passport ???

[Cindy B]

I think someone also mentioned - be sure you really only want the passport card. It is very limited to where it allows you to travel (and how- airlines do not accept them). They might save you some money now, but if in the near future you decide to go out of the country, you will have to reapply for a regular passport....

Don't pay any company money to help you get a passport. It is really easy - go to your local government office, post office, etc.

I've had the passport card for about 3-4 years and YES the airlines accepts them. I've gone on closed loop cruises with them and had no issues from any of of the ports as well (all Carribbean).

I've used the card as ID for employment ID as well as for obtaining drivers license for my son.

If you know you aren't going to fly anywhere, it is helpful. Just to reiterate, the airlines do accept them. Now I have only used them in US airports, but it was a non issue in various states/airports.

 

[girli565]

I've had the passport card for about 3-4 years and YES the airlines accepts them. I've gone on closed loop cruises with them and had no issues from any of of the ports as well (all Carribbean).

I've used the card as ID for employment ID as well as for obtaining drivers license for my son.

If you know you aren't going to fly anywhere, it is helpful. Just to reiterate, the airlines do accept them. Now I have only used them in US airports, but it was a non issue in various states/airports.

But the card cannot be used for international air travel. http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

 

[girli565]

This is also a helpful little PDF I found listing the differences between a passport book and card. http://travel.state.gov/pdf/ppt_pptCard.pdf

 

[Cindy B]

But the card cannot be used for international air travel. http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

I know that. I did say closed loop cruises and US airports. IIRC, it is also good for Canada /Mexico border crossings.

I knew the limitation for international airports when we purchased them. We only fly in the US and take closed loop cruises. (whereas a birth certificate would suffice- but that is another discussion)

 

[mjkacmom]

I've had the passport card for about 3-4 years and YES the airlines accepts them. I've gone on closed loop cruises with them and had no issues from any of of the ports as well (all Carribbean).

I've used the card as ID for employment ID as well as for obtaining drivers license for my son.

If you know you aren't going to fly anywhere, it is helpful. Just to reiterate, the airlines do accept them. Now I have only used them in US airports, but it was a non issue in various states/airports.

Well, of course airlines accept the cards for in country travel. I think PP's are suggesting getting the passport, in case they have the opportunity to travel overseas within the next 10 years. When we went on our last cruise, we did passports, in case, for any reason, we had to fly home from another country.

 

[Cindy B]

Well, of course airlines accept the cards for in country travel. I think PP's are suggesting getting the passport, in case they have the opportunity to travel overseas within the next 10 years. When we went on our last cruise, we did passports, in case, for any reason, we had to fly home from another country.

The PP said the airlines didn't accept them. They didn't specify if it was INTERNATIONAL or DOMESTIC. But to flat out say, the airlines don't accept them was erroneous information.

I have had no problems with closed loop cruises with the cards. We have done 3 or 4 cruises with them, no issues. We get back to the ship on time, we are careful and have no issues using them as ID with checkpoints. We've been to Haiti, Bahamas, Mexico, Jamaica, St. Maarten with no problems.

 

[North of Mouse]

I did ours also. When you're talking about 5 people in a family, that quickly adds up if you're having them taken. BUT, they do need to be a certain way. From the passport site:

I agree it's not hard, but some adjustment of the pictures (cropping) might be needed.

I don't doubt at all what you printed, but we didn't know anything about all those requirements, only the basic ones they told us, so we did just what I described and they worked perfectly. Don't know if we were just lucky (hard to believe since my dh's was a renewal (was mailed to different address) and mine and our sons to another because they were new. Can't really say, but we had no problems and we have our passports

 

[bumbershoot]

The great thing is you only have to renew every 10 yrs. My DH had to travel to Japan with his company , so he's had his renewed twice - so simple to do - just don't let it expire!

FWIW, you can renew up to 5 years after it expires.

Renew by Mail if All of the Following are True:

Your Most Recent U.S. Passport:

....
Was issued within the last 15 years

Within the last 15 years = the 10 years it was valid for, plus 5 years of being expired. I totally took advantage of that a few years ago, so it definitely works!

I know that. I did say closed loop cruises and US airports. IIRC, it is also good for Canada /Mexico border crossings.

I knew the limitation for international airports when we purchased them. We only fly in the US and take closed loop cruises. (whereas a birth certificate would suffice- but that is another discussion)

Of course it works for *domestic* flights; it's a form of photo ID. Anyone saying that it doesn't work for airlines absolutely positively means *international*, there's NO reason to think they meant that it doesn't work for domestic air travel. Heck, a friend of mine used her EXPIRED passport for identification for domestic airline travel. (you don't even HAVE TO have photo ID...just bring what you have and give yourself plenty of time, and an innocent person can get on a domestic-destination flight if they can find enough info on you)

And it's well known that *certain* closed-loop cruises don't require a passport.


Thing is...there's no NEED to get a passport card for closed-loop or domestic travel! The NEED for the passport CARD is for those going to Mexico and Canada by land.

those of us wanting the OP to make SURE she doesn't want to get the passport are talking about international travel where she would NEED the proper passport.

110 plus 25 for the book...140 plus 25 for the proper passport....it's really not THAT much of a difference but you get a whole, literal, WORLD for the passport vs the card.


(what I don't understand is the concept of getting the card AND the passport...if you have a passport, what do you need the card for???)

 

[GrnMtnMan]

if you have a passport, what do you need the card for???)

Nothing. But we got the card too, since it was just $15 more. Passport books can get get lost/mutilated. etc....and the card is a good starting point for getting a new ID in an emergency.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't doubt at all what you printed, but we didn't know anything about all those requirements, only the basic ones they told us, so we did just what I described and they worked perfectly. Don't know if we were just lucky (hard to believe since my dh's was a renewal (was mailed to different address) and mine and our sons to another because they were new. Can't really say, but we had no problems and we have our passports

It's possible I was paranoid and "over planned". But I wanted to make sure I had them right.

 

[mjkacmom]

those of us wanting the OP to make SURE she doesn't want to get the passport are talking about international travel where she would NEED the proper passport.

110 plus 25 for the book...140 plus 25 for the proper passport....it's really not THAT much of a difference but you get a whole, literal, WORLD for the passport vs the card.
?)

I agree, $30 over the course of 10 years makes it worth it. Heck, you never know when one might win a last minute trip to Bermuda!

 

[scrapbooksellman]

We just got our passports for the whole family. We used the local library to get forms and process them. I had the photos done at Walmart. Make sure people don't smile, it can make them squit their eyes. Our passports came back in 2 weeks even though it stated a 6-8 week turn around.