SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME:

I booked my round trip ticket from Miami to Italy (10/3 - 10/10) through Orbitz. No problem.

Tonight, I check in at the counter of Air Italy.

They print and hand me the tickets and I hand them my credit card to upgrade my seat.

The ticket agent then asks to see my passport again.

Then I AM TOLD I AM NOT ALLOWED TO FLY BECAUSE MY PASSPORT EXPIRES AT THE END OF DECEMBER AND THEY HAND ME MY PASSPORT, NO TICKETS.

Why would a current, valid, government-issued passport be REJECTED BEFORE its expiration date of 12/23/2018 when a US citizen has a round trip ticket that shows a return flight on the 10th? WHY HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE IF IT ISN’T TRULY THE DATE YOUR PASSPORT EXPIRES??

Air Italy says that I need at least 3 months prior to expiration in order to fly internationally. Although this was never mentioned or disclosed when I booked the trip!

So let’s put this into perspective.
3 months = 90 days and today is 88 days away from 12/23/2018.

This is unbelievable. This is theft. Neither Orbitz, not Air Italy should have sold me the ticket in the first place. Had anyone informed me of my need to renew my passport when I made the reservation... I WOULD HAVE HAPPILY DONE SO.

So I scheduled an appointment at the MIAMI passport office tomorrow morning to get a same-day renewed passport ($200) in order to then wait for Air Italy’s next flight (Friday) only to then pay an additional $200 to change my flight (not including the upgrade which they have no way of telling me if they have a business class seat available to upgrade to until I arrive at the airport Friday)... and THEN I get to purchase a new connecting flight from Milan to Rome!!!

Does ANYONE have any suggestions on this?? Shouldn’t Orbitz have to refund me (plus all additional fees) for selling me the tickets that I am unable to use and for never disclosing this 3 month to expiration rule that is NOT POSTED ANYWHERE?!?!

How is anyone supposed to know about this?!?
.
.
.
#incrediblydisappointed
#beyondpissed