The world’s most powerful passport has been revealed in a quarterly ranking — and sadly, it’s not the United States. The Henley Passport Index ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa. And after analyzing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), looking at … Read more
They’re stamping them out. If you’ve ever looked at your passport like a scrapbook of adventures from across the globe, brace yourself: stamps are disappearing. Twenty-nine European countries will begin phasing out physical stamps in favor of digital entry systems, beginning October 12. ChatGPT said: Passport stamps are being phased out as countries adopt digital … Read more
For Dyan Cannon, age is more than just a number. The “Heaven Can Wait” actress, 88, attempted to go inside the White House this week, but as she and her friends documented in a video shared on social media, the Secret Service refused to let her enter because of an age discrepancy on her passport. … Read more
The U.S. is not the only one tightening up its borders. In a dramatic fall, the United States passport is now weaker than it has ever been. The American passport has slipped to its lowest-ever position in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index. Once the most powerful passport in the world, the U.S. … Read more
A signed passport photo of Marilyn Monroe taken the day she and her new husband, Yankees great Joe DiMaggio, were prepping for their 1954 Japanese honeymoon sold for more than $21,000 at an auction this week. The tiny photo — 2.25 x 2.75 inches — which is inscribed in red ink, “To Mr. Bolds, Thanks … Read more
It was a glam slam at the gate. A woman flying out of Shanghai was forced to scrub off her heavy makeup at airport immigration because the facial scanner couldn’t recognize her. The viral video, shared by @wchinapost and originally posted on Chinese social media, shows the mortified traveler cleaning her face with wipes while … Read more
Call her hun solo. A British woman had to take her vacation alone after her boyfriend was banned from boarding over a passport defect, as detailed in a TikTok video with over 760,000 views. The depressing clip showed the passenger, named Lauren, lounging alone on a chair in a bikini with a picturesque ocean vista … Read more
Her looks just won’t fly. Sure, upgrading your face from basic economy to premium first-class via cosmetic surgery has its perks. But the pain of being unrecognizable in your legal ID photos at the airport outweighs the benefits of being beautiful, so says influencer Ashley Stobart. Ashley Stobart, from the UK, shocked her podcast co-host … Read more
The seizing of an Iowa college student’s passport while under investigation in the Dominican Republic is a cautionary tale for Americans traveling abroad, who an expert said should be vigilant about protecting their travel documents. Last month, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe’s passport and cell phone were confiscated as investigators tried to piece together missing spring breaker Sudiksha Konanki’s final moments. … Read more
What an airhead. A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles, California to Shanghai, China was forced to make a U-turn last weekend after one of the pilots realized that they’d forgotten their passport. Flight UA 198 had departed LAX at around 2 pm Saturday, March 22, and was flying over the Pacific Ocean en route … Read more
The passport of the world’s “perfect woman” didn’t fly with customs. Janaína Prazeres — a controversial model and influencer who has undergone cosmetic surgery 20 times, costing nearly $1 million total — was reportedly “questioned” at an airport because she looked nothing like her passport photo. The 35-year-old claimed that when she was flying from … Read more
If your New Year’s resolution was to travel more, don’t just double-check your passport expiration. Your ID may be rendered useless when flying due to new travel restrictions that will be enacted in 2025. Starting in May, all travelers will be required to use a Real ID — or appropriate alternative, like a passport — in … Read more
From Insta-worthy hotels to longevity retreats, experts revealed how the rich are redefining luxury travel. First and foremost, social media is still influencing wealthy travelers’ itineraries. But not in the ways you would think. Julia Carter, the founder of the luxury travel agency Craft Travel, shared that about 80% of the family trips her company … Read more
Roam where you want to — as long as you live in the right country. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was rated the most powerful passport for the fourth year in a row, according to Arton Capital’s Global Passport Power Rank 2024. This particular ranking is based on ease of access for passport holders — and Emiratis … Read more
An Australian man has unleashed on Virgin Australia, after a tiny mark on his partner’s passport stopped them from boarding a flight to Bali. Sean Ferres, a Gold Coast-based DJ and music producer, along with his girlfriend Brooke, were headed to the popular island destination when she was stopped because of a “microscopic coffee stain” … Read more
Jetsetting stamp collectors, be warned: your passports will soon be barren after your European vacation. The European Union announced last week that an electronic Entry/Exit System will be implemented later this year, which will negate the need for stamping passports at ports. Beginning Nov. 10, travelers’ faces and fingerprints will be scanned upon entering Europe, … Read more
Most people don’t bring their passports with them when flying domestically, but one traveler discovered that might be a mistake. In a video posted by @ItalianKate on TikTok, she filmed another passenger (@griptape_ on TikTok) as he explained how their flight from Puerto Rico to Miami ended up with them stranded in an airplane terminal. … Read more
Adiós! Beth Turbutt-Rogers, a British woman, had to abandon her husband at an unnamed airport because his passport didn’t comply with new travel guidelines. “They told us his passport had expired, even though the expiration date was March 2025, meaning there were eight months left,” Turbutt-Rogers said online. In the one-minute TikTok, with over 2.9 … Read more
Who knew that having a spot of tea could be so harmful? A UK couple has accused Ryanair employees of kicking them out of the airport after barring them from flying due to a minuscule tea stain on one of their passports. “It’s just a stain on her passport,” Rory Allen, 29, told Kennedy News … Read more
The treacherous process of renewing a passport might soon be a thing of the past. As of Wednesday, people who want to renew their passports online rather than sending everything in the mail have the opportunity to do so. The online renewal program — which the State Department first tested in 2022 before taking it … Read more