Maybe I'm just paranoid.

In 2003 I had a 1-year replacement passport, that was replacing one that I had lost. Just before an overseas trip I realized it was about to expire -- not during the length of my trip, but close enough for it to cause problems in South Africa.

I ended up filing for an extension, and it was an expedited request, sent through one of the passport service companies. I forget which one. I got back my original passport, which still has the expiration date listed as 26 Sep 2003. However, it says to refer to page 24 for amendments. If I go there, then I see the stamp that reads 'This passport was extended on Aug 04 2003 and will expire on Sep 26, 2012.' It's stamped with some name of a person allegedly the director of something in Philadelphia.

So, I haven't traveled on the passport past the original expiration date yet, but will soon. I'm a little paranoid that I'll get to the airport and they'll say that oh no, the stamp wasn't valid, I got ripped off by the company or it wasn't entered right or something. Or that some place will give me a hard time because of the expiration date on the main page, even with the extension.

Am I being too paranoid? Is there any way for me to double check the validity of the extension before getting to the airport? Are there some places that aren't on a computerized network that will give me a hard time about the printed date on the main page, even with the extension stamp? Anyone with any experience with this?

You can go to the US Passport Agency/Office in Philadelphia or elsewhere (after making an appointment???) and have them validate that it was extended properly.

The Amendments page, if properly used and amended, should be accepted with little issue -- although you may well have to point out the Amendments pages to various airline and immigration personnel (especially abroad).