British travellers caught out by the post-Brexit '10-year-passport rule' have described being 'escorted through the airport like a criminal' after being denied boarding to EU destinations. The rule, which came into effect after the UK left the EU, means that passports issued more than 10 years before the date of travel are no longer valid for entry to EU countries, even if they have several months left before their expiry date.
Jane Opher, 61, from London, was stopped at Gatwick Airport in February while trying to board a flight to Barcelona. Despite having checked in online, she and her partner were turned away at the gate. 'It was very stressful and humiliating to have to be escorted back through the airport like a criminal,' she told the BBC. The architect spent around £400 on last-minute replacement flights and a fast-tracked passport.
Lara Barnes, 57, from the Isle of Man, lost £1,200 when her husband was denied boarding to Majorca last October. She said staff at Liverpool Airport told them 'this had been a ruling since Brexit and we should know better'. The couple had planned to renew the passport after returning from the trip.
John, 73, a healthcare worker near Portsmouth, lost the full cost of a TUI package holiday to Tenerife in January after his wife's passport fell foul of the rule. He called it 'nothing more than a trick', adding that 'the total burden of this issue falls on the individual holidaymaker'. A TUI spokesperson said customers are given 'ample warning' about passport requirements via their website and booking confirmations.
Howard Kirrane and his wife were forced to disembark a cruise ship in Southampton last April after his passport was deemed invalid. He said attempts to get a refund through the ombudsman and banks were unsuccessful, with all parties stating it was his responsibility to ensure his passport was valid.
