Warning for Venezuelans Flying Out of BNA for Passport Renewal
I want to share what happened to me at Nashville International Airport (BNA) in case it can help other Venezuelans who may find themselves in a similar situation. I am a U.S. resident and had a trip planned to Aruba specifically to renew my Venezuelan passport at the Venezuelan Consulate.
Before the trip, I called Southwest, explained that my passport was expired and that I was traveling specifically to renew it, and they confirmed that I would be able to travel. Based on that information, I continued with all of my travel plans.
We arrived at the airport approximately three hours early, and I brought every document I could possibly think of, including proof of U.S. residency, a salvoconducto, my SAIME appointment confirmation with my information, Aruba ED Card, and consular documentation. Even with all of that, we spent almost three hours trying to resolve the situation with Southwest. I specifically asked what additional document they needed from me, but they could not give me a clear answer.
I also asked them to contact Aruba Immigration directly to verify whether I was allowed to enter the country under these circumstances, but they told me they could not do so. At the time, I unfortunately did not have the correct phone number to contact Aruba Immigration myself.
Ultimately, Southwest did not allow me to board, and I missed my flight.
Personally, after everything that happened, I feel that a large part of the problem was simply a lack of knowledge or familiarity at BNA with this type of procedure for people traveling specifically to renew their passports. I do not necessarily believe there was any bad intention, but I did get the impression that the staff simply did not know how to handle such an unusual situation or how to properly verify the documentation.
Afterward, I contacted the Venezuelan Consulate in Aruba. They responded to me in writing explaining that this procedure for Venezuelans traveling to renew their passports has been taking place since 2021 and that, when there is uncertainty, airlines can verify the situation directly with the Aruban authorities. They also provided me with the direct contact information for Aruba Immigration, but unfortunately, by then I had already missed my flight.
I am sharing this because I really wish I had known all of this beforehand.
If you are traveling with an expired Venezuelan passport for renewal:
Do not rely solely on what the airline tells you over the phone. If possible, try going to the airport in person a few days before your flight to speak with airline staff and make sure you will not encounter the same situation.
Bring your salvoconducto, SAIME appointment confirmation, ED Card, proof of residency, and every other supporting document you have.
Have the direct contact information for the immigration authorities of your destination country saved BEFORE you arrive at the airport.
If the airline confirms that you are allowed to travel, ask for written confirmation or a case or reference number.
If the airport staff are unfamiliar with the procedure, ask them to escalate the situation before accepting a final decision.
I know this is a long post, but I really hope it can prevent another Venezuelan from losing their flight, appointment, money, and time because of a similar situation.
NOTE: One of the main reasons I’m sharing this is because before my trip, I found several Venezuelans who had gone through the same process successfully, but I never came across someone sharing an experience like mine. Honestly, if I had, I probably would’ve thought twice before booking everything.
I also specifically mentioned that I was flying out of Nashville because I think that may have played a role. Some of the people who had no issues were flying out of larger international airports, where staff may be more familiar with situations and procedures like this. That’s why I wanted to be specific about the airport as well.
I’m leaving my experience here in case another Venezuelan is researching the same thing in the future. Just because it worked for others doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have the same experience, even if you have all the required documentation.