Gallego Calls on Airlines to Help with Passport Backlog, Remind Travelers of Renewal Requirements

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) joined 76 of his colleagues in calling on major airlines and booking companies to better inform customers of passport requirements for their travel during or shortly after the booking process.

“My team has heard countless horror stories of constituents sent into a panic when they learn their still-valid passport won’t be accepted when they reach their travel destination,” said Rep. Gallego. “These hassles cause undue burdens on travelers who are forced to pay for expedited passports and shipping. By reminding customers to check their passports before or during the booking process, airlines and booking companies can be critical partners in helping traveling Americans get their passports renewed with plenty of time to spare.”

The letter reads, in part:

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.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

The Western Passport Center in Tucson, Arizona, is currently processing 75,000 requests a day – making it the busiest in the country.

In April, Gallego sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken expressing his concern about passport application wait times faced by Arizonans and emphasizing the importance of border crossings to the Arizona economy. He also praised the hardworking civil servants at the Wester Passport Center.