Passport changes

[MEL_Traveller]

The passport is perfectly acceptable to get me into Australia.

You cannot be denied entry into Australia as an Australian citizen (you don't even need a passport). But there are two separate issues: 1. proof of your identity, and 2. the document being valid for travel to the extent that (a) another country will accept it for entry and (b) the airline is satisfied they won't get fined from carrying someone they shouldn't.

Australia can check your passport, an outstation or transit point usually can't. Airlines can call Australia to get pre-clearance - even for travel on an expired passport. This absolves the airline of their responsibilities. But if you add a transit somewhere like SIN or HKG for example, the intermediate country almost certainly won't be bothered to give any such guarantees. The airline at the outstation can deny you boarding.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Dont forget you will need a new ESTA when you get your new passport JohnK

 

[JohnK]

So, the first agent, who was an "@rseHole on a power trip" and a "low life turd" gave you perfectly correct advice, according to the "friendly" agent? Goodness!

Don't be nasty RooFlyer. I can assure you I was the victim here. The first words from the @rsehole on a power trip were rude and got worse from there.

What he should have said was

"Sir, your passport is unacceptable and needs replacing otherwise you may be refused entry into some countries."

Instead he chose to speak to me like a criminal. If you think his behaviour is acceptable then this conversation is over.

P.S. He does not belong in customer facing roles. Of that I am certain beyond any doubt.

 

[dajop]

Instead he chose to speak to me like a criminal. If you think his behaviour is acceptable then this conversation is over..

JohnK, they are not customs and immigration any more they are BORDER FORCE. Attitude allowed ;-). They're there to enforce our borders.

Jokes aside a few weeks ago leaving MEL. I noticed small queues about 5-6 deep at the departure passport reader machines so headed towards the APEC counter (where no one was waiting) and I was told I can't go there, I politely showed my APEC card (I wasn't doing a DYKWIA) and rudely no I can't use the counter any more I must use the machines. What is it with these officials and their mini power trips?

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
So, the first agent, who was an "@rseHole on a power trip" and a "low life turd" gave you perfectly correct advice, according to the "friendly" agent? Goodness!<snip>

Don't be nasty RooFlyer. I can assure you I was the victim here. The first words from the @rsehole on a power trip were rude and got worse from there.

What he should have said was

"Sir, your passport is unacceptable and needs replacing otherwise you may be refused entry into some countries."

Instead he chose to speak to me like a criminal. If you think his behaviour is acceptable then this conversation is over.

P.S. He does not belong in customer facing roles. Of that I am certain beyond any doubt.

I don't know if his behaviour was acceptable or not - I wasn't there. I was commenting on your characterisation of that person in several crude terms. Lining up the accounts of the two 'conversations', I'd say they were about equal.

Just a thought - if he hadn't attracted your attention, would you have taken any notice or remembered the conversation? The advice he gave was correct (it turns out); hopefully by remembering the message you'll take notice of it and act on it.

You describe yourself as a victim. I see a beneficiary of some sound advice.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, they are not customs and immigration any more they are BORDER FORCE. Attitude allowed ;-). They're there to enforce our borders.

And there's absolutely no issue about me allowed to leave/enter Australia on current passport. I "may" be refused entry by "some" countries. That's nothing to do with our borders.

 

[RooFlyer]

And there's absolutely no issue about me allowed to leave/enter Australia on current passport. I "may" be refused entry by "some" countries. That's nothing to do with our borders.

And you may be refused check-in by some check-in agents, if they are worried you may not be allowed entry to wherever you are going (as their airline will then wear some costs). Who knows - you may be refused check-in for a flight to Australia if the check-in agent makes the common mistake of thinking a person needs a passport (in good order) to enter their own country.

 

[JohnK]

And you may be refused check-in by some check-in agents....

Quite possible. Think passport had slight damage 4 years ago and pages have deteriorated a little since then in the humidity in Asia. May not worth be the risk but $254 for a less than full passport with ~4 years to expire is a lot of money. I have another 3 trips in next 6 weeks. I cannot get new passport now. Impossible. Have to keep taking risk otherwise I forfeit non-refundable flights and hotels and not see my daughter.

P.S. In the past 3 weeks I have been to Thailand 3 times, Hong Kong Twice and Singapore once and no issues at all apart from the messiah in SYD last week.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm sure we have already seen this:
https://www.passports.gov.au/usingyourpassport/Pages/damagedandfaultypassports.aspx

How do people protect passports from the vagaries of the environment?. Keep your passport in a sleeve (like the one a new one comes in)? . Alternatively in a zip lock bag when you are not using it.

