TGarza

Op isn't clear if he has 1 country with 2 passports or 2 countries with 1 passport each.

lhrsfo

The thing is, after an overnight flight, it's easy to make a mistake and present the wrong passport when arriving in a third country.

TGarza

Buy a passport case/sleeve for the passport being used on the trip

LondonElite

It would be much easier if you disclosed which passports and countries are involved. That way people could give better advice.

Beltway2A

It's also unclear whether any of the passports (A-B) were issued by any of the countries (1-4)

smartytravel

Some of the advice above is not good.

US for instance requires its citizens to enter and depart the US on a US passport.

TWA884

Folks,

Based upon the posting history, the OP is flying Emirates and connecting in Dubai and then transferring to Iberia in Madrid after spending overnight there.

Please don't speculate and refrain from quibbling about whether the United States requires its citizens to depart the country using a US passport. Until we have more information from the OP, this is off topic for this thread.

Let's wait for the OP to provide additional details about his/her passports, citizenship and itinerary before offering additional advice.

TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator

Msafiritx

Mwenenzi's response is the correct one.

Also, there is nothing wrong/illegal about showing 2 passports if unsure which one is needed.

GotMeFlying

It didn't even occur to me; the passports are from 2 different countries. I already know which I will use for immigration purposes (thus designating them as A and B, as I wrote out in my 2nd post).

This I did mention, in my first paragraph: "(none of the countries in this trip are the ones I have passports for)"

GotMeFlying

I know some people here asked for details about where my passports are from and what countries I'm coming from and going to in the end (@TWA884 is right about Dubai and Madrid being 2 of my connections - Country 2 and 3 respectively); I hope that my paranoia desire for anonymity didn't come across as a lack of appreciation.

I know which passports I will use to enter each country as far as immigration goes (I've researched that part), but it's precisely that I will be alternating them which confuses which I should show to the airline.

GUWonder

When it comes to dealing with what to show the airline:

The dual-citizens in my travel parties hand over the passport to the airline that was either previously used in the ticketed booking earlier or that makes it easier to check-in with the airline (via online self check-in or otherwise). Then they sometimes flash or hand over the passport from the other country of citizenship if it appears that the passengers would otherwise be subject to an additional document check for visas, residency cards, disease testing, vaccination proof, onward travel proof, etc in order to be cleared for check-in/boarding. This is of course for people who are dual-citizens of countries that legally allow for dual-citizenship to be maintained by their citizens.

When it comes to what passport to show to government authorities: your second paragraph above suggests you already know what to do with physical government passport control checks.

sydunipete

this is correct. Where possible I will provide the airline with the passport I will be arriving with just in case the airline shares this information with the arriving country (such as the US).

this becomes a little more complex with a multi-leg trip eg. A return. In my case I am Australian/Italian. I buy my ticket using my Australian passport so I show Australian at check in, Australian to immigration leaving Australia and Italian when arriving in the eu. If the gate agent picks up that my Australian passport isn’t sufficient to enter my destination (this has only happened once during covid eu restrictions) then I am asked questions by the agent to prove residency or show my other passport. Whatever is required to meet the timatic requirements.

continuing my journey I show Australian at return check in, Italian to exit eu and Australian to enter Australia.

yes - it can get confusing after a long flight when woken out of your sleep cycle so I track it in my phone calendar appointments and have my next passport to be used in my ready pocket.

zoonieorg

It's a little off topic, but interesting. I recently had to fly to Canada. As a dual US/Canadian residing in the US, I always use my US passport. But checking in to this latest flight, the agent would not allow me to fly to Canada on the US passport. I had to use my Canadian because of the Covid-19 border closings.

stimpy

Realize that in most cases the immigration officer is completely aware that you possess two passports. At least for the countries where such a thing is legal.

GGLwannabe

I have two passports, and when I'm at an airline check-in desk I always show the passport I shall use for the next country I'm going to enter. Once in a blue moon when I've entered a country on one passport, but will be using the other to enter the next country, the computer says no, and I'm then asked if I have another passport. I show my other passport, which is then visually checked or run through the reader (presumably to make sure I have legally entered the country that I'm about to depart) and then I'm on my way. It's never been a problem.