Travellers must check their passports before leaving or risk a triple-figure fine. If you haven't thought to double-check this, you could be in big trouble.
The summer holidays are on their way, and millions of Brits are preparing to head off on their holidays. If you are among them, then experts are warning you to double and triple check your passport before you leave. There is one common mistake people make that can lead to a triple-figure fine - or even stop you getting on the plane at all.
Chris Harrington, managing director of airport transfer company hoppa, said: “One of the most important rules for air travel is that your booking details must match the information that’s on your passport. This is for many reasons, but mainly because airlines and border control use this information for security purposes, identity checks, and immigration processing.” Even the tiniest mistake could completely derail your trip and leave you with a £150 name-change fine.
Chris added: “Airlines can refuse entry if there’s a mismatch between your ticket and passport name, and this is of particular importance on international routes where your documentation must align with their immigration policies. This may mean you can't receive a boarding pass or check in online in the first place. There’s a very real possibility airlines can and will deny boarding if your documents aren’t aligned. If you haven’t solved any discrepancies in advance of your flight, it’s very likely you’ll be denied flying altogether.”
If it’s just a simple spelling error, usually you can pay to fix it - but larger mistakes such as the use of a maiden name rather than a married name could lead to your flight being cancelled and needing to rebook entirely. Shortened names or nicknames are another issue - the safest course of action is to use your full legal name, exactly how it appears on your passport - including your middle name.
Chris said: “My advice is to always follow the safest approach, and that is to book your travel using the exact name that’s on your passport, down to every single letter. If you’ve recently married and changed your surname, be sure to have your passport amended before booking a flight. If you do spot a mistake I would suggest contacting the airline immediately. The sooner you act, the more likely it is that the matter can be resolved cheaply or for free and potentially bypass any hefty charges that you would experience on the day of the flight.”
