Important Travel City Direct Advice!!!!!!!!

[calvinjtodd]

This is just a warning to anyone booking with TCD, when we booked we received all the paper work including visa and passport important information, this states that you only need 3 months left on your passport from the date of your return,( I had 4 months) when we got our flight tickets etc. One week before we depart the important information with them states that you must have a minimum of 6 months left on your passport!!!!!! I have now had to make an urgent appointment at my local passport office and had to pay £108 to get a new passport. I spoke to TCD about this and to put it bluntly they don’t give a flying *!*! Please don’t let yourselves get caught out with these people they only care about your money and wouldn’t know good customer service if it was pointed out to them.

 

[mushumadness]

Hasn't it always been 6 months from return date left?

 

[Claire L]

Hasn't it always been 6 months from return date left?

No the US only require validity for length of stay!

US Embassy

Claire

 

[wayneg]

I am sure I saw a discussion about this recently and it was determined it was 3 months. Maybe soemone has a link to the thread or a website that is conclusive.
Found this on Expedia that says 90 days.
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program, passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino, who must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of departure from the USA).


Ok a bit of searching found it. from US Embassy to UK
Its definitely 90 days.
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/passport_validity.html

 

[wayneg]

Sorry read the info again, Claire is right
yes its not even 90 days, just whatever the passport is valid.
"the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport"

 

[calvinjtodd]

Not according to TCD paper work or are we supposed to be selective in what we believe from them and say for example turn up late for the flight because of conflicting information? They do say that if you ring the US embassy(£1.30 per min) they will confirm the 3 months claim. At the end of the day when all is said and done we should be able to TRUST the information we are paying TCD for, or don't you agree? Also they should say 6 months in the first place if that is what they are gonna say 1 week before you travel

 

[Claire L]

I know some airline stipulate 6 or 3 months but the US is length of stay unfortunately what an airline says is sometimes what you have to 'abide' by

Claire

 

[calvinjtodd]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm sure you all agree though I had to get a new passport JUST IN CASE TCD's information was BS and i got left behind at Manchester airport

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm sure you all agree though I had to get a new passport JUST IN CASE TCD's information was BS and i got left behind at Manchester airport

Yes never worth the risk if they have given you conflicitng info as they are the ones to allow you entry onto the plane.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

I am sure you would have been ok. Did you know you could have renewed earlier and had the extra months added to new passport?
No reason to wait until last minute to renew them.
http://www.passport.gov.uk/apply-how-long-early.asp

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Whilst the US Government may decree 3 months, the airlines can refuse to carry you if you do not have the requisite amount of months left on your passport that their terms and conditions dictate.

 

[wilma-bride]

Whilst the US Government may decree 3 months, the airlines can refuse to carry you if you do not have the requisite amount of months left on your passport that their terms and conditions dictate.

Obi is correct, it is essentially up to the airline to dictate how many months you need to have left on your passport. It is not only TCD that stipulate 6 months, I'm pretty sure MyTravel do too (or they did when we travelled with them last year).

 

[wayneg]

Obi, Joh, problem is TCD are giving conflicting information and saying to ring the US Embassy to confirm 3 months. They dont seem to know there own policy.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi, Joh, problem is TCD are giving conflicting information and saying to ring the US Embassy to confirm 3 months. They dont seem to know there own policy.

Personally, I would not take any chances and would update my passport beforehand. better to be safe than sorry

 

[Goog'n'Giz]

Hi we too are off in 11 sleeps time with tcd, but in their defence if you check the T&Cs on back of original booking invoice from them under passports and visas it does say 6 months. This does not condone cust service tel conversation you had but hey your off to disney and they're not!!

Enjoy your hols

 

[Claire L]

I know Virgin stick by the US and require validity for the duration of the trip and no more, but personally I prefer to have a bit more time left, just incase!!

Claire

 

[calvinjtodd]

Thanks all for the support i suppose the massive price saving to be had by using TCD has to be worth a FEW hiccups right! Goog'n'Giz your right it's on the back in small ish print but still the A4 sheet in bright red with white and yellow lettering shouts at you "DO NOT IGNORE" and thats the one i noticed. So even in the original pack they are giving out conflicting information,us mear mortals don't stand a chance. Just to clear things up about my passport i had trips to make and didn't really have time to send it off especially when you only need 3 MONTHS on it for the US
P.S.
We will be at Epcot Monday the 1st