V-Flyer

Am I the only person that detests the mess the security stickers put on the back of my passport at check-in make of my passport? The passport is an official government issued document and I find it hard to believe that VAA should be putting these stickers on it, and defacing it. I've had several immigration people at LHR huffily remove them and tell me there shouldn't be anything stuck onto a passport other than visas etc. I've had a similar reaction recently at JFK, being asked why there are unofficial additions to the passport.

Can I refuse to let the check-in staff stick this gunk-laden crap onto my passport, and insist they put it on the boarding pass? Isn't that where it ought to go, as the BP relates directly to a plane and a flight, and isn't that what the security sticker is supposed to be addressing?

Flame-off!

I actually quite like them being there! It reminds me of previous trips haha. Agreed though it can get a little messy and I hadn't considered the whole defacing side of things.

VS are not the only airline that used them. DL attached one to mine the other week at LHR by a queue minder.

vizbiz wrote:Am I the only person that detests the mess the security stickers put on the back of my passport at check-in make of my passport? The passport is an official government issued document and I find it hard to believe that VAA should be putting these stickers on it, and defacing it. I've had several immigration people at LHR huffily remove them and tell me there shouldn't be anything stuck onto a passport other than visas etc. I've had a similar reaction recently at JFK, being asked why there are unofficial additions to the passport.

Can I refuse to let the check-in staff stick this gunk-laden crap onto my passport, and insist they put it on the boarding pass? Isn't that where it ought to go, as the BP relates directly to a plane and a flight, and isn't that what the security sticker is supposed to be addressing?

It's not only airlines that do this. The back of my passport is covered with cr*p from processing stickers associated with visas.

As to putting it onto the boarding pass, no thanks, I don't want my phone messing up with these things....

SlimpyJones wrote:I actually quite like them being there! It reminds me of previous trips haha. Agreed though it can get a little messy and I hadn't considered the whole defacing side of things.

I agree, I think they make me look like an international traveller....though new passport next year means a clean, fresh, modern biometric thingy

I personally don't mind them... The only time I have questioned anything was the Mickey and Pluto stamp next to my immigration stamp at MCO!

You like them or don't, like you i do not like them also try and peel them off its 3 bits does no come off in one!
I have seen some peoples passports wow its thick with them.
I use a soft cloth with a little white sprit to remove the residue each time i travel, the front and back of the passport are not paper.

I think they used to put these stickers on to confirm you had been asked the security questions, i.e.
1. Have you packed your bags yourself?
2. Has anyone given you anything to carry onto the flight today?
3. What electronic items do you have / have any been repaired recently?
etc...

Only thing is in my experience that Virgin check-in staff stopped asking these questions a good few years ago. Let's face it, someone with bad intent is hardly going to give the "wrong" answer - much like the questions on ESTA applications.

I did get a comment from UK Immigration at the Channel Tunnel when leaving the UK - he saw all the Virgin stickers on the back of my passport & said "you travel a bit I see".

I took them off after a journey and then tried to clean the sticky residue off and made a right mess of the passport.
I don't like them.
But fortunately I've had a couple of flights since and have more stickers to cover up the mess I made.
Dick D

You need Sticky Stuff remover, it's excellent at removing the residue and smells of citrus. Takes a few seconds and doesn't damage the passport. Available just about anywhere from John Lewis to B&Q to eBay.

marshy11 wrote:You need Sticky Stuff remover, it's excellent at removing the residue and smells of citrus. Takes a few seconds and doesn't damage the passport. Available just about anywhere from John Lewis to B&Q to eBay.

My mistake was probably using acetone as it took the complete surface off.
Dick D

I am not bothered what they stick on my passport but when the bleepers stuck a baggage label sticker on to my leather passort holder, which stained the surface, I was less than impressed to put it mildly.

The stickers are there to confirm VS has verified that your passport is genuine as for every fake passport each airline allows through, they receive a substantial fine.

VS used to outsource this job to G4S, but they do the checks themselves now.

Baby oil is really good at removing sticky residue

MoJoJo wrote:Baby oil is really good at removing sticky residue

Are we still on topic here? Just asking

Peel off as much of the label as you can without damaging it (otherwise you'll have to get it renewed...)

One off, gently rub the residue with a little olive oil on your fingertip. This dissolves the gum used. Any stubborn spots, leave the oil to soak for a few minutes, but no longer. Once all removed wipe a piece of kitchen paper to absorb any oil left. Cover will look like new and have a lovely shine.

I never hand over the leather case.

SlimpyJones wrote:I actually quite like them being there! It reminds me of previous trips haha. Agreed though it can get a little messy and I hadn't considered the whole defacing side of things.

I like mine as well, as I do my well used & battered passport full of visa's & immigration stamps, sadly my current passport expires next year & as I do not travel as frequently these days I will not be collecting anything like as many security stickers on the back of my next one.

oldboy