Passport Extension?

[Keldi]

This is a tongue in cheek question but surely all passports expiry date should be extended for the period of the travel ban imposed by the government?

 

[Mattg]

I would be very happy if they did this, considering the cost of a passport in Australia, but doubt very much it will happen.

I guess you could argue that the government has had to spend more than usual providing consular assistance to Australians overseas over the past few months.

 

[p--and--t]

This is a tongue in cheek question but surely all passports expiry date should be extended for the period of the travel ban imposed by the government?

Given every passport would have to be re-issued from scratch as the expiry date is printed inside the front cover and cannot be changed without damaging the security features, I'll look out the window for a flock of pink elephants to fly past first.

 

[Daver6]

I would be very happy if they did this, considering the cost of a passport in Australia, but doubt very much it will happen.

I guess you could argue that the government has had to spend more than usual providing consular assistance to Australians overseas over the past few months.

Not sure how I'd value the help based on telling my mum to go fend for herself when stuck overseas in March and trying to get home. What's the cost of that? Perhaps 5 cents?

 

[AIRwin]

What's the cost of that? Perhaps 5 cents?

2 cents worth (my old cliché)...

 

[serfty]

Given every passport would have to be re-issued from scratch as the expiry date is printed inside the front cover and cannot be changed without damaging the security features, I'll look out the window for a flock of pink elephants to fly past first.

I dunno, maybe a 10% discount on renewal could be possible.... although I'd still be putting my money on the elephants....

 

[oz_mark]

I've seen this question pop up in various places over the last few months. I rate the chances of it happening as buckleys and none.

 

[Daver6]

I've seen this question pop up in various places over the last few months. I rate the chances of it happening as buckleys and none.

 

[flyingfan]

@Keldi welcome to AFF. I think with the money the govt has to spend on the pandemic and bushfires, extending passports would be extremely low on priorities - especially when it was seen as a bit of a cash cow with fairly significant price increases previously and new passports have to be reprinted and posted (unlike status and credit expiries which can be done at much lower cost).

The argument against it is similar to that against major subsidies for trains to the airport (like MEL) - those travelling can often afford to travel for leisure or are funded by work.

 

[Deleted member]

This is a tongue in cheek question but surely all passports expiry date should be extended for the period of the travel ban imposed by the government?

All Pigs are fueled and ready to fly

 

[antycbr]

Given every passport would have to be re-issued from scratch as the expiry date is printed inside the front cover and cannot be changed without damaging the security features, I'll look out the window for a flock of pink elephants to fly past first.

The expiry date is also encoded into the magstripe and the RFID chip. It would be impossible to extend as all of these systems need to be interchangeable worldwide via ICAO protocols.

 

[ja1]

I don't think the original poster meant a literal extension of the physical passports already issued - but the ability to reduce the cost on a passport renewal would be the 'compensation' for paying for a service that the government has reduced the ability to use (in effect the airline equivalent of cancelling a flight as opposed you cancelling your ticket.. )

A 10% discount on renewals would be a step in the right direction.

But like others I am out there with binoculars looking for the reported flight of pigs..

 

[antycbr]

I don't think the original poster meant a literal extension of the physical passports already issued - but the ability to reduce the cost on a passport renewal would be the 'compensation' for paying for a service that the government has reduced the ability to use (in effect the airline equivalent of cancelling a flight as opposed you cancelling your ticket.. )

A 10% discount on renewals would be a step in the right direction.

But like others I am out there with binoculars looking for the reported flight of pigs..

The thinking being that if you're rich enough to pay for an Australian Passport + our International Passenger Movement Charge and other taxes, you really aren't in a position to whinge about this...

 

[andye]

There is a logical extrapolation that people who can't travel overseas much should get a discount (and therefore frequent flyers pay more !!!!)

 

[NM]

Mrs NM and Mini NM just renewed passports earlir this year in readiness for planned NZ holiday in July. Obviously those renewed passports are unlikely to be used for at least the first 12 months of their validity. Logic would suggest the application of a proportional discount at the next renewal - perhaps 10% is a good styarting point, but will need to wait and see when those passports will actually be used. But I doubt anything will be offered,

 

[Himeno]

An extension would be nice, but not practical for reasons already stated.
A pro rata discount on renewal would work. 0.84% discount per month of travel ban.

 

[stoney]

How about some bonus QFF points??

 

[p--and--t]

How about some bonus QFF points??

Pretty sure the passport office won't be entertaining that thought very seriously.

 

[jb747]

I expect they'll be putting the price up, to cover their lack of business.

 

[equus]

he expiry date is also encoded into the magstripe

There is no magstripe in any Passport I have ever seen. Perhaps you mean the machine-readable-zone (it is purely optical)