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Forgot your passport? Here's a way out!
En route to the Dominican Republic last week, I did something I've never done before: I forgot my passport. I was already out of Manhattan, deep into Queens, and turning back simply wasn't an option. I panicked. There was no reason for me to forget my passport, something I haven't done in a dozen years of travel as a professional. As I do for every trip, I put my wallet, keys and passport on top of my laptop the night before ... so I wouldn't forget them. I noticed the pile of stuff not to forget the next morning and immediately recognized it as such.
Nonetheless, seated in the backseat of the town car, I realize I'd done what should have been impossible given my insane system. The driver turned his head shortly after I yelled, "Crap!" as one would expect him to do. I repeated the expletive a few times before telling him why. I must not be the first person to have made this mistake in his car, because the driver, from Tel Aviv Limo quickly came up with the perfect solution.
He instructed me to call for a new car and explain the situation. They would send a vehicle to my apartment, where my friend would meet them with my passport. Then, the driver would head out to JFK airport, where I'd be waiting in the departure area with the fare for the trip and an incredibly generous tip (I wound up paying close to 100 percent for this service).
Even before I could raise the suggestion, the driver shot down the notion of turning around and going back to my apartment. It would take too much time, he noted, as we'd have to go out and back. With his proposal, a car already in Manhattan could just shoot straight out to JFK. As if I needed another reason, I saw the Queens traffic heading into the city and knew that turning around would mean fighting rush hour. If I made my flight, I'd do it as a bundle of nerves.
Less than an hour from the moment I hurled obscenities at myself, my bag and my passport, I had my documents in hand and was ready to check in. The driver was in touch with me before reaching my apartment (to make sure someone would be there), when he left (to let me know he was en route) and at the departures area (to tell me he had arrived).
The situation unfolded perfectly, but it isn't universally applicable. I wouldn't try this with a taxi, for example. I wouldn't even have someone hail a cab and drop my stuff in the backseat to be delivered to me. The taxi option is just too fluid. To make it work, it helps to have just taken a town car to the airport, though I suspect you could have a car service deliver your passport even if you drove, took public transportation or hailed a cab.
Stupidity may be problematic, but it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. If you forget something important for your trip – so important that you're willing to shell out some serious cash to fix the situation – you now have a solution at your fingertips. Of course the smarter move is to get it right the first time ...
Even before I could raise the suggestion, the driver shot down the notion of turning around and going back to my apartment. It would take too much time, he noted, as we'd have to go out and back. With his proposal, a car already in Manhattan could just shoot straight out to JFK. As if I needed another reason, I saw the Queens traffic heading into the city and knew that turning around would mean fighting rush hour. If I made my flight, I'd do it as a bundle of nerves.
Less than an hour from the moment I hurled obscenities at myself, my bag and my passport, I had my documents in hand and was ready to check in. The driver was in touch with me before reaching my apartment (to make sure someone would be there), when he left (to let me know he was en route) and at the departures area (to tell me he had arrived).
The situation unfolded perfectly, but it isn't universally applicable. I wouldn't try this with a taxi, for example. I wouldn't even have someone hail a cab and drop my stuff in the backseat to be delivered to me. The taxi option is just too fluid. To make it work, it helps to have just taken a town car to the airport, though I suspect you could have a car service deliver your passport even if you drove, took public transportation or hailed a cab.
Stupidity may be problematic, but it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. If you forget something important for your trip – so important that you're willing to shell out some serious cash to fix the situation – you now have a solution at your fingertips. Of course the smarter move is to get it right the first time ...
Filed under: Dominican Republic, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
joe May 25th 2010 10:54AM
I am confused. If your friend can get into your apartment to get your passport, then why didn't he/she hop on the subway and bring it to you? He/she probably would have got there the same time you did if you were driving/riding in traffic.
joe May 25th 2010 10:56AM
An ad for a limo company that doesn't mention the company by name? Riiiiiight.
brad May 25th 2010 11:01AM
I must not be the first person to have made this mistake in his car, because the driver, from Tel Aviv Limo quickly came up with the perfect solution.
