A half-rant about passports

Ok, this is just a half-rant. A mini-rant. A rantlet, one might say.

Let me start off with this. I LOVE MY PASSPORTS. I love them. I travel a lot, and for the longest time I didn't have a driver's license, so I needed my passports for ID purposes. I definitely do mean passportS because I have two of them - dual nationality, Canadian and British.

So this is where my rantlet starts. Two passports mean two expenses, to be shelled out at various points during a decade. But it gets better! My UK passport is valid for 10 years, while my Canadian one is valid for only 5 years.

But wait, there's more! Because of the rules about having to have 6 months available on a passport from the end of a foreign travel visit, I lose 1/20th of my UK passport costs, and a massive 1/10th of my Canadian passport cost. Essentially down the drain.

Oh, you think that's it? Nope. Because my Canadian passport was set to expire in August. I have two holidays booked between now and then. Meaning, I had to renew my passport two weeks ago. Less than four months from the new 10-year epassports being available. Oh woe is me! I now have to go another 4.5 years with a short-term passport. Wasting another 1/10th of the cost. Actually, even more, since the cost of the new 10-year epassports per year is less than the current passports.

I happen to be somewhat of a passport aficionado, having stared at different ones all day long during my role at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. I have seen 89 different country passports (yes, I counted). I know which countries have strict rules regarding photos, and which don't (UK passports, for example, tend to be rather poor, whereas Canadians have to have special passport photographers take their photos). I've seen fakes, I've seen expired visas, I've seen mistakes. I've seen it all.

But until the day where a 5-year passport actually lasts 5.5 years, and a 10 year passport lasts 10.5 years, without a change in base price, this mini-rant of mine will continue.


***update***
A few close friends have commented to me that the "6-month rule" doesn't actually apply to many places; it depends on the country you're entering, but also, it seems, on the method of transportation you're using. An airline may require it, even if the country being entered doesn't.

So two options:
1- check before you go with both the country and the airline/cruise/bus company
2- better safe than sorry, renew with 6-months to go; this may save time and money in the long run, even if it induces mini-rants in people like me!

Name and Shame: Gatwick Airport South Terminal

I moved back home to Canada yesterday! Moving is a taxing experience, and if your move involves a flight, that's even harder.

Yesterday, I flew from London Gatwick airport's south terminal. I fly a lot. I have a routine in airports. I empty my water bottle as I go through security, then fill it up on the other side either from a water fountain or the taps in the bathroom. I've used this routine in Gatwick many times to great effect.

Yesterday was different, however. The South Terminal is under renovation, and, to my absolute HORROR the genius architect decided to remove the water fountain. To add to my misery, the bathroom taps only provided hot water. Grumble grumble.

Needless to say, I filled out a comment form, declaring that they were violating my human rights by refusing me access to drinking water, and also called them out on their eco-friendliness... or lack thereof.

I can accept not allowing drink through security - I get it, liquid bomber, blah blah blah (I actually flew three days after that event, and trust me security now is a breeze compared to that!). But to not allow access to free, clean, cold drinking water on the other side? To force weary travellers to purchase a wasteful bottle of water when they don't need one? That's both rediculous and incredibly greedy.

So, Gatwick South Terminal, I name and shame you.

PUT THE WATER FOUNTAIN BACK IN

Update: 
I just received this email response to my complaint card.

Dear Planet F

Your feedback is really important to us, so we'd like to start by thanking you for taking the time to contact us.

Our aim is to give your comments the attention they deserve, so we'll now undertake a full investigation. This may mean us contacting several departments and airport partners within Gatwick Airport.

We'd be really grateful for your patience over the coming days while we gather all the information we need.

Please rest assured, however, that we'll contact you as soon as possible. In fact, our aim is to have completed our investigation and contact you within 14 days.

Thanks once again for sending us your e-mail and we'll be in touch again as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely

Person from Gatwick 

Well, it's a start! We'll see what this "investigation" leads to.