A disappointed holidaymaker claims she was removed from a Ryanair flight to Lanzarote due to a strict passport rule, costing her a 700-pound getaway.
Incident at Birmingham Airport
Rachael Norton-Voysey, 33, was set to fly from Birmingham Airport to Lanzarote on June 4, 2026, for a five-day trip with a friend. However, at the boarding gate, Ryanair staff reportedly refused her entry because of a small 1.5cm tear in her passport.
Photographs show the rip along the right side of the photo page, but Norton-Voysey insists it does not obscure any pictures or personal details. She described the staff as 'petty' for not allowing her to fly, prompting her friend to also abandon the holiday. Both made the 'sad' train journey back home.
Government Warnings and Awareness
The UK Government's website states that any ripped passport is considered damaged and should be replaced, as it may not be accepted for travel. Norton-Voysey is now urging others to check their passports thoroughly before booking trips and to use passport holders for protection.
She said: 'It was gutting for us both. We got to the gate and handed in my passport, and he said it was ripped and they wouldn't let us through. It was horrible, that feeling where your stomach drops knowing we wouldn't be going on holiday.'
Norton-Voysey added that even an immigration officer at the airport thought the decision was harsh. She and her friend have rearranged their AirBnB stay for September and hope to finally travel then. She warned: 'Check your passport well before you're going to travel, put it in a case, and get travel insurance. Everyone should check their passports because it might be fine nine times out of 10, but that one time might ruin a holiday.'
Ryanair's Response
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed: 'This passenger was correctly refused travel from Birmingham to Lanzarote (4 Jun) as her passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.'
