Two American tourists were left devastated and thousands of dollars out of pocket after a dream holiday to France was abruptly cancelled before it even began—all because of a small but crucial detail in their passports.
The couple, who had booked a luxurious river cruise, were denied boarding their United Airlines flight at Denver International Airport. The reason? Their passports, while technically still valid, were set to expire in less than three months.
The Rule That Tripped Them Up
Many British travellers are familiar with the European Union's Schengen Area entry requirements, but this often-overlooked rule catches out countless visitors each year. For non-EU citizens, including Americans, many Schengen countries require that a passport be valid for at least three months beyond the intended date of departure from the EU.
This wasn't a case of an expired travel document. Both passports were still active. However, with their expiry date falling within the three-month window of their planned return to the US, they were deemed inadmissible for entry into France.
A Costly and Heartbreaking Lesson
The financial and emotional toll was immense. The couple lost the entire cost of their flight and their expensive river cruise, as they were unable to secure new passports in time. Their story serves as a stark and expensive warning to all travellers, not just Americans, to double-check the specific entry requirements for their destination.
"We were shocked," one of the tourists told reporters. "We had no idea. We've travelled internationally before and never had an issue. It was a very expensive mistake."
How to Avoid This Travel Disaster
This unfortunate incident highlights the critical importance of thorough travel preparation. To ensure you never face a similar setback at the airport:
- Check expiry dates early: Look at your passport's expiry date the moment you start planning a trip.
- Know the destination's rules: Don't assume validity is enough. Research the specific entry requirements for every country on your itinerary on the official government website (e.g., the UK's FCDO travel advice).
- The golden rule: A good practice is to ensure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining before any international travel, as this covers the requirements for the vast majority of countries.
For Britons, while the EU now requires passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry and valid for at least three months after departure, the six-month rule is still a safe and sensible benchmark for global travel.
