I just called Virgin Australia but they were not super helpful, telling that it is better to wait to receive the new passport before booking.
I understand that I will loose my flight is passport is not received on time.
But what I want to know is if this is possible to book now to secure best price, and update the passport detail on the booking page (or by calling agency) ?
Anyone done that before?
Thanks
I just called Virgin Australia… it is better to wait to receive the new passport before booking
Isn't that your answer?
Official advice is not true unless you ask random strangers from the internet, even if you have no way of knowing what their expertise is
Actually true.
incredible the number of people that does not their job correctly
I just called Virgin Australia but they were not super helpful, telling that it is better to wait to receive the new passport before booking.
Did they give you a reason or was it just some Customer Service drone making crap up? Just saying it's "better" doesn't mean anything. I very much doubt they won't let you update it or refuse check in if the number change. People renew their passport all the time.
I'd just book it now. Is it even required? Last time I booked an international flight (admittedly not with Virgin) you could just skip that box. If you can't skip it just use your current passport number and update it later.
Unless your new passport has a different name, you will be fine. You can update the new passport number and expiry date when you check in.
This
Thanks !
Yep this, bring old passport just to be 100% safe.
Same could be said for flights booked 1 year in advance, passports change. It gets tricky if you get married and change your name.
As a side note, I think it's a rort that you have to order a new passport if you only have 6 months left on your existing passport. Once you're issued with a new passport, you lose the remaining time on your previous passport. I paid for that time!
If you are reapplying for a new passport due to elapsed time, the remaining time should be added on to your new passport.
yeah that rule sucks, you loose 5% on your paid time
If you want to make the most of it, you can visit the countries that don't have the 6 months validity requirement. Hong Kong seems to be one of those!
If its close to 6 months best to wait for the new one. Last time i travelled to Vietnam, they near rejected my friend who had just over 6 months on his passport.
if we wait for the new passport, flight would most likely be too expensive then and we won't go.
Unrelated to your question, but I thought they rendered your current passport unusable when you renew?
not if it is still valid for a few months and that you have good reasons to keep it (not other form of ID for instance)
I have done this previously - just put the old passport number with a new (fake) expiry date a couple years out. Update your passport number when you get it.
Clever move!
Do you even need a to put your passport number in at the time of booking?
I've never flown Virgin internationally, but for others, I remember only having to put my passport number much closer to the date of the flight (as part of the online checking process).
Yeah I didn’t think many airlines needed it during booking either, but I haven’t booked a flight in a while so happy to be corrected.
I don't remember ever needing to provide my passport info when booking international flights either.
Yes, all fine as long as the passenger name and title hasn't been changed. As in exactly the same and just a standard reissue. Contact the airline or possibly change on line. No reticketing required so i can't imagine a change fee.
Why do you want to do it now, only to redo it again? Plus more likely to forget to change it later and then you may not be able to do self checkin later.
It kinda depends how far ahead you're booking. If you're booking, say, 3+ months ahead, the risk is much lower than if you're planning to travel next month.
& have you checked the minimum passport validity requirement of the country you're visiting?
I think the same as the airline. What if the passport is lost en route and you got to get another one? Wait 3 months more?