Why do I need to have my passport so far in advance of our trip?
Most countries require you to have a passport that is valid for AT LEAST six months after your return to the US. This is standard to make sure you don't end up "staying" in their country. Most airlines will not let you book tickets unless your passport extends through this 6-month window (some countries even require 8 months).
What happens if I don't have my passport by the February 12 Deadline?
You are putting yourself at risk of extra fees from EF. You are REQUIRED to confirm your passport information on your EF portal (by doing this, you are saying that your name and date of birth on your passport is 110% correct). If there is a misspelling, error, etc., and your airline ticket and your passport DO NOT MATCH IN ANY WAY, you will have to pay EF at least $200 if changes must be made to your airline ticket after 2/12. In some cases, you may have to pay the full cost of an airline ticket. If you arrive at the airport and your boarding pass and your passport are not IDENTICAL, you will most likely not be allowed to board (trust me....this has happened to multiple people!).