Have you actually lost your passport before while travelling?

Have you actually lost your passport before while travelling?

  • Yes, once

    Votes: 20 25.0%
  • Yes twice

    Votes: 3 3.8%
  • Yes thrice

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes more than once/more than I'm willing to admit

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No

    Votes: 57 71.3%

  • Total voters
    80
Don't even need that. Your face is your chip.

Already in operation in some airports. SIN is about to roll it out. LAX does it on departure.
But the chip can have data loaded onto it as well. And of course can act as your 'wallet'.
 
But the chip can have data loaded onto it as well. And of course can act as your 'wallet'.

Not necessary with global networks transmitting data real time.

As I said, this system is already in use.
 
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Mrs Punter just reminded me we also lost our passports on the way to EZE in 2009 so I've updated my vote to twice. I left a small backpack in the taxi, realised at check in (direct QF to SYD in those days) that it was gone. I remember trying to call the taxi company from a pay phone and failing at Spanish, then our hero taxi driver found us in the terminal. He had spotted the bag on his way back to town and returned to the airport, parked and entered the terminal to look for us. Couldn't believe he did that for us, was such a relief!
I really hope you looked after him after that effort!!
 
Edit: heh, continued reading, turns out that someone had taken the guys passport and spectacle case by "mistake".
How on earth does a person do that.

Does yours have any distinguishing features in the front or back?

you would have needed one to check in or be in transit, but upon your arrival you cant get past customs
If you lose your passport en route and are an Australian citizen, just rock up to an Australian border, and say “I’m an Australian citizen, let me in”.

It may time take them some time to adequately identify you, but they must let you in.
 
No, it wasn't me that was in the article.
I don't stick anything to mine, no distinguishing features on passport, unlike some people who have all sort of things stuck to their passport holder.
I don't use a holder either, so by the half life of my passport, its pages would have shown wear tear, proverbially speaking, not like torn pages, just a bit of mildew etc.
What is it with that barcode thing tho.
Was that a thing once, in the past, was it for covid or something.
 
Many years ago,I lost my passport in Massachusetts on a rugby tour when staying overnight in unscheduled accommodation. Fortunately, the nice American lady dropped it off at the match the next day 😀
 
Visiting PER for a week from UK, for a friends wedding. Travel wallet with about $500-1000 in cash including passport. Had it when leaving customs in PER, no problem. 5 days later, looking for passport so I could fly back to UK & then Europe for a 6 week holiday. Packing up...oh, where's my travel wallet & documents?

Nowhere. Tipped the house and car almost literally upside down. Was certain I had it in the car when I got home. Not one to cry but I did that morning facing thousands in lost costs and stress of replacement with all my stuff still in the UK. Mum suggested I try the airport, I thought it was a waste of time but nothing to lose, so rang and left a voicemail. 30 minutes later I got a call...yes your passport is here...come get it!

Straight to the airport and told I was very lucky - no kidding!! Was an hour or so away from being given to Border Force and destroyed. Additionally told it would've been given up the day before but it was a public holiday, so no one was around to do it. The relief was immense.

I was even more shocked when I opened the wallet to discover that every dollar/pound/euro was still in there as well.
 
Visiting PER for a week from UK, for a friends wedding. Travel wallet with about $500-1000 in cash including passport. Had it when leaving customs in PER, no problem. 5 days later, looking for passport so I could fly back to UK & then Europe for a 6 week holiday. Packing up...oh, where's my travel wallet & documents?

Nowhere. Tipped the house and car almost literally upside down. Was certain I had it in the car when I got home. Not one to cry but I did that morning facing thousands in lost costs and stress of replacement with all my stuff still in the UK. Mum suggested I try the airport, I thought it was a waste of time but nothing to lose, so rang and left a voicemail. 30 minutes later I got a call...yes your passport is here...come get it!

Straight to the airport and told I was very lucky - no kidding!! Was an hour or so away from being given to Border Force and destroyed. Additionally told it would've been given up the day before but it was a public holiday, so no one was around to do it. The relief was immense.

I was even more shocked when I opened the wallet to discover that every dollar/pound/euro was still in there as well.
Always listen to Mum, eh @Must...Fly!
 
I lost mine briefly in Tanzania. Well, I knew where it was, but... It was in document wallet which I thought I had put into my hand luggage but it had slid between me and the opening of my hand luggage, so when I got out of the taxi, it didn't. The wallet was black, so it blended in with the seat.

