Have you actually lost your passport before while travelling?

[justinbrett]

I dropped by backpack (containing passport) in ANC airport a few weeks ago, between the rental car desk and my car (all internal). I had a lot of luggage, and was resting my backpack on my suitcase as I wheeled it, with my (thick) jacket draped over the top. Some how the backpack fell off without me noticing it, and as I still had my jacket over the suitcase, it didn't look any different. A stupid thing to do in hindsight that I shan't repeat.

Airport police helped me look for it but luckily I had an airtag in it so found it in about 5 minutes (and was late at night so not many people).

Those airtags have paid for themselves many times.

 

[SOPOOR]

Does anyone know what the process of losing your passport during transit or if youve checked in to your flight?
you would have needed one to check in or be in transit, but upon your arrival you cant get past customs

 

[justinbrett]

Does anyone know what the process of losing your passport during transit or if youve checked in to your flight?
you would have needed one to check in or be in transit, but upon your arrival you cant get past customs

Depends what you mean by in transit.

Say in the US, if you're at any point before the flight boards, you'll just be refused boarding and can leave the airport to arrange an emergency passport.

If you're in a transit country that's neither your origin or destination, you're in a world of hurt. It would be subject to local regulations about where you can go before getting your emergency passport issued.

If you're still in your origin country but in a secure area that mixes with arrivals, I expect it will be a slow process but shouldn't be hard to verify (by their own records) that you were already in the country and should be released to get your emergency passport.

If you lose on arrival to Australia, I believe they will let you in once they prove your identity.

Any way you cut it, it's bad.

 

[encryptededdy]

Ie, have you noticed how poeple still put their passports on the security bag scanning tray, and security staff sometimes say, just put it away in bag, sometimes its not mentioned what to do with it.
Most people put it on the tray, still.
If its put in the bag, at the least you or I will know where it is.
As we know, a lot of airports, they scream that nothing is to be in pockets!

I'm guilty of this. I almost always leave my wallet (with passport inside) or just bare passport in the security tray. Maybe I have too much trust in people.

Post automatically merged: Oct 27, 2023

Does anyone know what the process of losing your passport during transit or if youve checked in to your flight?
you would have needed one to check in or be in transit, but upon your arrival you cant get past customs

That's what happened to these people in the article I linked earlier: https://www.escape.com.au/news/some...e/news-story/12a15790da3592c71cb242b9235dccfb

They needed to go through a special procedure to leave MEL Airside without a passport.

 

[tdimdad]

I'm guilty of this. I almost always leave my wallet (with passport inside) or just bare passport in the security tray. Maybe I have too much trust in people.

Post automatically merged: Oct 27, 2023

I used to do this, too, but have changed my habit post-pandemic and guard my passport now much more closely. I usually have it in my front pocket and walk to the security scanner with the passport visible in hand (in its RFID sleeve). Some guards / operators check it out to confirm its just a passport, most take it on face value.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you loose your passport on the way back to Aust, its a bit, "easier" but also a bit troublesome.
You need to explain what happened, and then wait while ABF check your identity.
They would probably have a link to the Aust passport office, with your "mug" shot photo, as on your latest passport.
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But there are stories of people being successful in buying fake passports, and making it through the overseas airport check in (!), and only get nabbed on arrival in the immi pre cleared line, where they have to scan the chip, and then the photo does not match or something is wrong.
At an overseas airport, on checkin, they (airline staff) usually just scan the MRZ of the passport, as is procedure.
Chip only read by smartgate, or by the ABF staff when they run the passport through the chip reader.
Would a fake passport holder be as/so stupid to use the chest high smartgate reader (first step on entry to Aust), or would they go to the staff assisted line.
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Best not to re use a passport you have reported as lost/stolen, but found it at the bottom of the closet, where you had placed for safe keeping at home, or if someone had found your passport, and handed it in, through their goodness of heart, but we do not know what info they have gleaned from it already, if lost overseas.
Maybe just keep it as a memento to your trip, if your lost passport is found, and returned to you, while overseas.

 

[OATEK]

In 1987, first trip OS (for brother's wedding), we had 3 grandparents, us and our 2 children. All 4 Oatek passports were in one bag that went missing on a London bus. Panic ensued, reported to HC in the Strand where they said we could apply for replacements, but without birth certificates would be for 1 year.

Reported to London Transit lost property, and next day informed the bag had been found with passports intact, only cash and a camera taken. Relief palpable, and continued the visit (7 weeks). Using travellers cheques, and they were also still in the bag. We always felt the conductor found it on the bus, and then arranged for it to be found again near the depot.

Last full day at end of 7 weeks, got back to guest house in dark around 6pm, and my passport was gone from my pocket. It seemed that the rest would be going home while I queued for a replacement in the Strand, which I did with very heavy admonitions about not making a habit of losing it. Managed to get a replacement in 4 hrs, got to the airport in time and all went home together.

Afterwards everyone joked about my photo in the replacement, taken in a booth somewhere along the Strand near Covent Garden. It did show visually how I was feeling trying to get the replacement.

 

[randompunter]

Mrs Punter just reminded me we also lost our passports on the way to EZE in 2009 so I've updated my vote to twice. I left a small backpack in the taxi, realised at check in (direct QF to SYD in those days) that it was gone. I remember trying to call the taxi company from a pay phone and failing at Spanish, then our hero taxi driver found us in the terminal. He had spotted the bag on his way back to town and returned to the airport, parked and entered the terminal to look for us. Couldn't believe he did that for us, was such a relief!

