the inbound date and didn't lose the ticket (Lovely lady at BYOJET). Checked the internet for Friday departures and a one way, for 4 people, was $3500 (business class) ouch (school holiday)!!!!!.
The most stressful situation of my life, and I have been in many more dangerous ones. The family looking at you at the airport for superman to fly in with a replacement passport and save the day. Daughter looking at you with big open eyes that were saying...” What now DAD!!!!!!”.
Trying to make a bad situation worst by not accepting the situation and not cutting your loses is manic.
Decided that night to cut our loses, rescheduled out trip for 1 week, reschedule our leave, re booked vocational care and day care for next week and went to bed.
Got a call from the passport office this morning and collected the passport at 9am. Hotel changed our booking at no cost, booked new flights, cheaper than last night.
Cancelled inbound flight and got back taxes.leaving next Friday for 9 days....
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