A British traveler faced a common passport error at the airport, disrupting their holiday plans. Terry Winter, 56, and his wife, Molly Winter, 62, from Oxford, had meticulously prepared for their two-week trip to Tenerife. However, upon arrival at Birmingham Airport on June 12, they encountered an issue during check-in with easyJet. Despite their passports being valid, Terry’s passport, issued over a decade ago, did not meet the EU’s 10-year rule for entry.
The new post-Brexit travel regulations mandate that UK passports must be issued within 10 years of arrival when visiting most European countries. Terry expressed surprise at not being informed of this rule earlier, especially after providing his passport details to easyJet during the booking process.
Following the airport mishap, Terry urgently obtained a new passport through His Majesty’s Passport Office’s premium one-day service in Peterborough. His wife decided to stay with him for support. After securing an appointment and receiving the new passport, they rebooked their flights to Tenerife, departing on June 16.
Despite the ordeal, Terry maintained a positive attitude, though he incurred nearly £1,000 in additional expenses due to the unexpected passport issue. He lamented the loss of around £400 on the original flights, along with costs for fuel, accommodation, and the new passport.
EasyJet responded, highlighting that passengers are reminded about passport requirements during booking and check-in. The airline emphasized that it is the passengers’ responsibility to ensure they have valid travel documents. EasyJet’s website features detailed information on passport rules, advising travelers to check their passport’s expiry and issue date before flying.
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