Took my friends passport by mistake and he's supposed to fly tomorrow, HELP
Jan 21st, 2005, 05:17 AM
#22
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FYI -
For anyone interested - as long as you're takking aobut documents (a thin letter pack) - as opposed to objects or multiple wads of documents (which have to go through customs) FedEx to London overnight is very reliable. In our area you must drop off by 9pm - and it will arrive on following afternoon (but not Saturday).
Have done this literally dozens of times - and the only failure was due to snow delaying flights in the US.
For anyone interested - as long as you're takking aobut documents (a thin letter pack) - as opposed to objects or multiple wads of documents (which have to go through customs) FedEx to London overnight is very reliable. In our area you must drop off by 9pm - and it will arrive on following afternoon (but not Saturday).
Have done this literally dozens of times - and the only failure was due to snow delaying flights in the US.
Jan 21st, 2005, 05:18 AM
#23
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My travel anxiety dreams usually involve forgetting something important -- like my luggage with all my clothes in it, my camera, or my passport, tickets, ID.
Funnily enough, I never have any anxiety of my safety or items once I GET to the destination. It's just the traveling to and from that cause me anxiety.
I think the faxed copy is the best solution to this, with a trip for your friend to the US embassy. Good luck!
Funnily enough, I never have any anxiety of my safety or items once I GET to the destination. It's just the traveling to and from that cause me anxiety.
I think the faxed copy is the best solution to this, with a trip for your friend to the US embassy. Good luck!
Jan 21st, 2005, 08:08 AM
#25
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I don't recall passing through immigration on leaving, only on entering. The airline will, however, probably want to check for a passport before checking him in. Assuming you can get to the airport where he is arriving, I would suggest you contact the airline here and show them the passport and have them forward the information to their agent in London to get him on the plane. Then go to immigration here, explain the situation, and ask how you can get him the passport when he arrives. They may have a way of holding it for him, or having you stand by when his plane arrives and pass it to him. Good luck.
Jan 21st, 2005, 09:06 AM
#26
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clevelandbrown, while I also don't recall passing through "immmigration" on the way out, I do recall always being required to show a passport when checking in, to clear security, and to board the plane. I'm not sure how to avoid that.
Jan 21st, 2005, 10:26 AM
#28
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my money is on an emergency passport at the embassy.
By the way flying with another passport DOES happen. My husband to my passport last year from London to Paris (he flew, don't ask). He got through security with my passport. (Please no jokes about my looking masculine or needing some waxing.) He got out of the uk and into france with my passport. He then had to have someone from his office come to our house, pick up his passport, fly to Paris and meet him at the airport. He knew he'd be able to get OUT of the UK a hell of alot easier than he come get back in! My only regret is that he took MY passport not one of the kids. A friday afternoon flight to Paris to met my husband would have been perfect....
By the way flying with another passport DOES happen. My husband to my passport last year from London to Paris (he flew, don't ask). He got through security with my passport. (Please no jokes about my looking masculine or needing some waxing.) He got out of the uk and into france with my passport. He then had to have someone from his office come to our house, pick up his passport, fly to Paris and meet him at the airport. He knew he'd be able to get OUT of the UK a hell of alot easier than he come get back in! My only regret is that he took MY passport not one of the kids. A friday afternoon flight to Paris to met my husband would have been perfect....
Jan 21st, 2005, 12:44 PM
#29
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the embassy should be able to supply him with a temporary passport assuming he has other forms of ID available. The key will be getting to the office when they open as I don't know how long the process might take or where its located relative the heathrow.
Jan 21st, 2005, 01:20 PM
#31
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rockhopper, thank you for your nice comment.
I have thought about the situation I mentioned (no passport) and since it was so long ago I could not remember the exact details.
Called the wife of the friend that retreived our passport and she remembered the story and filled me in.
I am appalled at the rudeness Intreped displayed toward me - and why I do not know. But hopefully he (or she?) has a relaxing weekend and will feel more kindly toward people in the future.
I have thought about the situation I mentioned (no passport) and since it was so long ago I could not remember the exact details.
Called the wife of the friend that retreived our passport and she remembered the story and filled me in.
I am appalled at the rudeness Intreped displayed toward me - and why I do not know. But hopefully he (or she?) has a relaxing weekend and will feel more kindly toward people in the future.
Jan 21st, 2005, 03:06 PM
#32
What's the outcome? Iloveitaly, don't get upset. Posters often disagree and each has their own experience and realities that are not ours. I cant tell you how many times I love a place and some poster who has caché here puts it down.
