The travel expert says ‘thousands upon thousands’ of Brits have had their holidays ruined
Many holidaymakers are being caught out and missing their trips(Image: simon2579/Getty)
Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark message to anyone who is going abroad in June, July and August. Many Brits are counting down to their summer holidays and the peak travel season.
However, Simon has urged everyone to do a vital check before travelling to avoid “wrecked holidays”. Simon explained that “thousands upon thousands” of people have already been caught out and missed their booked holidays.
He took part in a discussion on BBC Radio 2, where a holidaymaker explained that he had been turned away from his flight at the boarding gate.
James Luton was due to fly to Portugal last week for his 50th birthday but was denied boarding at the airport gate because his passport was issued more than 10 years ago, even though it was not expired.
Brits heading to the EU or Schengen areas cannot have passports older than 10 years when they arrive at their holiday destination. It must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to return home.
Simon appeared on the show to urge everyone with holidays booked to check their passports before it is too late. He said: “Unfortunately, he [James] is just one of thousands upon thousands of people who have fallen foul of this.
“As we speak, there will be people who have headed to the airport, and the same thing happened to them. It is just absolutely miserable.”
Simon urged: “You must remember, if you are going to the EU apart from Ireland, you cannot have a passport older than 10 years on the day you enter. It is the only part of the world that cares about when your passport is issued.
“Everywhere else only cares about the expiry date. Please, if you are going away in June, July and August please check that your passport is going to comply.
“Has it had its 10th birthday on the day you plan to go away, and has it got at least three months left on the date you plan to leave? That way, we can hopefully avoid too many more wrecked holidays.”
Before 2018, passports could remain valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.
This was because months remaining on old passports were rolled over to new passports, but the system was discontinued in 2018.
The problem mainly affects those holding burgundy passports, as anyone with a blue passport received it in 2020 or later.
It is still worth checking children’s blue passports, as they are typically only valid for five years.