Do You Need a Passport Before Making Flight Reservations? - Expedited Passports

Of course you need a passport to travel outside of the country, but do you need to have one before making flight reservations?

Some international airlines may ask for your passport number when you make a reservation for an international flight. However, it is optional to provide it when you book, and shouldn’t have any problem getting your tickets without it.

However, getting on the plane without a passport is another matter entirely. If you show up at the airport sans passport, you will be denied boarding.

As you are planning your trip, remember to keep in mind how long it takes to get a passport once you’ve applied. If you apply with regular service, you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks.  If you apply with the government’s expedited service, you should still allow at least 3 weeks.

Two additional options are available if you need to get a passport in a hurry. With an itinerary showing that you plan to travel out of the country in the next 14 days, you can make an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency office to get your passport, or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport.com. The latter the option is the most convenient-no need to make an appointment or drive to a Passport Agency office.

However, you will need a copy of your itinerary to get a passport expedited using either of these two methods. So, if you have something come up and you need to take a trip out of the country in a hurry, go ahead and make your plane reservations and then apply for your passport through an expediting company or at a Passport Agency office.

RushMyPassport offers quick and convenient passport service, with processing times as low as 24 hours. There’s no need to make an appointment, take time off work or drive to a Passport Agency office.  Just go to the nearest passport acceptance facility (usually a library, post office or County Clerk’s office), fill out your application like normal and have your documents sealed and sent to us. We’ll hand-deliver your application to the Department of State and then send your passport right back to you via Fed-Ex.

Apply for your passport today!

Jamaica is a popular destination for American tourists. The blue skies, white sandy beaches, excellent coffee and laid-back reputation make it an excellent place to go if you need to decompress. However, if you are planning a trip to Jamaica, there are some new passport requirements you need to be aware of.

On June 01, 2009, the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) went into effect. Here’s what that means to you:

• If you are flying to Jamaica, you must have a valid passport book to travel.
• If you are traveling by boat, you need either a US passport book, a US passport card, a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST card, or an enhanced driver’s license.

To make things even more complicated, there are a few exceptions to the above requirements:

• Children under the age of 16 can use their birth certificates instead of a passport if they are traveling by sea. If they are traveling by plane, they still need a passport book.
• Children under the age of 19 can also use a birth certificate if they are traveling by sea with a school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or sports team. The group must be accompanied by an adult chaperon. Again, if the group is traveling by plane, everyone needs a passport book.
  
• US citizens on a closed-loop cruise, one that begins and ends at the same US port, can bring a copy of their birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

If you are traveling to Jamaica, don’t forget to make sure that you have your passport and that it hasn’t expired.  If you need to get a passport in a hurry, a passport expediting service like RushMyPassport can offer a speedy alternative.

When you apply through RushMyPassport.com, we’ll help you fill out the application and then personally deliver your application to the Department of State. This puts your application at the top of the stack, for processing times as quick as 24 hours.

Apply for your passport with us today!