 

[luxury-lizard]

One of the things I've noticed is that many of the stories of lost passports revolve around forgetting a bag somewhere (e.g. taxi, etc). One of the things Mr LL and I do where travelling is "bag count" - on departing home I count the total number of bags (suitcases, backpacks, handbags, etc etc) then at every 'transition' (in/out of taxi, bus/plane, train, at baggage collection, in/out of hotel etc etc - I say "bag count" - we both double check the count - sounds minor but it's saved a few close calls for us and friends who have also adopted my "system".

 

[Borisdog]

Guilty your honour.

I lost mine between the plane boarding gate at Heathrow and the plane landing at Dublin Airport in 2015. I turned the plane upside down, twice. Clearly I had it to get through the gate at Heathrow, but it was nowhere to be found when we landed at Dublin.

After a bit of smooth talking Irish Immigration let me in sans-passport, on the proviso that I go and get an emergency/temporary/whatever the phrase is Passport at the Aus Consulate in Dublin. Who, I might add, were fantastic and very efficient. 3 days was all it took.

The next several weeks in Europe were on that Passport, the only time it got a second look was on the train heading back to the UK ex France. They're a funny colour if you've never had one.

I've still got it ( Replaced now with a proper one ) and to this day have absolutely no idea what happened to the other one.

 

[Flyfrequently]

One of the things I've noticed is that many of the stories of lost passports revolve around forgetting a bag somewhere (e.g. taxi, etc). One of the things Mr LL and I do where travelling is "bag count" - on departing home I count the total number of bags (suitcases, backpacks, handbags, etc etc) then at every 'transition' (in/out of taxi, bus/plane, train, at baggage collection, in/out of hotel etc etc - I say "bag count" - we both double check the count - sounds minor but it's saved a few close calls for us and friends who have also adopted my "system".

Agree, it's a good and easy habit to adopt. We don't even say "bag count" @luxury-lizard - just look/glare at each other before heading off (particularly after X-ray scanning) and count 1, 2, 3, 4...... it works, we don't move until

 

[Rich]

My first overseas trip was with 3 mates from Uni and I somehow managed to lose my passport between immigration in Denpasar and boarding. Two of our party of four had boarded the Garuda plane before I realised. After empty bags multiple times and retracing steps the friend with me managed to convince the staff to let him on to the plane to check the others' bags, with the intent of getting back off again. Sure enough, one of the others had it (after reluctantly emptying their bags, being unconvinced it was even possible), I was reunited with my passport and the plane left (delayed only a few minutes due to me).
I couldn't work out what happened at the time, but looking back I think I asked if I could just put my travel wallet in one of their bags while I went to the toilet, presumably because it was handy and/ or I didn't want to take my own bag into the toilets. The stupidity of an 18 year old.
I don't know if this means I didn't learn my lesson, but fast forward 30+ years and my wife always carries our passports (as a family of 5 it makes sense to me). On the way to Melbourne airport earlier this year we called each other on the phone (family split over 2 Ubers) and I exchanged the usual "Do you have the passports?" (which I had left on the bed next to her bag for her), to which she replied, "No". It turns out she did have them, but both Ubers pulled over and were searched to check.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Is making emergency passport as easy as saying so, and accept being told off, then paying fees.
They must check photo with DFAT's passport office back in Aust.
I know Auspost can be difficult if you cant present former passport for replacement at end of term of passport being replaced.

 

[OATEK]

Is making emergency passport as easy as saying so, and accept being told off, then paying fees.
They must check photo with DFAT's passport office back in Aust.
I know Auspost can be difficult if you cant present former passport for replacement at end of term of passport being replaced.

Back in 1987 not much they could do except get a fax copy. I had a referee within DFAT to vouch for me, but didn't have to call on him.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Good deterrent tho for each lost passports to cost more.
They say the cost goes up a lot per lost (said) document.

 

[Seat0B]

One of the things I've noticed is that many of the stories of lost passports revolve around forgetting a bag somewhere (e.g. taxi, etc). One of the things Mr LL and I do where travelling is "bag count" - on departing home I count the total number of bags (suitcases, backpacks, handbags, etc etc) then at every 'transition' (in/out of taxi, bus/plane, train, at baggage collection, in/out of hotel etc etc - I say "bag count" - we both double check the count - sounds minor but it's saved a few close calls for us and friends who have also adopted my "system".

We also do this and it has saved us from disaster on more than one occasion.

 

[Quickstatus]

wondering aloud:

Will passports ever be installed on a smart phone?

 

[Ausbt]

Not really, just temporarily. Dropped it in a convenience store in Japan. Realised I'd lost it about 15 minutes later, and of course the person who picked it up was still there looking around the store for me. Another time thought I'd lost it in Utah in a hotel room. Couldn't find it for days but it had slipped behind a lounge and wedge up on the skirting board, so I couldn't spot it from underneath. Sometimes you just have to pull apart the entire room I guess.

 

[OZDUCK]

wondering aloud:

Will passports ever be installed on a smart phone?

In a dystopian view it could very well chips embedded in the hand.

 

[justinbrett]

In a dystopian view it could very well chips embedded in the hand.

Don't even need that. Your face is your chip.

Already in operation in some airports. SIN is about to roll it out. LAX does it on departure.