Jan 21st, 2005, 03:12 PM
#33
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Mimi dear, it was not a matter of I liking some location or whatever and someone else disagreeing.
It was that Intreped indicating I was lying. I take that as a personal insult! In my opinion he (or she) owes me an apology, but do not expect one.
BTW, I saw that you had finally been able to get out of the house. That is wonderful. Then saw that you dog had to be operated on. I sure hope your dear dog is doing fine and that all of you are now on the road to recovering. Take good care of yourselves. And don't forget, spring should hopefully be here soon.
It was that Intreped indicating I was lying. I take that as a personal insult! In my opinion he (or she) owes me an apology, but do not expect one.
BTW, I saw that you had finally been able to get out of the house. That is wonderful. Then saw that you dog had to be operated on. I sure hope your dear dog is doing fine and that all of you are now on the road to recovering. Take good care of yourselves. And don't forget, spring should hopefully be here soon.
Jan 21st, 2005, 03:18 PM
#34
Thanks, Iloveitaly but I realize that here some think they are right no matter what we may say is our experience. Thanks again for your always kind posts.
We should all be here to share, and not put down other posters and not assume too much.
We should all be here to share, and not put down other posters and not assume too much.
Jan 21st, 2005, 03:25 PM
#36
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LoveItaly, I don't know why that other person felt he/she had to be so rude to you, but I would like to corroborate your experience. Before 9/11 it was possible to get back into the US without a passport, because I once did that as well.
We were in Venice and my passport was stolen. I called the US consul in Milan (the closest one to Venice), who told me I had to come to the consulate to get a new passport. However, it was one of those transportation strike weeks in Italy, and there was no way I could get from Venice to Milan before my scheduled flight home.
So after spending hours on the phone with the consul, I finally got him to agree to fax a form to my hotel that would allow me to re-enter the US without a passport. He did say that if I had had to go through another country en route, there would not have been any way to do this, but since my flight was direct from Italy to the US, he could send me a form that would allow me to leave Italy and enter the US without a passport.
This was the only time a strike in Italy actually worked, sort of, to my advantage!
But at any rate, sapito's friend should be able to get a substitute passport from the US embassy or consulate. The consul in Milan said they could provide same-day service (for a fee, of course).
We were in Venice and my passport was stolen. I called the US consul in Milan (the closest one to Venice), who told me I had to come to the consulate to get a new passport. However, it was one of those transportation strike weeks in Italy, and there was no way I could get from Venice to Milan before my scheduled flight home.
So after spending hours on the phone with the consul, I finally got him to agree to fax a form to my hotel that would allow me to re-enter the US without a passport. He did say that if I had had to go through another country en route, there would not have been any way to do this, but since my flight was direct from Italy to the US, he could send me a form that would allow me to leave Italy and enter the US without a passport.
This was the only time a strike in Italy actually worked, sort of, to my advantage!
But at any rate, sapito's friend should be able to get a substitute passport from the US embassy or consulate. The consul in Milan said they could provide same-day service (for a fee, of course).
Jan 21st, 2005, 03:44 PM
#38
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nonnfelice, thank you!
And what stress you must have been under at the time. How great that you got hold of people that knew what to do and then did it!
Ah, the joys of traveling.
Sapito accidently taking his friends passport back to the US while his friend was still in London reminded me today of some years ago when I had 2 friends from Italy with us, their visits overlapped. One day the two of them took BART to San Francisco as I couldn't get away from the office.
Evidently the male friend gave the female friend his wallet to put in her purse, as he was worried about pickpockets in SF. All travelers worry, right? Think they felt a bit insecure because I was not with them.
Anway the female flew home to Italy the next day. And after she got home she discovered his wallet in her purse. Not the passport but his Italian I.D. card, all credit card and money etc. He had not needed his wallet when she left and so had not noticed.
Panic time but they got the wallet back to him in something like 3 days. And of course he was with us so it wasn't like he was all by himself but again travelling can sure bring up some strange situations.
My story was that we were going to fly out of SFO early one morning. I got home from the office to do the last minute packing the night before. My DH had already done his. We got a phone call that a family member had been diagnosed with cancer. Complete shock of course.
And so after phone calls and crying I finished up my packing.
At the airport the next morning, tired, frazzled and so sad about our relative I discovered I did not have my passport.
Panic time. Long story short (my friend today reminded me of most of this), her husband who fortutantly had a key our our house went there (we had phoned him after all the great help from the airlines), opened safe, got my passport, ran to his office, called the TA (the one time we had used one) who gave some advice, help whatever. He went there, they faxed the passport to the Passport office (at least my friend thinks this is where it was faxed to), phone calls back and forth etc. The airline somehow verified all was OK and I did have my photo drivers license with me plus credit cards etc. plus my DH had his passport etc.
