From: Ari on
On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:40:16 -0500, Dillon Pyron wrote:

> [Default] Thus spake Ari <AriSilverstein(a)yahoo.com>:
>
>>On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:38:37 -0500, Dillon Pyron wrote:
>>
>>> [Default] Thus spake "LVTravel" <none(a)nothere.com>:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Ohioguy" <none(a)none.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:27dPn.124143$gv4.62731(a)newsfe09.iad...
>>>>> My wife was getting on me about getting a passport. I've never needed
>>>>> one before, because when I went to Canada you still didn't need one, and
>>>>> most of my travel is inside the US.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://cruises.about.com/cs/officialinfo/ht/passport.htm
>>>>>
>>>>> At first I read the above article, which has no date but is still
>>>>> "dated", evidently, because it said no passport is needed for cruises to
>>>>> the Caribbean. It mentioned a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" or
>>>>> somesuch card, which I guess has now been replaced with a "US Passport
>>>>> Card".
>>>>>
>>>>> Anybody ever used a "US Passport Card" ?? It is unlikely that I'll be
>>>>> flying to another country, so that would probably be fine with me.
>>>>
>>>>Even if you do not need a passport to cruise if something happened and you
>>>>had to fly home in an emergency you would have great issues in getting back
>>>>into the US. The passport is necessary to fly into the US.
>>>
>>> In the event that you need to fly back to the US, TSA can hold you for
>>> up to three business days while they determine your status. If you
>>> actually need to be hospitalized you'll go, but you'll have a "guest"
>>> with you. And your family will get to sit around in a room in (not
>>> at) the airport.
>>
>>Three days min. If they decide to invoke a security status, as long as
>>they want.
>
> Yeah, but at least you won't get a free trip back to the Caribbean. To
> that oh so special island. Or chunk thereof.

:)
--
Ari's Fun Times!
http://tr.im/hrFG
Motto: Run, rabbit, Run!
From: Ari on
On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:43:09 -0500, Dillon Pyron wrote:

> [Default] Thus spake Ari <AriSilverstein(a)yahoo.com>:
>
>>On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:56:31 -0400, Charles wrote:
>>
>>> In article <9ch316pctbqauee5019du1ssha3h9odafb(a)4ax.com>, Jack Hamilton
>>> <jfh(a)acm.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Also Bermuda and some Caribbean islands. Oddly, the passport card isn't
>>>> valid for sea entry into France even though France is closer to the US
>>>> than are some of the Caribbean islands for which the card is valid.
>>>
>>> It seems odd to you because you misunderstand the purpose of the
>>> passport card.
>>
>>Which is...?Let me help you.
>>
>>The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from
>>Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or
>>sea ports-of-entry. it is a matter of it being more convenient and
>>less expensive than a passport book.
>>
>
> Sadly, athough it's touted as being "less expensive", that's only if
> you get it once and don't renew at any time after it expires. Over
> the course of ten years, they cost exactly the same, but the card is
> so limited in use as to be worthless. IMnsHO.

Non-drivers, fits in a wallet e.g. DUI/DWI probationers. Other than
that, agreed.

I smile when I see ppl use the term "lug" their passport. Especially
women.
--
Ari's Fun Times!
http://tr.im/hrFG
Motto: Run, rabbit, Run!
From: Becca on
On 6/13/2010 7:39 PM, Dillon Pyron wrote:
> [Default] Thus spake Lee<no(a)2.spam>:
>
>
>> On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:36:41 -0500, Dillon Pyron>Okay, this doesn't
>> apply anymore, but back around 98 Continental ran a
>>
>>> special. $99 each way Houston to Paris.
>>>
>> Paris, Texas?
>>
> Yeah, and then on to Athens and finally Palestine.
>

I've gone diving in Athens, but it was in a quarry. It was Halloween,
so we were diving for valuable (?) prizes. I won a pink tank knocker.

Becca
From: Ari on
On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:38:34 -0400, Bill wrote:

> On 6/13/2010 8:43 PM, Dillon Pyron wrote:
>
>> Sadly, although it's touted as being "less expensive", that's only if
>> you get it once and don't renew at any time after it expires. Over
>> the course of ten years, they cost exactly the same, but the card is
>> so limited in use as to be worthless. IMnsHO.
>
> Why do you say that? According to the website, the initial cost is $45
> and it is valid for 10 years, same as a normal passport. The only time
> it would be more expensive is if you decide that you need a real
> passport during those 10 years, and even then, as many people have said,
> it's good for 10 years.
>
> http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html
>
> Bill

The passport card is all about automating the travel for neighboring
regions, it's about matching credentials to a gov't DB and upping
homeland insecurity. Er, security. They ought to give it away if its
such a great anti-terrorist defense token.
--
Ari's Fun Times!
http://tr.im/hrFG
Motto: Run, rabbit, Run!
From: Ohioguy on
I ended up getting both the Passport and the Passport Card on Monday.
I was tempted to just get the Passport Card, but I checked over the
list of countries, and 1 stop in the Caribbean was not on the list.
This probably wouldn't have been a problem, because I'm not likely to go
ashore a lot, but my wife seems to think we may possibly fly to Europe
or somewhere in 5 or 6 years. I guess it will be convenient to already
have the passport, if so.