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)
Dec 6, 2015, 11:06 am
#1
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AA policy on passport swiping [AA TA says can't scan, can't enter manually]
Like many of you I use my passport a lot. So after say the 5th year or so it doesn't always swipe when checking in and well before the expiration it never swipes and the check in agents need to enter it manually. This has happened a lot. Never an issue.
A few days at SFO the check in agent could not swipe my passport. I expected her to enter it in manually as others have but she said she could not. Fortunately I am a triple citizen so had another passport which she used.
She warned me next time if I only have the US passport I would be denied boarding.
So what's the official AA policy if your passport does not swipe?
A few days at SFO the check in agent could not swipe my passport. I expected her to enter it in manually as others have but she said she could not. Fortunately I am a triple citizen so had another passport which she used.
She warned me next time if I only have the US passport I would be denied boarding.
So what's the official AA policy if your passport does not swipe?
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 2, 2016 at 5:39 pm Reason: Restore original post title
Dec 6, 2015, 11:08 am
#2
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Like many of you I use my passport a lot. So after say the 5th year or so it doesn't always swipe when checking in and well before the expiration it never swipes and the check in agents need to enter it manually. This has happened a lot. Never an issue.
A few days at SFO the check in agent could not swipe my passport. I expected her to enter it in manually as others have but she said she could not. Fortunately I am a triple citizen so had another passport which she used.
She warned me next time if I only have the US passport I would be denied boarding.
So what's the official AA policy if your passport does not swipe?
A few days at SFO the check in agent could not swipe my passport. I expected her to enter it in manually as others have but she said she could not. Fortunately I am a triple citizen so had another passport which she used.
She warned me next time if I only have the US passport I would be denied boarding.
So what's the official AA policy if your passport does not swipe?
Dec 6, 2015, 11:45 am
#3
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"Most U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."
http://travel.state.gov/content/trav...tionality.html
And the check-in agent is required to enter the passport information manually, regardless of how lazy she is.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:46 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Missouri, AA EXP
Posts: 923
Like you, I use my passport on a very regular basis. My current passport was issued in 2014 and out of the starting gate it often could not be read by swiping it at the counter or check in kiosks and I have given up even trying to use the readers on the Global Entry machines and instead immediately click on the "Problem reading document" option and just enter it manually. No check in agent has ever mentioned anything and when it won't swipe they just enter it manually without fuss. If even the Global Entry kiosks have an option to manually enter your data it makes no sense that an airline agent couldn't do the same unless they are amazingly lazy.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:51 am
#5
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From the thread title, I thought that the OP would be about some AA passenger or staff member stealing another person's passport.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:53 am
#6
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As usual agents making up rules when they don't know them. If their reader is not able to access the data then there has to be a means to enter the data via the keyboard. They may not know how to do that.
If they deny boarding for lack of a trained GA, would that qualify as IDB? Either way, probably best to plan a little extra time at the airport for them to work out the kinks. Or maybe start the application to replace the passport.
If they deny boarding for lack of a trained GA, would that qualify as IDB? Either way, probably best to plan a little extra time at the airport for them to work out the kinks. Or maybe start the application to replace the passport.
Dec 6, 2015, 1:36 pm
#9
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Well, we just discussed issues with SFO ticket agents over here, this sounds like more of the same:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
Dec 6, 2015, 2:01 pm
#10
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Like you, I use my passport on a very regular basis. My current passport was issued in 2014 and out of the starting gate it often could not be read by swiping it at the counter or check in kiosks and I have given up even trying to use the readers on the Global Entry machines and instead immediately click on the "Problem reading document" option and just enter it manually. No check in agent has ever mentioned anything and when it won't swipe they just enter it manually without fuss. If even the Global Entry kiosks have an option to manually enter your data it makes no sense that an airline agent couldn't do the same unless they are amazingly lazy.
Last time I was back in the States for a week+, I booked a long layover in Denver and stopped at the passport office there (about 15 minutes from the airport). After seeing the printing misalignment, they issued a new passport (w/ same expiration date as the prior but new #) for free and it showed up at the address where I was staying in about 3 days. It has been well worth the hassle.
Dec 6, 2015, 2:16 pm
#11
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Well, we just discussed issues with SFO ticket agents over here, this sounds like more of the same:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
Dec 6, 2015, 3:14 pm
#12
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Well, we just discussed issues with SFO ticket agents over here, this sounds like more of the same:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-mitigate.html
Dec 6, 2015, 3:16 pm
#13
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True, but I think this issue transcends SFO customer service. This is more a question about AA policy if your passport does not scan. My understanding from other experiences is that your passport does *NOT* have scan automatically but she was telling me otherwise.
Dec 6, 2015, 3:17 pm
#14
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You do recall correctly. From the State Department:
"Most U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."
http://travel.state.gov/content/trav...tionality.html
And the check-in agent is required to enter the passport information manually, regardless of how lazy she is.
"Most U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."
http://travel.state.gov/content/trav...tionality.html
And the check-in agent is required to enter the passport information manually, regardless of how lazy she is.
Dec 6, 2015, 3:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Originally Posted by aa.com
A passport is required for all international travel. If you're traveling anywhere overseas, you need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. for international air travel.
Passports must be:
Passports must be:
- Valid for at least 6 months after the date you enter a foreign country.
- Kept in good condition, free of any damage beyond normal wear and tear, and material alterations. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.