REP LIEU LEADS 76 MEMBERS IN URGING AIRLINE CEOS TO CLARIFY PASSPORT REGULATIONS FOR TRAVELERS
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), joined by 76 of his colleagues, sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of major U.S. airlines urging their companies to better inform passengers of eligibility and passport regulations for international travel. International air travel has spiked following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the State Department reporting record demand for passport applications and renewals. This increase in demand has strained State Department resources and increased costs in expedited shipping and renewal for travelers, causing many missed international flights.
While the State Department has deployed additional staff to assist with passport processing, the Members suggest that an airline’s reminder to verify passport validity before purchasing international tickets would alleviate emergency passport demands. Congressman Lieu and his colleagues hope that coordinated efforts between airlines, the State Department, and the congressional offices that assist their constituents with expedited passport processing requests will ensure that Americans are ready and able to travel abroad.
In the letter, the Members write:
Dear Chief Executive Officers,
Thank you for serving travelers. As Members of Congress, one of our primary responsibilities is helping constituents cut through red tape and address issues they are having with the federal government, like document processing. Our casework loads have increased astronomically due to urgent passport requests from constituents. Oftentimes, constituents have already booked travel but are unaware that their passports have expired, or are going to, and reach out to our office for help expediting passport processing. Our priority is helping our constituents – your customers – get where they need to go. We write to suggest that airlines and booking services work to implement measures to better inform consumers on passport rules and eligibility for international travel.
We have seen an unprecedented spike in international air travel following the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is great news for our economy, and for the tourism sector. After more than three years of pandemic-related disruptions, U.S. citizens are eager to travel, and we would like to ensure that no citizen is deprived of a chance to do so because of passport-related issues.
The State Department has shared that they are on track to set the record for the highest demand year ever for passport applications. During some weeks this past winter, the Department received more than 500,000 applications, far surpassing their official projections. This uptick in requests has strained passport processing. Because of this, the State Department has deployed additional staff to assist with passports. Regional passport offices are processing an unprecedented number of special handling appointments to alleviate demand for passports.
Extended wait times have caused distress to many of our constituents, as they resort to paying increased fees for expedited shipping. Some have missed international flights. Caseworkers in our district offices are experiencing an overwhelming surge of passport requests, particularly for emergency appointments for rapid assistance at a regional passport office.
In assisting constituents with passport issues, we have found that many did not know or think to check their passports before booking their flights. We believe that this, combined with the extended lead time for passports, has caused this influx of last-minute expedited passport requests. We want to bring this issue to the attention of airlines and booking platforms because we believe airlines could help alleviate this problem.
Typically, when a constituent reaches out to a Congressional office for passport assistance, it has already become an urgent matter. If travelers could be reminded to check their passports during or shortly after the booking process for international travel, they can ensure they have the proper documentation to travel. This could provide assurances to airlines that travelers are aware of the rules and regulations around passports well in advance of a trip, reducing the need for State to process expedited requests and likely reducing the number of missed flights and disappointed customers.
We ask for your partnership in educating and notifying travelers of the rules around passport use and relevant information about passport application processing. We urge airlines and booking companies to provide customers with information during the flight booking process to help them better understand passport rules, whether that be through emails, a popup, directed links on your webpage, or other methods of conveying the necessary information.
Working together, airlines can assist the State Department and congressional offices to ensure that potential international travelers are prepared to travel abroad, and we can improve passport application processing during a period of incredibly high demand. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and we look forward to a timely response.
Sincerely,
READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE
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