Im OCD with passports now having got one completely submerged in Prague when I was a student.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
P.S. In the past 3 weeks I have been to Thailand 3 times, Hong Kong Twice and Singapore once and no issues at all apart from the messiah in SYD last week.

And their colleague when you checked, I think?

Its entirely up to you of course whether you do anything about your passport, but you seem to have so many more problems than anyone else when travelling. Ever considered that taking some advice (whether or not brusquely delivered) may help your experience?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sure we have already seen this:
https://www.passports.gov.au/usingyourpassport/Pages/damagedandfaultypassports.aspx

How do people protect passports from the vagaries of the environment?. Keep your passport in a sleeve (like the one a new one comes in)? . Alternatively in a zip lock bag when you are not using it.

Im OCD with passports now having got one completely submerged in Prague when I was a student.

(touch wood)... keep it out of the environment. except at the airport or hotel front desk mine never sees the light of day. I have a photocopy of the identity page for countries where carrying your passport is theoretically the law.

 

[JohnM]

I'm a leisure traveller only but foolishly did not get a frequent traveller passport last time and it was recently filled about three years before expiry.

Just renewed to a frequent traveller passport, so it may have been a blessing in disguise if they are due to be discontinued soon. It makes my BellRoy passport wallet a little more chunky - but the passport pocket in those is designed to take a FT passport. Mine's made a little thicker because I've stapled my vaccination certificate into the back of my passport.

I use the wallet, including containing my passport, on a daily basis without feeling it's oversized. Best wallet I've ever had.

Upshot, of course, is that the passport is always on my person and not in a bag where it might get damaged by spilt liquids.

 

[Quickstatus]

(touch wood)... keep it out of the environment. except at the airport or hotel front desk mine never sees the light of day. I have a photocopy of the identity page for countries where carrying your passport is theoretically the law.

I hi-res colour scan the photo page and Dropbox the pdf file to the Cloud. And colour print the same and travel with it in case the original gets lost. I use my NSW DLicence when I'm out and about OS.

 

[JohnK]

Its entirely up to you of course whether you do anything about your passport, but you seem to have so many more problems than anyone else when travelling. Ever considered that taking some advice (whether or not brusquely delivered) may help your experience?

You must have jinxed me. Passport couldn't be read 3 times this morning.

Everyone has problems when they are travelling. I overdo it and that can be prone to more problems. Bad luck also comes into play.

I'll do the sums but think I need 3 more passports before 75 years of age and if I renew now that pretty much takes me through to 80 years of age anyway which should just about do it.

 

[docjames]

/tongue in cheek/

It'll be more exciting for us on AFF if you keep using the current passport (and end up denied boarding or entry) -

//

- but compared to the cost of travel, personally i'd be paying the $254.

Or another way - imagine of your wife or daughter gets sick and you need to travel urgently then cant because the passport (which you knew was borderline) is grounds for denied boarding.

 

[JohnK]

For those who said "I told you so" you were right.

Got special treatment this morning in SYD. Passport photo doesn't look like me. Any other ID? Yes drivers licence. Even that doesn't look like me and it's not damaged. Shouldn't have lost that 10kgs.

Can I travel again in 2 weeks? Yes but we may need to verify who you are. You may also be refused entry to some countries.

Very pleasant unlike the gentleman a few weeks back.

And yes I will get passport replaced when I get chance.

 

[opusman]

Got special treatment this morning in SYD. Passport photo doesn't look like me. Any other ID? Yes drivers licence. Even that doesn't look like me and it's not damaged. Shouldn't have lost that 10kgs.

Can I travel again in 2 weeks? Yes but we may need to verify who you are. You may also be refused entry to some countries.

I guess you've got some serious eating to do in the next 2 weeks

 

[JohnK]

I guess you've got some serious eating to do in the next 2 weeks

Actually I'd lost 15kgs but put 5kgs back on again with the birth of my daughter.

 

[docjames]

I wonder whether the repeated (short, close together) Thailand trips have also set off some sort of "alert"?

 

[JohnK]

I wonder whether the repeated (short, close together) Thailand trips have also set off some sort of "alert"?

Think the scan may be struggling and letting me through manually for closer inspection. I also wouldn't be surprised if the lovely gentleman 2 weeks ago has red flagged my passport.

No issues in BNE last week.