Jan 2, 2016, 5:35 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines (specific) Passport Policies
For general passport discussion that is not specifically pertinent to AA policies, please visit the Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues forum (link).
For country visa and entry requirements, AA employees consult IATA's TIMATIC system for the decision to allow you to fly. You can consult TIMATIC as well:
Link (IATA Travel Centre)
Link (United Airlines)
AA (specific) passport policy / policies (master thread)
Oct 18, 2018, 6:43 pm
#107
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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I have searched and not found an answer for this. I am traveling to a country in Europe that only requires 90 days of passport validity from the date of exit from the country. My passport (US) is valid for 5 months after departure but I see a statement on the AA international travel page saying that 6 months of validity is required. Will I have issues boarding if I meet the passport requirements for the country I am visiting but only have 5 months of passport validity left?
Moderator
Rather than accept our answers, I’d recommend using one of the links in the Wikipost to a IATA TIMATIC page, fill in your specific data and see what TIMATIC renders. TIMATIC is what the airlines use to decide if you’ll be allowed to fly or not.
Oct 19, 2018, 4:40 am
#108
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA LP pleb, QR Plat., Bonvoy Ti, IHG Diamond Amb, Foolish Hoarder of Miles, Fid. Def.
Posts: 125
I have searched and not found an answer for this. I am traveling to a country in Europe that only requires 90 days of passport validity from the date of exit from the country. My passport (US) is valid for 5 months after departure but I see a statement on the AA international travel page saying that 6 months of validity is required. Will I have issues boarding if I meet the passport requirements for the country I am visiting but only have 5 months of passport validity left?
TL;DR, traveling abroad with less than six months left on your passport (at time of entry) is a roll of the dice (key point: "Border officials often assume you will stay the maximum 90 days, even if this is not your intention."). You may have no problems, you may be prevented from boarding, and (worst case) you may be allowed to board and then refused entry. If at all possible, the safest plan is just to renew your passport before it becomes an issue.
This all assumes that the European country you're visiting is part of the Schengen Area; if it's not, all bets are off.
Oct 19, 2018, 9:05 am
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Posts: 21,422
Good rundown of what it is to go Schengening here from those who would know: https://travel.state.gov/content/tra.../schengen.html.
TL;DR, traveling abroad with less than six months left on your passport (at time of entry) is a roll of the dice (key point: "Border officials often assume you will stay the maximum 90 days, even if this is not your intention."). You may have no problems, you may be prevented from boarding, and (worst case) you may be allowed to board and then refused entry. If at all possible, the safest plan is just to renew your passport before it becomes an issue.
This all assumes that the European country you're visiting is part of the Schengen Area; if it's not, all bets are off.
TL;DR, traveling abroad with less than six months left on your passport (at time of entry) is a roll of the dice (key point: "Border officials often assume you will stay the maximum 90 days, even if this is not your intention."). You may have no problems, you may be prevented from boarding, and (worst case) you may be allowed to board and then refused entry. If at all possible, the safest plan is just to renew your passport before it becomes an issue.
This all assumes that the European country you're visiting is part of the Schengen Area; if it's not, all bets are off.
Of course, that doesn't matter if AA is going to apply their own rules