Originally Posted by
libuser
Often1 actually you are incorrect. Here are the reqs taken out of TIMATIC(what AA checks then checking folks in):
Canada - Destination Passport
Passport required.
Travel without passport is possible for:
Nationals of the USA with a recommended proof of citizenship such as a:
- US birth certificate; or
- US certificate of citizenship; or
- US certificate of naturalization.
Document validity rules:
Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for the period of intended stay.
Warning: if departing from the USA (regardless of any destination passport exemptions), a valid passport and/or accepted departure document is required by the US immigration authorities.
Additional information:
Holders of proof of citizenship issued by USA not holding a valid passport; will be granted entry upon arrival only after examination by a Canadian Border Services Officer if having satisfied the officer about their citizenship.
So there we have it. It will be 100% fine as this is what the above says. She will have to go through a secondary in YYZ but we will be totally fine with that!
I am indeed correct. You have only 50% of the equation. I never remotely suggested that your SO won't be admitted to Canada. Only that she may (likely will) be denied boarding by AA because CBP requires that departing air pax have a Passport and that USN's travel on their US Passport.
TIMATIC is IATA's website database and, while it is true that AA generally relies on it, all of the LGA agents (frankly all agents at US departure points) are well aware that CBP rules require a Passport for air departures from the US (for whatever reason, no such requirement for land crossings). I excerpted the language below and also provided a full link. Your SO is, of course free to attempt whatever she wants, but because others read this board, its important for them to know that you posted 1/2 of the rules and if it works for your SO that's great, but doesn't mean that it will in general.
Also, I noticed that while you show DC as home base, your SO is departing LGA. Presuming that she is NYC-based, there is also a Passport Agency in NYC which can handle expedited Passport issuance.
Will a bored AA agent boarding a routine transborder flight care about all of this? Maybe. If he does, your SO won't be traveling and will wish that she had paid a simple visit to the Passport Agency. If the agent doesn't, she'll have her visit to Canada with perhaps a secondary on either end. It's all about risk tolerance.
Document Requirements for Air Travel
All U.S. citizens ... departing from or entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere at air ports of entry are required to present a valid passport, NEXUS card....
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizen...ocs-air-travel