Giving out passport
 

There is news today that SAS / Scandinavian Airlines has been hacked with personal data being lost. Last year, TAP Portugal was hacked, and personal data was lost. Large reputable hotel chains like Marriott which insist on taking a copy of your passport at checkin are capable of losing personal data as well
When checking in online, airlines inevitably ask for passport details, including passport number, issue date, expiry date, etc.... plenty enough to enable ID theft if all this data is lost
Do airlines reconcile any of this data against Govt, to verify if the passport in question has been reported lost or stolen ? Googling just gives info about how to report a passport has been lost, along with Interpol boasting about how important they are
I'm tempted to report my passport as lost, and get a new passport (both in the same name)..... the new passport can be deemed the "secure" document and shown to police when crossing borders while the "lost" passport can be shown to hotels, airlines and any non-Govt bodies who seem very prone to losing data.... where would this go wrong ?

You have not thought this through... What about APIS, visa etc? All this intertwines, data has to be sent to government organizations and the police will have a word with you if you use a passport that's been reported as stolen.

You can pay to have a second passport, which a correspondingly reduced risk that you'll end up in jail ...

I already have a 2nd passport... both UK passports are currently valid and active and in my name - ie neither has been reported as lost/stolen. I show the newer one to police at borders, and the older one to airlines and hotels. When travelling it means that if I am mugged/robbed, I still have a spare passport on which I can get home without waiting 2 weeks for the local UK embassy to do their admin. The problem is the old passport can still be used for ID theft as I need to give out the passport number to check in for a flight or hotel... albeit photocopies of the older passport show an image of me that looks a bit less like me than the newer passport

I'm very much aware that claiming the cost of replacing a compromised passport from an airline isn't going to succeed - if an airline has a major hack and every passenger claims the money for a new passport, the cost of the damages will push the airline into bankruptcy at which point monetary claims are pretty much worthless

I would have thought the hassle of being caught with a passport that has been reported stolen would outweigh any issues with a lost one

Scarborough is very bracing at this time of year - no passport issues!

I know people who have 4 UK passports - used to be a necessity for Mid East Travel (and sometimes in parts of Africa) - depends on who isn't talking to who at any one time - plus the time to get a visa etc

You just have to remember to pull out the correct one on arrival at (say) Tehran.

So the new passport would be secure - until you use it.

You see the problem?

How many laws would this break, both in obtaining the new passport, and then the subsequent use of either?

Davidjohnson6
I used to carry two UK Passports for the reasons given by others, but due to having dual nationality I have a Swiss Passport as well, and post Brexit tend to use this more. After all they hold most of the ill gotten gains so most people seem to be more careful about upsetting you 🙂

Cheers
Mr Mac

a couple - but it's probable that once you report it as lost it goes on the CANCELLED list

How many passports does the UK allow you to have? Are the duplicates or they have a new number?

I think the answer is "as many as you can justify (and afford)". There are, or at least used to be, quite a lot of countries that either won't let you in, or at least will make life difficult for you, if you have stamps from certain other countries in your passport.

Not having been in that situation (I had an Israeli stamp once, but that was 3 passports ago), I don't know whether or not they would all have the same number.

I had two UK passports for many years. The main reason being visas for various African countries but also Iran or Saudi trips put you on the "interesting" list for USA. My passports had completely different numbers and expiry dates.

Yes, I see that the USA are still very touchy. We have recently applied for an ESTA and were amused at the questions regarding countries. If a simple second passport will bypass the question? Politicians must be seen to do something.

As DaveR said - as many as you can justify. Obviously if you add a load then the scrutiny becomes tighter but normally a formal letter from your Company attached to the Application will get you a second one straight off. The max I've ever seen is four - for Iran, Iraq, Saudi & Israel at the time - but there may well be people with more

I am pretty sure my last Israeli visit involved a stamp on a loose piece of paper so no permanent record, although maybe this was airline crew related? But I am pretty sure the Israelis have a work around these days. Actually one of the more pleasant places for a layover.

It used to be easy, entering Israel, to request 'no stamp' so a separate sheet of paper was stamped. Haven't been for a while, so dunno if still possible

Lederhosen
You are correct, Israeli access was, and indeed is an issue, depending on states.We find it easier, and cheaper to meet in Jordan sometimes .Aqaba is quite agreeable we find.

Cheers
Mr Mac

Perhaps off topic, but Israel *generally* does not stamp passports in Tel Aviv. On arrival if you are deemed low risk, you will be given a separate blue piece of paper which needs to be shown multiple times until you leave the country. If you are deemed medium risk, you can expect Israeli immigration (typically on the instructions of another Govt body after they have had a chat with you) to stamp your passport and make you choose between returning to Israel and visiting certain Arab states, or getting a new passport. If you are deemed high risk, you get refused admission to the country and put on the first flight out.

I think I've posted previously about my robust welcome on my one and only visit to Israel.

Hauled off the aircraft at TLV together with my mate by a couple of swarthy guys with Uzis while the other passengers were asked to remain seated. Questioned, frisked and baggage searched at the bottom of the steps, then we were wished all the best for our stay. :O