Get passport now: It's required for air travel from U.S., and the wait's a long one - Funjet Vacations

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Get passport now: It's required for air travel from U.S., and the wait's a long one

Travelers accustomed to last-minute summer trips to Mexico shouldn't wait much longer to apply for a passport under the nation's new travel restrictions.

Passport applicants have swamped processing centers, and the State Department cautions it could take 10 weeks to receive a passport -- up from six weeks -- and at least two weeks for an expedited passport.

The State Department expects to issue 17 million passports this year, up from 12 million last year. In the week ending March 29, the department had issued a record 412,000 passports.

A survey of area post offices offering passport applications did not reveal unusually long lines. The wait appears primarily on the processing side. Some relief is expected when a new processing center opens in Arkansas this month.

Local travel agents said they haven't seen many problems for customers under the new restrictions, which went into effect in January. For the first time, travelers need passports to fly into Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

"We haven't had that much trouble," said JoAnn Austin of Plano-based Arta Travel. "We've prepared our clients."

Several travel agents said they have not seen a drop in bookings to Mexico. But experts said travelers who buy last-minute trip packages online are running into the most trouble.

Funjet, which last summer had 34 daily flights from Dallas to Mexico, said half its customers buy tickets less than 30 days in advance. The company expects the passport delays to hurt business.

"Will it affect us? Absolutely," said Funjet vice president Terry Linex. "To what degree? I don't know. Texans love their freedoms. Today, they no longer have the freedom to travel without their passport."

The company is offering incentives to lure customers into booking 60 days or more in advance. Ms. Linex said those who want to travel this summer shouldn't delay applying for passports any longer.

"Think ahead," she said. "This is not a time you want to be lax in getting things done. You really want to think ahead. Take the time and get it done, or you give up your freedom to travel."

Funjet Vacations is the flagship brand of the Mark Travel Corporation headquartered in Milwaukee. Operating for more than 30 years, Funjet Vacations specializes in flexible, personalized vacations for individuals and groups via nonstop charters and scheduled airlines. Travelers can choose from land-only or air inclusive vacations and a wide variety of optional components such as tours, attractions and sporting events. Funjet Vacations is a member of the USTOA $1 Million Traveler’s Assistance Program and ASTA TOP.

† Unless otherwise noted, fares do not include all applicable taxes, charges, and government-imposed fees.