We planned everything but over looked one minor but very important detail and that is costing our vacation now. I am yet again reminded of Stephen Covey's simple powerful saying.. "common sense stuff NOT common practice"... That's exactly what is happening to us now..
I am in Toronto now and my family is back in Chennai, India. They were all set to join me in LA for a vacation starting tomorrow, Sunday May 4, 2008. I had already mapped out the places to go, people to visit and reconnect. Sita and the kids are all excited, grab their tickets and go to Chennai Airport to LA via Frankfurt. They wade through the sea of humanity crowding around the entrance, get their bags scanned and go the the Lufthansa counter to get their boarding pass. Instead of giving the boarding pass, the agent drops a bombshell.
My daughter can't travel because her passport has expired. I did all the planning but forgot to check the validity of the travel documentsand that is costing us the vacation now. The entire vacation plan is back to the drawing board now. I am not sure if the vacation will happen at all now...
Lessons learned: Check your passport/s first before any International travel..
WOW... UNBELIEVEABLE!!!.. .this is good learning for all those who are at the drawing board stage now... what a shocker.. sorry to hear this and thanks for posting..
ReplyDeletesad to hear this.
ReplyDeleteI think this passport expiry date is one thing which really gets missed as a minor detail.
one of my friend couldn't write GMAT Exam because the passport was expired. He went to the exam center and wasn't allowed to write the exam.
A quick question on US passport renewal in Chennai. Do we need an appointment in US consulate to apply for a renewal ?
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance for this info.
Aruna
ReplyDeleteNo appointment required.. but ensure you take ALL documents.. including the right photograph with you..
And, also ensure that you are ready for the 'security drill'.. that is you cannot take 'anything' (for eg., no mobile phones..) other than the required documents inside... It is better you just carry the bare minimum stuff with you..
Yeah travel documents are viewed with lot of fuss in this part of the world more so. Some times you wonder about that !!!!
ReplyDeleteWonder with the Z SERIES Indian passport to be resubmitted back to Passport office and to get a new passport, how many passengers are going to face the music.
Lot of interesting stuff on your blog. (I entered thro search for Sujatha speeches).
Karthik.
Bangalore.
Karthik
ReplyDeleteThanks.. welcome to my corner..