There is the name of the limo company, and its highlighted so you get a link straight to their site
joe May 25th 2010 9:12PM
Apologies, my eyes have reached the point where they automatically skip over ads and I really didn't see it.
Debster May 25th 2010 11:34AM
Dunno, Kel - I found some internet references that said it was a good idea to have a photocopy of your passport to bail you out of hot water, but none that said an airline would accept it. All seemed to say that without it, you are up a creek without a paddle.
Debster May 25th 2010 11:37AM
Good catch by all! I agree, I think this was a straight up advertisement for the Limo company. They used to have to put, "Advertisement," above the article. Now I guess it's all spun as, "News..."
Bob May 25th 2010 11:56AM
These news articles are getting so stupid, it's as if I was back in first grade again! How would the other dri\ver get into this man's home? Plus, who would allow a stranger into their home in the first place? Thank God this guy's not piloting the plane!
mike May 26th 2010 11:03PM
"Limo"? Not likely. More akin to a car-service driven by some white, non arab guy w a green-card.
misstigerslover May 25th 2010 12:10PM
Forgot your passport? Here's a quick way out:
Call Lindsay Lohan's PR agency, and her lawyer too.
StarryBugg May 25th 2010 1:48PM
I'm both a budget and business traveler...and this happened to me as well. I did the exact same thing, only I left mine in the hotel when I was going home. I had to call the hotel, explain what happened, and the manager went to the room, got the passport, and put it in the town car. There was a trust factor involved, but, I tend to think (hope) that most people are good =)
Michael May 25th 2010 4:18PM
I don't understand the concern. Hasn't the federal government stopped enforcing our immigration laws? And I've been to the Dominican many times and a twenty dollar bill trumps a passport anytime.
Pastor Buddy May 25th 2010 1:46PM
So all is not in vain, please allow me to give a good travel tip regarding your passport. MAKE TWO PHOTO COPIES and put one away in a different place you put your original when traveling. Put the other away in your home. This will make it easier to obtain a passport if you lose your original when traveling.
Laurie May 25th 2010 5:21PM
That was the dumbest article I ever read. Why didn't he just have the friend grab the passport and bring it to him at the airport?? Duhhhh
T May 25th 2010 2:36PM
what a horrible story this righter should be fired on the spot for wasting our time. If you happen to have a friend who has a key to your house around, and a extra 150$ would you still trust a taxi driver to transport your personal stuff. How stupid could you make a story, I was hoping for a real helpful way out.
John May 25th 2010 2:37PM
A useless article written by someone who never had a real job or paid for their own travel.
greeko May 25th 2010 3:23PM
Perfect solution....call your wife and have her deliver it to the airport. Otherwise a neighbor or friend who has your house key can do you a favor by running over to your home, grabbing the passport and meeting you at the airport. When you get back you can take whomever did you the favor to a lavish dinner or provide them with a very nice gift certificate. (somewhere around a hundo or two)
tc May 25th 2010 3:38PM
I make a copy of the front page and bar code of my passport. I always put the copy in my carry on luggage in case the original is misplaced or stolen. Bring these copies to the Embassy of the U.S. and they will secure another document for you.
Sean May 25th 2010 9:41PM
What a ridiculous story. I hope you don't actually think this was helpful to anyone. The title on this article alluded to a possible way to fix the problem of forgetting your passport. You gave us some nonsense rich person solution to your own problem. Keep it to yourself. And if your answer to that statement is, "I'm a writer, I needed a good story for my article" then you should quit your job 'cause you suck!
Mikey May 25th 2010 4:05PM
Hmmmmmmmmm..................reminds me of the old adage, measure twice, cut once. Me thinks that could apply to the checklist also.
ryliemarie May 25th 2010 4:16PM
as someone who works for an airline and is constantly yelled at by a passenger when THEY forget their passport, i actually like this. I can tell them they can either fly the next day or have a car service pick up their passport.. Regardless of the race/religion of the service it could be helpful to people in desperate situations