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Sunday, March 6, 2016
Why You Need to Renew Your Passport Right Now
Why You Need to Renew Your Passport Right Now
If you have a U.S. passport that's expiring soon, the State Department urges you to renew it as soon as possible. Officials are predicting a surge in demand this year as millions of 10-year passports issued in 2006 and 2007 expire.
After the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (which prevented citizens in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda from entering or leaving the U.S. without a passport) went into effect nearly a decade ago, passport wait times increased along with the number of applications.
Applying for your passport renewal soon will help alleviate the congestion expected later in the year.
The Real ID Act is also contributing to the influx. As of January 22, 2018, residents of states that still have not complied with the Real ID ACT will need a passport or alternate form of ID in order to board domestic flights.
As it stands, passport renewals in 2016 will take about six weeks or longer to process (up from four weeks last year). Planning ahead is key.
New Bill Lets Airlines Display Deceiving Fares
New Bill Lets Airlines Display Deceiving Fares
Score two for the airlines, nil for consumers.
Two amendments passing through the U.S. House of Representatives last week will hurt the average American air traveler: one lets airlines display fictitious low-ball fares, while the second rejects standardizing aircraft seat pitch.
- The House accepted an amendment from Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R, FL) that brings the anti-consumer Transparent Airfares Act proposal back to life. That's the provision that would allow airlines to omit taxes and fees from their advertised prices and first-screen fare postings.
- It also rejected an amendment from Congressman Steve Cohen (D, TN) that would potentially require the FAA to set minimum standards of airline seat spacing. The purpose was to assure that airline passengers could (1) safely exit a survivable crash in an airplane with the tightest allowable seating within the requisite 90-minute interval, and (2) avoid the increased risks of deep vein thrombosis resulting from being forced to sit in undersized seats for extended periods of time.
Consumer advocates who opposed the first and supported the second have moved their efforts to the Senate. At this point, the overall outcome is unclear but events to date underscore the power of the airline lobby to bypass important consumer concerns. We will keep you in the loop of upcoming developments.
More from SmarterTravel:
- The 11 Most Egregious Issues Facing Travelers Today
- What Are My Rights if My Flight Is Cancelled?
- Downgraded: Are You Entitled to a Refund?