Like you we were allowed on the plane. Bet you know the feeling of having jetlag before you even leave home!
Somehow, and not sure how and neither is my friend (her DH is deceased so he is not here to give complete details) someone (some official from airline and also an Italian official) were waiting for me at the airlines when we arrived. They had someone there at immigrations to let me in. It was like a miracle. Think we had my passport the next day or maybe the day after arrival at the hotel. Don't remember what company was used to get it to us.
Another thing is our favor was that a friend in Italy that was meeting us worked for another airline and everyone at Milpensa knew him (the old Milpensa airport that was quite small). He knew the people at the hotel we were checking into also and so explained to them why I didn't have my passport to give them etc. I sure felt like the stupidest traveler in the world, LOL.
And am sure this could never be worked out in these days. Travelling use to be easy, wasn't it?
Up to that time I always had nightmares about forgetting the airline tickets, too funny!
Take care, and have a nice weekend
And what stress you must have been under at the time. How great that you got hold of people that knew what to do and then did it!
Ah, the joys of traveling.
Sapito accidently taking his friends passport back to the US while his friend was still in London reminded me today of some years ago when I had 2 friends from Italy with us, their visits overlapped. One day the two of them took BART to San Francisco as I couldn't get away from the office.
Evidently the male friend gave the female friend his wallet to put in her purse, as he was worried about pickpockets in SF. All travelers worry, right? Think they felt a bit insecure because I was not with them.
Anway the female flew home to Italy the next day. And after she got home she discovered his wallet in her purse. Not the passport but his Italian I.D. card, all credit card and money etc. He had not needed his wallet when she left and so had not noticed.
Panic time but they got the wallet back to him in something like 3 days. And of course he was with us so it wasn't like he was all by himself but again travelling can sure bring up some strange situations.
My story was that we were going to fly out of SFO early one morning. I got home from the office to do the last minute packing the night before. My DH had already done his. We got a phone call that a family member had been diagnosed with cancer. Complete shock of course.
And so after phone calls and crying I finished up my packing.
At the airport the next morning, tired, frazzled and so sad about our relative I discovered I did not have my passport.
Panic time. Long story short (my friend today reminded me of most of this), her husband who fortutantly had a key our our house went there (we had phoned him after all the great help from the airlines), opened safe, got my passport, ran to his office, called the TA (the one time we had used one) who gave some advice, help whatever. He went there, they faxed the passport to the Passport office (at least my friend thinks this is where it was faxed to), phone calls back and forth etc. The airline somehow verified all was OK and I did have my photo drivers license with me plus credit cards etc. plus my DH had his passport etc.
Like you we were allowed on the plane. Bet you know the feeling of having jetlag before you even leave home!
Somehow, and not sure how and neither is my friend (her DH is deceased so he is not here to give complete details) someone (some official from airline and also an Italian official) were waiting for me at the airlines when we arrived. They had someone there at immigrations to let me in. It was like a miracle. Think we had my passport the next day or maybe the day after arrival at the hotel. Don't remember what company was used to get it to us.
Another thing is our favor was that a friend in Italy that was meeting us worked for another airline and everyone at Milpensa knew him (the old Milpensa airport that was quite small). He knew the people at the hotel we were checking into also and so explained to them why I didn't have my passport to give them etc. I sure felt like the stupidest traveler in the world, LOL.
And am sure this could never be worked out in these days. Travelling use to be easy, wasn't it?
Up to that time I always had nightmares about forgetting the airline tickets, too funny!
Take care, and have a nice weekend
Jan 21st, 2005, 05:34 PM
#39
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LoveItaly, you are too kind and not used to the sort of people that find it a part of their every day life to insult strangers and to be unpleasant.
You must learn to ignore them..something I am trying to do every day
sapito!! Tell us what happened!! Please~
Jan 21st, 2005, 06:13 PM
#40
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Hi Scarlett, thankfully there are tons of wonderful and fun posters on Fodors, and the few that aren't I guess do not have happy lives.
Yes, I too, am sure all of us, hope we get to hear the end of sapito's story.
BTW, do not know about the rest of you but this thread will have me more paranoid about checking, double checking and triple checking when I travel from now on!
Yes, I too, am sure all of us, hope we get to hear the end of sapito's story.
BTW, do not know about the rest of you but this thread will have me more paranoid about checking, double checking and triple checking when I travel from now on!
