UA passport validity policy?
Dec 22, 2018, 8:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lone Tree, CO
Programs: United Mileage Plus, BA Executive Club, Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 744
UA passport validity policy?
Planning a trip to Australia in March. Tickets are on QF but first segment is UA from DEN to LAX.
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
Dec 22, 2018, 9:01 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,216
Planning a trip to Australia in March. Tickets are on QF but first segment is UA from DEN to LAX.
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and have her renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and have her renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...aspx?i=TIMATIC
Dec 22, 2018, 9:19 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
I would process the renewal today. Use expedited for two week return. Minus the week holiday you should get it by mid January or maybe late January if the shutdown affects processing.
Having said that last time I did regular processing it came in two weeks without expedited processing.
Having said that last time I did regular processing it came in two weeks without expedited processing.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:24 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,883
I would process the renewal today. Use expedited for two week return. Minus the week holiday you should get it by mid January or maybe late January if the shutdown affects processing.
Having said that last time I did regular processing it came in two weeks without expedited processing.
Having said that last time I did regular processing it came in two weeks without expedited processing.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:25 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
The US Passport Agency is fee based and won't be directly affected by the shutdown. I would renew.
US Passport Agency
US Passport Agency
Dec 22, 2018, 9:44 am
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
That's right. A great many countries no longer have the 6-month passport validity rule. Any agent that didn't follow Timatic and made up their own rules in this regard would run into many passengers in this situation and would be quickly re-educated.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:51 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
You are going to need to renew, what happens if you have some unforseen troubles/delays on your trip? I know you are right on the gray area and would probably be let back in without delay but if a delay happened beyond your control that is when things get interesting and why they always ask for a cushion.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:56 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lone Tree, CO
Programs: United Mileage Plus, BA Executive Club, Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 744
When I got my son's first passport, it took five days, with routine processing. The last time I renewed my passport by mail, it took thirteen weeks to process. Hence my hesitation. Also, if I renew now, I run the risk of the UA agents questioning the validity of the ETA.
I took a look at the ETA record. The latest date it says she can enter Australia matches the expiration date of her passport. So, she's good as far as the Aussies are concerned. It's just a question of how United will handle it.
If we renew and apply for a new ETA would there be a risk due to having two active ETAs in the system under different numbers?
I took a look at the ETA record. The latest date it says she can enter Australia matches the expiration date of her passport. So, she's good as far as the Aussies are concerned. It's just a question of how United will handle it.
If we renew and apply for a new ETA would there be a risk due to having two active ETAs in the system under different numbers?
Dec 22, 2018, 9:58 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP - Check the specifics of your wife's passport and travel dates in TIMATIC. That is what the UA check-in agent will see. I don't see any 180-day validity requirement, but you should check the specifics.
This is a binary issue. E.g., the passport is either valid for travel or not.
If this worries her, then go ahead and renew the passport. She will need a new ETA, but that is $20 or thereabouts.
This is a binary issue. E.g., the passport is either valid for travel or not.
If this worries her, then go ahead and renew the passport. She will need a new ETA, but that is $20 or thereabouts.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:07 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
When I got my son's first passport, it took five days, with routine processing. The last time I renewed my passport by mail, it took thirteen weeks to process. Hence my hesitation. Also, if I renew now, I run the risk of the UA agents questioning the validity of the ETA.
I took a look at the ETA record. The latest date it says she can enter Australia matches the expiration date of her passport. So, she's good as far as the Aussies are concerned. It's just a question of how United will handle it.
If we renew and apply for a new ETA would there be a risk due to having two active ETAs in the system under different numbers?
I took a look at the ETA record. The latest date it says she can enter Australia matches the expiration date of her passport. So, she's good as far as the Aussies are concerned. It's just a question of how United will handle it.
If we renew and apply for a new ETA would there be a risk due to having two active ETAs in the system under different numbers?
OP - Check the specifics of your wife's passport and travel dates in TIMATIC. That is what the UA check-in agent will see. I don't see any 180-day validity requirement, but you should check the specifics.
This is a binary issue. E.g., the passport is either valid for travel or not.
If this worries her, then go ahead and renew the passport. She will need a new ETA, but that is $20 or thereabouts.
This is a binary issue. E.g., the passport is either valid for travel or not.
If this worries her, then go ahead and renew the passport. She will need a new ETA, but that is $20 or thereabouts.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:33 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:40 am
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Planning a trip to Australia in March. Tickets are on QF but first segment is UA from DEN to LAX.
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
My wife's passport will have more than six months validity on date of departure but will be five days short of six months validity on our return date.
Everything I've read on US and Australia gov sites indicates passport need only be valid at entry, along with a valid visa or ETA. I entered my wife's info on the IATA docs check tool on the United web site and it says she can travel as long as she has an ETA, which she does.
My worry is that the UA check in agents in Denver could play it safe and apply a blanket six month validity rule past our return date without bothering to look up the specific requirements for Australia.
I would go ahead and renew now, but with the government shut down, I'm worried about potential delays processing the renewal. Any thoughts?
1) I have found United rarely checks passports for a domestic segment connecting to an international flight. They don't worry that you might strand yourself in LAX (in your case). So your only issue, if any, will be with Quantas.
2) As others note, Australia does not appear to require 6 months validity.
3) Your passport need not even be valid to return to the US. There is certainly no 6-month rule for US citizens returning to US on US passport. So there would be no reason for Quantas to deny you boarding on your return flight with a passport still valid for 5 months and 25 days.
Dec 22, 2018, 11:48 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: May 2018
Location: ord
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Posts: 365
you need a new passport, or if you want to risk it, I got away with it. Agent noticed the passport was going to expire 6 days before the 6 months I quickly said oh I have another passport let me go online and get a visa and I will check back in.
I just went to another agent who clearly didn't notice.
I just went to another agent who clearly didn't notice.