I won't have to worry about transporting the suit back with me as it's an 8-10 week build time. Just have to travel for the measurements and mostly the experience. Really do appreciate all the advice, its helping tremendously! Passport appointment is tomorrow and I'm paying for expedited, looking like I'll be making the trip at the end of November.
^^ I am really interested in hearing how your experience goes - make sure to update us when its all said and done.
A trick we learned. If you need the passport much quicker, you can pay for the expedited service and go with a fully refundable purchased ticket showing you are traveling the next week. You can get your passport that same day. We did this in LA for Tyler. We had an 8am appointment and came back around 1pm for the passport.
FYI for my passport holders...renewing online went pretty easy for me a couple weeks ago. The usual gubmint website stuff...shitty, slow and extraneous, but after ~10 days my status shows as approved and i should have a passport in less than 6 weeks.
Didn't read the whole thing, but If you are going to Great Britian, you will need to get an "electronic travel authorization" (ETA) after you get your passport. There is a phone app to do it. Basically, a quickie visa and a way for them to get a couple of bucks from you, Lots to see in London but take the train to get around.
If you are in a real pickle with your passport, you can also contact your Constituent Service Representative they can make things happen take copies of your passport and ID with you. Throw an air tag in your suitcase. Take a set of fresh clothes in your carry-on. Skip dinner the night before flying east. Ask any brit what a boston tea party is have fun
Actually tea related UK fun...tell them you want your tea made correctly, in the Microwave...not from some manky kettle. Its great fun.
Quick update, the trip was an absolute success. Flying is a pretty cool experience, especially when I paid the $300 and upgraded my seat from Iceland back to Dulles and got to experience First class. While it did rain almost the entire time, I still managed to go explore Manchester for a day and wished I had more time to keep exploring. The trip to RST from Manchester via the train was somewhat straight forward once I asked some questions, my ticket simply said, "Manchester Airport to Alfreton". Someone had to explain to me that I made a change at Sheffield station, otherwise I would never have known I needed to make a change anywhere. Lorraine and Sophie in the race department at RST are absolutely great, it was a really cool experience and hopefully I'll have my suit sometime in January. Overall, I thank everyone here who provided input on this, it was a big help for someone that woke up and decided it's time to go see part of the world. This passport is for sure getting used a lot more in the coming years, what an eye opener this has been.
