From The Archive

Three dated notes, each on one booking question: when a passport has to be in hand, when a schedule change counts for a refund, and what a UK entry form adds to an Ireland trip.

Three questions that set dates before money moves

Each note below takes one question that a trip raises before a deposit clears or a fare is paid. It gives the rule or figure, the date it was read and the page it came from, so a reader can check it without taking the note on trust. Each stands alone, and none of them describes a trip, a booking or a provider that Fare Basis has used.

How long before a deposit should the passport be in hand? 11 November 2026. Settle the passport before paying a deposit. For a U.S. citizen applying in person at an acceptance facility, the Passport Fees page of the University of Minnesota Passport Office lists routine processing at 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing at 2 to 3 weeks for an extra fee, with both times marked as subject to change. Set the expected return date against the month the trip is aimed at on the seasonal calendar, then confirm the current times on travel.state.gov.

When does a schedule change count for a refund? 11 November 2026. A change counts as significant under 14 CFR § 260.2 when departure or arrival moves by 3 hours or more on a domestic itinerary, or by 6 hours or more on an international one. Separately, when an airline cancels a flight and offers no alternative, 14 CFR § 260.6 says a full refund of the airfare, including taxes and ancillary fees, is due. The text sets no day count, and the secondary sources read here said parts of the DOT rules are under reconsideration, so check the current text before relying on either line.

What does a UK entry form add to an Ireland trip? 11 November 2026. As Tourism Ireland explains in its official guide, the island's regions each suit a different kind of trip, so the route is worth settling early. A route that adds Northern Ireland, England or another UK connection to an Ireland vacation needs its own check. The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation costs £20 and lasts 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner. It is not refundable after you apply, so confirm you need one before you pay. The Republic of Ireland has its own entry rules, which this note does not cover; check eligibility on Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (GOV.UK).

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The figures these notes rest on

Each figure is copied from the source named beside it and carries the date it was read. Confirm fees and times on the official site before you pay.

Figures as the cited pages stood when they were read on 11 November 2026
Figure	What it measures	Source
$130 adult, $100 under 16, plus a $35 acceptance fee	Passport book fees, for an application made in person	Passport Fees, University of Minnesota Passport Office
4 to 6 weeks routine; 2 to 3 weeks expedited	Passport processing time, marked as subject to change	Passport Fees, University of Minnesota Passport Office
3 hours domestic; 6 hours international	Departure or arrival change that counts as significant for refunds	14 CFR § 260.2, Cornell Law School
£20; 2 years or until passport expiry; not refundable	UK Electronic Travel Authorisation cost, validity and refund status	Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (GOV.UK)

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Which note to read first

Start with the passport note, because its lead time sets when everything else can be booked. Read the schedule-change note next if the trip has a long-haul leg with a tight connection, and the UK note if the route touches Northern Ireland, England or any UK connection. Each stands alone, so a reader can stop after the one that answers the question in front of them.