SUMMER is here and people across the country are dusting off their passports and preparing to go on vacation for the first time in a long time.
However, some travelers arrive at airports and discover there is a problem.
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While there are some jet-setters whose passports are used regularly, for most people, only once or twice a year do they find themselves traveling abroad. And that’s where problems can arise.
As a flight attendant, I often see people at airports getting into trouble they didn’t know existed, and for some, it ruins their vacation completely.
This week, in my blog for Sun Travel, I’ll explain the simple passport mistakes I regularly encounter at work and how you can avoid disappointment when traveling this summer.
Firstly, please take care of your passport, it is an incredibly valuable document and keeping it in good condition is much more important than you think.
In fact, the most common problem I encounter with tourists is being denied entry to countries due to their worn or torn passports, which some countries simply do not accept.
Even the slightest tear can be enough for a border official to tell you you can’t enter, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem at first glance.
The main place I see this happening is Southeast Asia, with popular destinations like Bali, Bangkok and Singapore all high on the list of places where people are often turned away.
They tend to be a little stricter than other places, but really, if your passport is not in good condition, any place has the right to refuse you entry.
You may be prevented from boarding your outbound flight or, worse yet, turned away upon arrival.
That tends to be what happens most often in these scenarios: Instead of being let into the country, tourists are simply told they can’t enter and put back on a plane back home.
Therefore, it really pays to take good care of your passports; Otherwise, you could find yourself flying home before you’ve ever set foot near a beach or sampled the local cuisine.
However, it’s not the only big mistake people make: many people don’t realize when their passports expire, which may seem ridiculous, considering the date is printed right next to the photo.
But it happens a lot more often than you imagine, and people will show up at the airport and be sent home.
What are the passport rules?
The Sun’s travel editor Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
“Travelers could previously transfer up to nine unused months of their old passport to a new one.
“But after Brexit, anyone who wants to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
“To travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day of your arrival at your European destination.
“And you’ll need at least three months on your passport the day you return to the UK.
“Figures show that up to 100,000 tourists a year face refusal at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
“The 10-year rule only applies to European Union countries, but each country may have different rules about what is accepted; some countries like South Africa, for example, insist that you have at least six months left on your passport when traveling and a completely clear page.”
There is absolutely no way around this except getting a new one.
Some people are so desperate to book their pre-booked holiday that they often end up paying more for the express service, so they can get a new passport in time to enjoy the rest of their holiday.
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 about when your passport could still prevent you from flying.
If it is more than 10 years old, no matter if it is expired or not, you will not be allowed to enter the EU due to its rules.
Not many people know this and they end up getting turned away when they arrive at the airport, so it’s always worth checking your passport and the rules well before your holiday.
This way you will have time to get a new one, without having to change flights or pay any extra.
Of course, it doesn’t matter how new your passport is, or how much you paid for it, if you leave it at home.
You would be surprised, but the number of people who leave them at home by mistake is much higher than you imagine.
Always have it ready the day before you fly. Keep it somewhere accessible, where you can easily find it, and make sure you have it in your bag when you head to the airport.
If you don’t have it, you won’t go on vacation, it’s that simple.
Meanwhile, this woman missed four days of her holiday in Greece due to a huge error in her passport.
And this “disastrous” passport error cost passengers £1,600 at the airport.
