Can I book a flight before I get my new passport?

[falangUK]

Hi,
I’ve applied for a new UK passport and it’ll take about a month to arrive. I want to book flights now to get a good price, but I don’t have the new passport number yet. I still have the old passport, but once the new one is issued, the old one will be cancelled.

 

So the problem is, if I book using the old passport number, then later show up at the airport with the new passport, the numbers won’t match. I’ve heard some airlines charge a lot just to update the passport number, almost like buying a new ticket.

 

I’d rather not wait a month and risk ticket prices going up, but I also don’t want to waste money.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

Can you book a ticket without entering the passport number and add it later?
Or book with the old one and update it once the new one arrives?

Would really appreciate any advice.

[Moonlover]

I don't recall ever having to enter my passport number when booking a flight.

 

Why don't you simply try it?

[DrJack54]

Answers above are correct.

Even if you enter current pp details you can travel with both pp.

Book em 

[DrJack54]

Trolling post removed.

[BrandonJT]

2 hours ago, falangUK said:

Hi,
I’ve applied for a new UK passport and it’ll take about a month to arrive. I want to book flights now to get a good price, but I don’t have the new passport number yet. I still have the old passport, but once the new one is issued, the old one will be cancelled.

 

So the problem is, if I book using the old passport number, then later show up at the airport with the new passport, the numbers won’t match. I’ve heard some airlines charge a lot just to update the passport number, almost like buying a new ticket.

 

I’d rather not wait a month and risk ticket prices going up, but I also don’t want to waste money.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

Can you book a ticket without entering the passport number and add it later?
Or book with the old one and update it once the new one arrives?

Would really appreciate any advice.

Not sure that you can update the passport information when your new passport arrives, but you can certainly update it at the check-in desk.  

[federicoP]

Last January a booked an international flight with Thai Airways using my passport valid at that time.

After one week I received my new passport and updated my passport data on the Thai internet site (Changes to passenger information).

No cost and no need to travel with two passeports.

[richard_smith237]

I have two passports.. 

One with my Thai Visa...   Another with some overseas Visas.

 

Invariably I'll use my overseas Passport at the check-in desk and its a different one that I'd registered with the airline....    

 

... This is not something I'd ever considered before, and certainly something which as never raised any issue whatsoever.... 

 

 

 

Airlines are only serious about the accuracy of your names (the order doesn't even matter)...  

I once travelled to the UK as Mr & Mr Smith with the Wife... without any issue !!! 

- The airline somehow screwed up (issuing the awards ticket) but wanted $200 to re-gender my wife correctly !!...   Nope !!! not a chance....

 

[falangUK]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Answers above are correct.

Even if you enter current pp details you can travel with both pp.

Book em 

Thank you! I think I just assumed it wasn’t possible to book flights without a passport because most of the sites I use have the number saved and it autofills. Appreciate the clarification 🙂
 

[falangUK]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I have two passports.. 

One with my Thai Visa...   Another with some overseas Visas.

 

Invariably I'll use my overseas Passport at the check-in desk and its a different one that I'd registered with the airline....    

 

... This is not something I'd ever considered before, and certainly something which as never raised any issue whatsoever.... 

 

 

 

Airlines are only serious about the accuracy of your names (the order doesn't even matter)...  

I once travelled to the UK as Mr & Mr Smith with the Wife... without any issue !!! 

- The airline somehow screwed up (issuing the awards ticket) but wanted $200 to re-gender my wife correctly !!...   Nope !!! not a chance....

 

Ah ok, got it. Just to check are both your passports from the same country? . Never really thought about using the “wrong” one at the counter lol. Thanks for sharing your experience, that Mr & Mr story is gold 😄

I had a lot of trouble with an AirAsia counter staff at the gate last time, just flying from DMK to KL. She wrongly assumed I needed two completely empty pages in my passport and made a huge fuss about it. Ever since then, I’ve been kind of paranoid about random requirements and what staff might decide on the spot lol.

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, falangUK said:

Ah ok, got it. Just to check are both your passports from the same country? . Never really thought about using the “wrong” one at the counter lol. Thanks for sharing your experience, that Mr & Mr story is gold 😄

 

Correct, both passports are British (which ever one I show at check-in: I think they just want name, nationality (for visa purposes if necessary) and DOB).

 

 

2 hours ago, falangUK said:

I had a lot of trouble with an AirAsia counter staff at the gate last time, just flying from DMK to KL. She wrongly assumed I needed two completely empty pages in my passport and made a huge fuss about it. Ever since then, I’ve been kind of paranoid about random requirements and what staff might decide on the spot lol.

 

Its not uncommon here for 'some' to have a vague understanding of some rule that isn't valid. 

Some countries mandate two empty pages, many do not - Its similar to the 6 month validity rule, not all countries have the same requirements - but they could be blanketly 'enforced' by check-in staff if the lack this nuanced comprehension. 

 

I arrived in Singapore once to be told by the Immigration officer that my passport isn't mine !!!... 

My photo didn't look like me apparently.

 

[OJAS]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I arrived in Singapore once to be told by the Immigration officer that my passport isn't mine !!!... 

My photo didn't look like me apparently.

 

Maybe said officer needs to visit Specsavers (assuming they have a branch in Singapore)! 

 

[Cuchulainn]

On 6/5/2025 at 12:49 AM, richard_smith237 said:

I have two passports.. 

One with my Thai Visa...   Another with some overseas Visas.

 

 

 

I have 2 passports too, but 2 nationalities.

 

You later mention both are UK passports. How can you have 2 UK passports? When you receive a new passport, surely the old one is cancelled?

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, Cuchulainn said:

On 6/5/2025 at 12:49 AM, richard_smith237 said:

I have two passports.. 

One with my Thai Visa...   Another with some overseas Visas.

 

 

 

I have 2 passports too, but 2 nationalities.

 

You later mention both are UK passports. How can you have 2 UK passports? When you receive a new passport, surely the old one is cancelled?

 

Two current valid passports...  not overlapping old ones.

If its require for frequent travel - we can apply for multiple passports (up to 4 is the max I think).

A company letter is required.

I've held dual UK passports for over 20 years - very useful when needing to travel at the same time as applying for a visa to do different nation etc.