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Passport
& Visa Information
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| Going on holiday
soon? Please remember to check the validity of your passport,
it is amazing the number of people who forget to do this and then
panic at the last moment. |
Keep your
eye on your passport at all times!
This is a true story. I was taking a group of travel agents to the
USA along with the Airline Representative. On checking in he took
everyone's passport and when we had checked in, he returned the
passports to each of them except me. We started to have a debate with each
other questioning the fact that he had definitely given me mine
back. I was getting really worried being the group leader. I
searched my handbag and cabin luggage it was not there. I asked the
girl at the check-in to have a look on her desk, it was not their either.
I was beginning to panic so I got security to examine my bags in case
my passport had been staring at me in the face.
No, it was not their either! Now frantic, I asked for the airport
engineers to have a look at the baggage belt at the front desk, they
took this apart but nothing! I then went to immigration to see
what I could do without my passport - not much! As I returned downstairs
two of the engineers were walking towards me with my passport in
their hand. What a relief! The check-in agent had knocked it off her
desk, it had fallen on to the baggage scales and fallen down into
the baggage belt which travels around all the check-in desks. It was
finally found at the bottom of the baggage belt in the baggage hall
miles away. We now have a laugh about this, but at the time I had
visions of the group waving good bye to me at the check-in desk! I
have learnt my lesson from this, I never let my passport out of my
sight! |
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New
Regulations – British Flying to Spain?
Passengers flying to Spain will have to provide extra
information as the Spanish government moves to introduce US-style
entry procedures. Under the new regulations, which will be
introduced on June 13, all British visitors entering Spain will have
to submit Advance Passenger Information (API), which includes date
of birth and passport number. Visitors who don’t submit this
information after the intended date, via their airline or travel
agent, may be barred from flights.
Staff at check-in desks will also be able to collect API (Advanced
Passenger Information) data but passengers are strongly advised to
supply the information prior to arrival at the airport, or at a self
service kiosk where available, to avoid unnecessary delays. The new
rule, issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior will apply only
to countries that are not signed up to the
Schengen Treaty, an agreement which allows free travel,
without presentation of a passport, between the 15 European
countries that are members. The UK is not a member of this scheme. |
Useful
Links for Passport, Visa & Health Information:
UK
Passport Information
UK Visa Information
Health
Information for UK Travellers |
| Here
is some useful passport information if you have any
passport stories you would like to share please email me on enq@buybeforeyoufly.com
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