It is valid for its intended purpose until the expiration date. It will identify you (required by US policy for flying) and it will allow you to re-enter the US up till that date.

And according to US law, the US passport is valid for just those things. There is no policy to change. This isn’t a US law. It’s a foreign law that the airlines are enforcing before you leave since you’d be in even bigger trouble if you landed at your destination, went to passport control there, and they wouldn’t let…

Absolutely. Set an expiration date 10 years out. Follow it. Oh wait, the US government does that already. Remind folks they are responsible for knowing what the rules are wherever they go since they may be different. Oh wait, the State department does that, and even provides a way to look it up per country.

This. The expiration date is the actual expiration date. Just because other countries decide that they want some extra slack time in there doesn’t change the expiration date. EVERY foreign travel I have ever booked said, in the fine print, that I was responsible for knowing the visa and passport rules of the…

“HOLY SHIT HOW DID HE DO THAT?!?!?!”

Which date, though? 90 days, for Europe? 180 days or 6 months, for other countries? Any of the other dates that yet further countries use? Even then you’re potentially being misleading, because some ways you can enter countries have different requirements re: your passport.

Coming back to the U.S. is no problem - I came back with 2 months remaining - and if you have residency in another country they’ll often be cool about letting you back in with your visa or residency card.

You passport does NOT say you can engage in international travel.

It is YOUR responsibility to know the laws of the country you’re traveling to. There is a really helpful website that helps you as an American citizen to know what to be prepared for in the country you’re flying to. It’s not that our passports expire 6 months before they claim to, it’s the country you’re visiting that…

Perhaps you’ve misunderstood the problem. The problem isn’t with your country’s passport rules. The problem is that some other countries have rules about how much validity your passport has to have in order to be allowed in.

Your country can put whatever date they want in the passport, but that means nothing if it’s…

If my passport actually expires 6 months prior to the expiration date, then the damn thing shouldn’t have an expiration date that is NOT the expiration date.

Well for one thing, if you don’t know that this is an issue, you don’t know there are requirements you should be reading.

For fuck sake, just plan your trip properly and you don’t need any extra pages from the government to cover you not doing your homework.

How about this, be a grown up and read the entry requirements before travelling. Your proposal may solve some problems, but a little personal accountability solves all of them.

BUT I AM AN AMERICAN!!! HOW DARE OTHER COUNTRIES PRACTICE THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT IS CONVENIENT FOR ME!!

It’s not our government’s policy.

There can’t possibly be more than one country that isn’t the US, don’t be silly. It’s just “USA” and “RotW” duh. Even if there were, surely their laws should be arranged to ease the lives of Americans, right, and not like, reflect the beliefs of that country or anything?

Flying private is frequently stricter because the operator can get hit with huge fines for bringing someone illegally into the country. They’re are also further restrictions that don’t exist in private flights. But, because of that, the passengers will usually be told of an issue well in advance and fix it.

Because the country that you are visiting wants to be sure that you will be able to leave by the time you have to leave. They don’t want you “stuck” there because your passport is expired.

Even flying private, you still have to go through passport control at your destination. In the worst case, you get to make the whole flight before being turned away and sent back.