Mum's Dream Holiday Shattered by Passport Tear at Manchester Airport
A devastated mother has issued an urgent warning to all British travellers after her £820 holiday to Malta was cancelled at the airport gate due to a little-known passport issue. Donna Fairclough, a 42-year-old pub landlady, was left heartbroken and gobsmacked when easyJet staff at Manchester Airport refused to let her board the flight on January 3rd because of a tear on her passport's photo page.
The Moment of Heartbreak at Check-In
Donna had been eagerly anticipating her Mediterranean getaway with her 55-year-old fiancé Gary Broadley, having successfully travelled to Tenerife the previous year without incident. The couple had reached Manchester Airport, printed their baggage labels, and approached the check-in desk when disaster struck.
"We walked round to the baggage check-in desk and she asked for our passports and boarding passes," Donna recalled. "I gave them mine and she said 'one second'. She came back and told me I couldn't fly because my passport was damaged. I was gobsmacked and heartbroken."
The Deceptive Nature of the Damage
What made the situation particularly distressing for Donna was the seemingly minor nature of the damage. She explained that the tear had initially been just a quarter-of-an-inch rip above her photograph, which she hadn't realised had worsened over time.
"The rip wasn't as bad as it looks in the photo. At the time, it was a tiny rip above the picture," Donna stated, adding that the tear eventually extended along roughly half of the photo page. "I don't know how the rip got bigger. I might have caught it. I was excited to go away. It was heartbreaking because we lost out on a holiday because of a rip."
Official Guidance and Refund Refusal
The couple's predicament highlights strict official regulations regarding passport condition. The UK Government website clearly states that damaged passports must be replaced immediately, specifying that "any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing" constitutes damage that may prevent travel.
Following the incident, Donna and Gary discovered that easyJet had classified the tear as accidental damage, resulting in their refund request being refused. The airline maintains that it must comply with authorities' guidance to ensure customer and crew safety.
Airline Response and Passenger Warning
An easyJet spokesperson expressed regret about the situation, stating: "We're sorry to hear that Ms Fairclough was not able to go on her holiday due to her passport being damaged, and we understand how disappointing this must have been. Our airline works closely with the authorities and complies with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of customers and crew."
The spokesperson confirmed that the airline had advised Donna on obtaining a new passport and had offered further support, adding: "We hope we can take her on holiday soon."
Vital Travel Advice for All Passengers
Donna, who has since obtained a replacement passport, is now urging fellow travellers to conduct thorough inspections of their travel documents well before their departure dates.
"I would tell people to thoroughly check through," she warned. "Even if it's a little rip or a little crease. Anything they might think might stop you from flying. Some people might think it's fine but it's obviously not as I'm one of the people it's happened to."
This cautionary tale serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly insignificant damage to passports can have costly consequences, with airlines strictly enforcing regulations that many travellers may not fully appreciate until faced with holiday heartbreak at the airport.
