Air Canada Passport purgatory
Aug 15, 2017, 10:15 am
#1
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Air Canada Passport purgatory
I was flying to Panama and checked in at YYZ 100k desk. Supervisor call, small water stain on my passport. Supervisor allows me to use the passport one more time and warns me that I need a new passport before flying again internationally. Upon my return, I go to passport Canada to get a new one. They disagree, passport is not damaged enough to apply for replacement. I ask to renew, but they do not allow as there are 8 years left. They say they make the rules and not Air Canada.
After much pleading with a Passport Canada supervisor they give me a replacement passport. Strange situation.
After much pleading with a Passport Canada supervisor they give me a replacement passport. Strange situation.
Aug 15, 2017, 10:19 am
#2
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Last time I checked, Passport Canada doesn't work at the airport. So therefore AC was correct and everyone else in the universe is wrong.
Glad you got your new passport, and hope it was worth the hassle.
Glad you got your new passport, and hope it was worth the hassle.
Aug 15, 2017, 10:23 am
#3
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You absolutely qualify under Passport Canada's rules.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passpor...ost-stolen.asp
A passport is considered damaged if it:
- makes it difficult to identify the holder
- looks like it has been changed or falsified
- has been denied by an airline or at a point of entry due to damage
Aug 15, 2017, 12:08 pm
#5
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You absolutely qualify under Passport Canada's rules.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passpor...ost-stolen.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passpor...ost-stolen.asp
Aug 15, 2017, 12:59 pm
#6
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Aug 15, 2017, 1:49 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
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I was flying to Panama and checked in at YYZ 100k desk. Supervisor call, small water stain on my passport. Supervisor allows me to use the passport one more time and warns me that I need a new passport before flying again internationally. Upon my return, I go to passport Canada to get a new one. They disagree, passport is not damaged enough to apply for replacement. I ask to renew, but they do not allow as there are 8 years left. They say they make the rules and not Air Canada.
After much pleading with a Passport Canada supervisor they give me a replacement passport. Strange situation.
After much pleading with a Passport Canada supervisor they give me a replacement passport. Strange situation.
Aug 15, 2017, 2:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Thankfully you got your passport replaced but there would have been an easy enough solution to further damage it with a larger spill had you been denied.
I just replaced my passport as it was full (!)... and still had 7 years left before it expired. Agent was still suspicious and asked me why I wanted to get a new one...
I just replaced my passport as it was full (!)... and still had 7 years left before it expired. Agent was still suspicious and asked me why I wanted to get a new one...
Aug 15, 2017, 4:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2015
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Classic limbo situation. Passport has had a few "hard landings" as they tend to when you travel a lot. Some countries / airlines don't care as long as the ID page isn't damaged, but some are meticulous (ahem, Russia). But Passport Canada has a fairly high threshold for damage - I had a passport where the last six pages had been completely soaked, all the ink was blurred and some transferred to other pages, Indian immigration had hassled me about it, but they still refused replacement until it was time to renew. AC may have gone a little over board but better to play this one safe and get a replacement.
Aug 15, 2017, 4:45 pm
#10
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these 10 year passports do require tender loving care and attention if they are going to make to expirey date. I was in the Caribbean recently, hotter than Hades, had my freshly minted 10 year passport get sweat soaked with the outer casing starting to curl, luckily the inside pages were fine, but Im not convinced it will make the 10 years without having to get a new one...
Aug 15, 2017, 5:03 pm
#12
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While OP has not been denied entry, something that can only occur at the behest of a foreign government, not AC staff, the fact remains that it is the professional judgment of the AC staff that the passport may cause a problem, at least to Panamanian authorities.
Would seem foolish for Canadian authorities to deny a replacement passport until one has gone through the maw of being denied.
Would seem foolish for Canadian authorities to deny a replacement passport until one has gone through the maw of being denied.
Aug 15, 2017, 5:09 pm
#13
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Speaking as someone whose friend managed to rip photo page (while in Russia incidently) he also had to get a new one.
Despite managing to leave Russia, re-enter Russia and return home without any issues.
I keep mine in a RFID case. And it's still damaged from various trips to consulates (especially China) and the delights of Russian immigration on the trans-Siberian railway at 2am. Your passport joins a pile of 50 and disappears for a few hours.
I have no idea why passport Canada would complain given the recent rule updates (to get more money).
Despite managing to leave Russia, re-enter Russia and return home without any issues.
I keep mine in a RFID case. And it's still damaged from various trips to consulates (especially China) and the delights of Russian immigration on the trans-Siberian railway at 2am. Your passport joins a pile of 50 and disappears for a few hours.
I have no idea why passport Canada would complain given the recent rule updates (to get more money).
Aug 15, 2017, 5:35 pm
#14
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