SUMMER is here and people all over the country are dusting off their passports and getting ready to go on holiday for the first time in ages.
However, some travellers will be arriving at airports, only to find that there’s a problem.
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While there are a few jet-setters whose passports get regular use, for most people, it’s only once or twice a year that they find themselves heading abroad. And that’s where problems can arise.
As a flight attendant, I often see people at airports getting into problems that they didn’t know existed – and for some it ruins their holiday completely.
This week, in my blog for Sun Travel, I’ll explain the simple passport errors that I come across regularly while at work- and how you can avoid disappointment when travelling this summer.
Firstly, look after your passport, please, it’s an incredibly valuable document and keeping it in good nick is much more important than you might realise.
In fact, the most common problem I see holidaymakers encountering is being refused entry to countries because of their tatty or ripped passports which some countries just will not accept.
Even the slightest rip can be enough for a border official to tell you that you’re not permitted to enter, regardless of how small and insignificant it may first appear.
The main place I see this happening is in South East Asia, with popular destinations like Bali, Bangkok and Singapore all high up on the list of places where people regularly get turned away.
They tend to be a bit stricter than other places, but really, if your passport isn’t in good condition, anywhere has the right to refuse your entry.
You may be prevented from boarding your outbound flight, or worse, you could be turned away on arrival.
That tends to be what happens the most in these scenarios – instead of being let into the country, the tourists are simply told they cannot enter and are put back on a plane going home.
So it really is worth taking good care of your passports, otherwise you could find yourself flying home before you’ve set foot anywhere near a beach or sampled any of the local cuisine.
It’s not the only big mistake people make though – a lot of people don’t realise when their passports expire, which may seem laughable, considering the date is printed right next to your photo.
But it happens much more often than you’d realise – and people will turn up at the airport, only to be sent home.
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
“Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
“But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
“In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
“And you’ll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
“Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
“The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted – some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page.”
There’s absolutely no way around this, other than to get a new one.
With some people so desperate to go on their pre-booked holidays, they often end up paying extra for the express service, so that they can get a new passport in time to enjoy the rest of their break.
That also means booking new flights and could cost an absolute fortune, so it’s worth keeping an eye on that expiry date and also the rules around when your passport could still stop you from flying.
If it’s older than 10 years, it doesn’t matter if it’s expired or not, you won’t be permitted to enter the EU because of their rules.
Not a lot of people know about this and end up getting turned away when they arrive at the airport, so it’s always worth just checking your passport and the rules well in advance of your holiday.
That way you have time to get a new one, without having to change flights or pay any extra.
Mind you, it doesn’t matter how new your passport is, or how much you’ve paid for it, if you leave it at home.
You’d be surprised, but the number of people who leave them at home by mistake is way higher than you’d think.
Always get it ready the day before you fly. Keep it somewhere accessible, where you can easily find it, and make sure you’ve got it in your bag when you’re on your way to the airport.
If you don’t have it, you’re not going on holiday – it’s as simple as that.
Meanwhile, this woman missed four days of her Greek holiday because of her big passport mistake.
And this “disastrous” passport mistake cost a passengers £1,600 at the airport.
