A couple were left stuck at the airport and unable to go on their dream holiday after they forgot to check one important passport rule.
Carla Acosta, a 29-year-old Designer from London, was denied boarding a flight for an anniversary trip with her boyfriend to Rome due not checking the 3-month validity rule.
However, a concerning trend has emerged: a quarter of those surveyed (25%) admit they never check the validity of their passport when booking a trip.
Four in ten (40%) typically book their holidays abroad two months or less in advance, and 12% book just one to three weeks before departure.
The Post Office is highlighting the importance of checking passport expiry dates to help eager January holiday planners avoid last-minute disappointments.
Thousands of travellers may mistakenly believe their passport is valid because it has not expired.
Carla Acosta was gifted a surprise trip to Rome by her boyfriend but was denied boarding her flight because her passport didn’t meet the EU’s post-Brexit rule requiring at least three months validity.
“My boyfriend surprised me with a six-day trip to Rome to celebrate four years of us being together and at that moment I remember feeling super excited to go on the trip.
“As it was a surprise and I only had about 10-12 days to get everything in order, my biggest worry was getting my leaves approved at work and what I was going to wear for the trip, checking my passport didn’t even cross my mind in all the excitement.
“When we arrived at the airport early in the morning, all was good and I got my passport and tickets checked at the counter before heading in but when I was at the boarding gate the staff there were shocked at how I got this far as my passport was set to expire on June 10th and I was flying on March 14th and didn’t have 3 months from that day to the expiration day – I had missed it by just four days.
“I was told I couldn’t board the flight because of the 3-month validity rule, and it made me feel horrible.
“If you buy your own ticket and something like this happens you probably feel stupid and disappointed, but as it was a gift from my boyfriend, I felt extremely guilty that I had not checked my passport.
“I even told him to go alone and at least meet our friends who live there, but he refused to go without me on our anniversary.
“I cried a lot and felt really bad for my boyfriend because it was a waste of his money, and we couldn’t go to Rome to celebrate our relationship.
“We lost a total of more than £400 in flight and hotel bookings. It was a huge let down and now, I always check my passport and visas before planning each trip.
“I wasn’t aware of the 3-month rule to go to EU countries, and I wish I had been more careful. My advice to other travellers would be to always be extra cautious and check your travel documents before planning your trips so this doesn’t happen to you.”
You can apply for a new passport using the Post Office’s digital check and send service.
Do you have a story you think we should be covering? Get in touch with me by emailing alycia.mcnamara@reachplc.com