You need to show your passport to enter the airport I was at, so I realised very quickly, but the taxi was gone. Other drivers saw the look of panic on my face and crowded around to ask what was wrong and how they could help. They all know each other and tried calling my driver, but he wasn't answering his phone, so one told me to jump in his car and we chased him. We caught up with him as he was on his way back to return it to me. He threw it over to me and drove off with a big wave and a smile. I had the passport, cash and tanzanite stones in there, so it would have been a very expensive loss.

I finally got in to the airport and was given a big cheer from the taxi drivers and all the airport staff. I still carry a document wallet, but one that is hideously bright and will stand out anywhere!
 
I lost mine briefly in Tanzania. Well, I knew where it was, but... It was in document wallet which I thought I had put into my hand luggage but it had slid between me and the opening of my hand luggage, so when I got out of the taxi, it didn't. The wallet was black, so it blended in with the seat.

You need to show your passport to enter the airport I was at, so I realised very quickly, but the taxi was gone. Other drivers saw the look of panic on my face and crowded around to ask what was wrong and how they could help. They all know each other and tried calling my driver, but he wasn't answering his phone, so one told me to jump in his car and we chased him. We caught up with him as he was on his way back to return it to me. He threw it over to me and drove off with a big wave and a smile. I had the passport, cash and tanzanite stones in there, so it would have been a very expensive loss.

I finally got in to the airport and was given a big cheer from the taxi drivers and all the airport staff. I still carry a document wallet, but one that is hideously bright and will stand out anywhere!
Nice to hear a good ending, in an unexpected country!
 
Left my Oz passport in a hotel safe, but Qantas flew me back from SIN on the strength of my NSW drivers licence. At SYD they were a bit narky but stamped my UK passport (yes this was years ago!). Going out the next week it turned out that they had not stamped a page of my Oz passport, but rather a Saudi with compliments slip. They were Really narky about that!
 
Sometimes crazy future son-in-law was on a high school exchange in Germany. He decided he would hop through the Black Forest and on return to his accommodation could not find his passport. His dad who was accompanying the group was furious, but started to rearrange their itinerary to include an Australian embassy. Don't know whether they actually fronted there, but a tipping of his back pack upside down revealed the passport. This is why I have some brightly coloured fruit stickers on my black covered mobile phone which now reads "Spray Free, Locally Grown and $5.00".
 
On my big trip around/across Africa I had to go through JNB a few times to go to other African nations.

On one trip through JNB I had to change currency so I did that at JNB airport. During the process they requested my passport which I handed over. Transaction completed and money returned (unrecognied by me the agent didn't hand back my passport - yes my fault for not checking). The gentleman went through the currency, receipt and everything else and then said bye. My friends changed money too in a similar vein.

Caught the shuttle bus to the hotel and was checking-in when I was asked for my passport. It always lives in the same spot in my camera bag and it was missing. Searched the shuttle bus and everywhere else and then traced back my steps and remembered the money exchange. Hotel calls the exchange shop (located in the international terminal) from the receipt that I had and they confirmed that they had it. Was told to jump back onto the shuttle bus and they would take me back to collect my passport.

During the drive, I was chatting to the host and driver and they said what happened to me was really strange as it was the fourth time this has happened that month. I get the feeling that this is a regular scam that they are trying on.

Got to the airport and I requested the person who served me come out and apologise. He refused and sent a lovely lady instead to return me my passport.
 
Last edited:
Whoops, didn’t read the first post…….

As my Moroccan adventure involved stealing, I have removed that.

Thinking about it I have had a couple brain fades, Oporto airport a few years ago,I was on a rally tour, the group was dropped off, it was only when I got to the head of the queue that I realised I didn’t have my passport wallet. Panic! Fortunately the bus driver was still there as he had another group to pickup, he phoned his boss who then phoned the leader of the tour, fortunately I got it back.

As mentioned elsewhere on here, we arrived at the Hotel Park in Markaska, Croatia last May, I left the wallet on the roof of our car which was lucky to be right outside the entry and not on the street.
Didn’t notice until we went to have dinner. Reception had it! Of course I left a considerable amount of euro for the drinks kitty.
 
You rock up at the inwards Border and simply say: “I’m in Australian citizen, let me in”. They have to, but getting you properly identified may take some time. 😊
That's true of most countries as long as you have some form of ID. But the trick is to get on a flight in the first place without a passport, either at check-in ( on-line doesn't need a physical passport) or at the gate.
 

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