A passport nightmare

A passport nightmare.   Not mine, thank goodness.    But it brought home to me, just how easily a passport can be lost, or stolen, or damaged,  when travelling.

An Australian Passport.   Apparently very sought after by those who make it their business to steal passports.

Last Friday evening we received a frantic telephone call from our friend, Moira, who had lost her passport, possibly stolen, in Aberdeen airport.   She was flying from Aberdeen to Heathrow, where she was to meet other tourists, in order to board a cruise liner in Dover the next day.

 But of course, no passport, no cruise.    Luckily we were home, and were able to collect her from Heathrow.   A very distressed friend.   And nothing could be done until we went to Australia House on Monday morning.   But a few wines and plenty of talk helped considerably.

Monday morning, 9 am, we arrived at Australia House, in order to tell them about the lost or stolen passport.   A very sympathetic response, and as long as Moira parted with some money, they could give her a temporary passport.    Of course we had to walk a distance to obtain the correct photograph, then find a cafe to drink a much needed cup of coffee, and complete the correct forms.

And then we returned to Australia House for the official appointment.   But alas we had to wait a further forty minutes for that, due to everyone having to leave the building.   There was a security alert, a suspicious parcel in the post room apparently.  A little excitement to liven up the day.

The meeting point for all staff and visitors.

The passport was collected on Tuesday afternoon.   In the meantime a few telephone calls to the cruise liner's office, and some mixed messages, gave a positive result.  Moira was told that she could meet the cruise ship in Iceland.   Thankfully on Wednesday, the arrangements were finalised, after parting with a considerable amount of money to pay for the airfare, and transport from the airport to the cruise ship.

In between all of this, her family became aware that she was not on the cruise ship, so some frantic phone calls between Australia and here, took place.   There were some very worried family members.

But it all ended well, and we drove Moira to Luton Airport early Thursday morning to catch an early flight to Iceland.   I could not believe the huge crowd at the airport at 4.30 a.m.   Quite bizarre.

A lost or stolen passport can happen to anyone, and even though we are seasoned travellers, it can happen to us.   Moira has travelled widely during the last forty years, and until now has never experienced any difficulties.

On the front of the folder that holds my Australian passport it states that 'Keep this passport safe at all times and use this wallet to help protect your passport.   Lost/Stolen/Damaged passports will cause inconvenience and replacements will require extra fees.'  

I am paronoid about my passport, and continually check that I have it.   However, it takes but a moment for someone to take it out of your handbag, or pocket, or backpack.   And in moments of inattentiveness due to sleep deprivation or jet lag, it is so easy to inadvertently leave a passport in an airport scanner or on a cafe table.

It is at that point that one realises how crucial a passport is, to future travel plans.  Of course, there will also be a rush to find the nearest embassy or consulate, in order to obtain another passport, plus the expense and plenty of that too.

So before I travel again I must read the Australian travel guide, and check that our travel insurance covers the loss of a passport, and related travel changes.

As the officer in Australia House stated to Moira, 'You are not the first person to lose a passport, and you will not be the last'.