A MUM was left devastated after her family were forced to miss a “holiday of a lifetime” because of a common passport mistake.
Victoria Vigors, from Kent, had spent £6,500 on a two-week holiday to Egypt with her whole family.
However, the 41-year-old was left horrified after they arrived at London Gatwick, only to be stopped at the gate along with her 15-year-old son Riley and nine-year-old daughter Roxie.
When staff scanned their boarding passes at the gate, they discovered Roxie’s passport did not have the required period of validity remaining for travel to Egypt.
This was because her passport technically expired on January 4, 2027, but with Egypt requiring at least six months left on them, it meant it wasn’t valid.
Victoria told creatorzine.com: “My stomach dropped and I felt like i’d been kicked in the stomach.”
“The kids crumpled and I burst into tears. I begged the staff but there was nothing they could do.
“We had to be escorted back to get our luggage off the flight – It was so embarrassing.”
She said not only were the kids devastated, but that Roxie thought it was her fault.
She continued: “I wasn’t aware of the rules. For people like me who don’t always travel and it’s the first time with my children, I wasn’t to know.
“I would have thought when I put her passport details in to check in that would tell me it wasn’t valid.
“That would be a simple system to install so save this agony and heartbreak.”
The family are now trying to get an emergency passport to try and enjoy the last few days of the trip they’ve paid for, as they were unable to get a refund.
She added: “I’d been saving up for two years.
“We were incredibly excited as we’d never had a two-week holiday abroad together or been to a resort like this.
“It was going to be the holiday of a lifetime.”
An EasyJet spokesperson said: “Unfortunately Ms Vigors and her daughter were unable to fly as her daughter’s passport did not meet passport validity rules.
“We remind customers during booking, check-in and by email before they travel to ensure they are aware of the travel documentation requirements for their trip, and it is customers’ responsibility to ensure they have valid documentation for travel.”
It’s not the only country with strict rules, as Turkey requires Brits to have at least 150 days left, which is around five months.
So we’ve explained two other passport rules you need to be aware of this summer.