boarding

Meghan Law, who is an NHS nurse, has expressed her anger after her teenage son Alix Dawson was not allowed to board the Qatar Airways plane for Phuket, Thailand

A mum has blasted Qatar Airways after her 13-year-old son was denied boarding their flight for Thailand.

Meghan Law said there was “no justification” for her experience at Edinburgh Airport, which threatened to derail her £3,000 family holiday. Check-in staff, though, told Meghan there was a “luggage sticker mark” on Alix Dawson’s passport, which they said constituted “damage”.

The mum was ordered to go to Glasgow Airport — around 50 miles away — for a new emergency document. Scrambling to salvage her family’s holiday, Meghan contacted TUI, who she had booked the trip with, for their advice. The tour operator found no issues with the passport and put them on the next available flight to Thailand.

But Meghan, 33, has now vowed to never use Qatar Airways again. The NHS nurse, who has two kids, said: “If I hadn’t booked through TUI and booked it myself, we just wouldn’t have been able to go on holiday. One way from Glasgow on the same day of travel would’ve been £2,800. There’s no way I would’ve been able to pay that.

“I’d never had an experience like that at any other airport. There was no justification for it. I’ll never fly with Qatar again. It ruined the start of the trip – it was so stressful.”

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Meghan, who lives in Aberdeen, has now returned from her two-week holiday, but wants to raise awareness of her experience. HM Passport Office classes a passport as damaged for several reasons, including if details are indecipherable, if there are missing or detached pages and if there is a chemical or ink spillage on any page.

But Meghan said Alix’s document had neither of these issues, and had previously been accepted dozens of times at airports. She continued: “I said I’ve used this umpteen times. No one’s ever mentioned any damage on it before. There were no rips or stains, I don’t know what she was trying to imply. I was really shocked.

“She told me that I need to get an emergency passport from Glasgow Airport. Then she said actually it’s not your passport that’s the problem, it’s your child’s, Alix.

“What they were trying to say was that the luggage check-in stickers that had been stuck on one of the pages [and] had damaged the page. But it wasn’t even on the photo page.

“There were no rips, it was just where the sticker marks had been. They said we couldn’t travel with it. I knew there were no issues with their passports. We’d probably travelled over a dozen times with those passports. We were just left in the airport with no help and no advice.”

The Mirror has contacted Qatar Airways for comment.

American Airlines has moved its bag sizers away from the boarding gate. Now, passengers are being encouraged to check whether their luggage is too big when checking in, rather than just before they enter the aircraft

American Airlines is moving its bag sizers from the boarding gate to the check-in area in a process shakeup.

The airline—the third biggest in the world by number of employees—charges passengers whose carry-on bags are too big to check in.

While the size limits will still apply, American Airlines has moved its bag sizers away from the boarding gate. Now, passengers are being encouraged to check whether their luggage is too big when checking in, rather than just before they enter the aircraft.

That should, in theory, give them more time to repack or remove items from their carry-on bags before they get to the boarding gate, when time and space can feel limited.

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In an internal memo, American Airlines team members have been directed to “use their judgment” and “err on the side of the customer” when passengers arrive at the boarding area from now on. If there is uncertainty over the size of items to be taken on board with passengers, only luggage that is “clearly oversized” should it be forcibly checked in, the new rules say.

“Team members will continue to monitor carry-on baggage in the lobby and at the gate, and oversized items will still be required to be checked in ahead of the flight,” the carrier said.

American insists that the changes are part of improvements to the boarding process that the carrier has been making since 2024. But some might argue that boarding with carry-on bags is about to become a more subjective process as a result of the rule change, making it harder for passengers to prove that their bag is within reasonable limits.

American Airlines allows passengers one “personal item” and one carry-on. The personal item should fit under the seat in front and be no bigger than 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm). Meanwhile, the carry-on should be able to be placed under the seat in front or in an overhead compartment and cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm).

It’s definitely not something you’d want to get wrong. The most expensive fee for an oversized bag with American is $200 (£150).

The news has been met with a mixed reaction by those who fly regularly.

“Honestly, I think this is an unnecessary and stupid change. The size restrictions haven’t changed, but now there’s no way to check them at the gate? And when the gate agent has to stop someone with an oversized bag, they don’t have proof to back them up?” one person wrote on the American Airlines subreddit.

“I’m sure they were used occasionally by overly-eager gate agents, but I personally have never seen the sizers used except by curious passengers sizing their own bags. There’s no reason for them not to exist; they should just (continue to) only be used when necessary.”

A defender on the new system said: “This is an awesome move. Those gate sizers were never accurate and just made people feel like rubbish.”

A man shared how he went through a horrifying flight experience, and it was all down to the piece of jewellery he had been constantly wearing since the start of this year

A man was left vowing to “never” wear a piece of jewellery again after he was denied boarding a plane thanks to it. Wearable smart rings have become all the rage as an alternative to the sometimes clunky smart watch. But when Daniel Rotar noticed his ring wouldn’t come off his finger just before he was meant to board a flight, he was left incredibly stressed.

Sharing a picture of the ring stuck on his finger, he wrote on X: “Ahhh…this is…not good. My Samsung Galaxy Ring’s battery started swelling. While it’s on my finger. And while I’m about to board a flight. Now I cannot take it off, and this thing hurts”.

He shared another picture, writing: “You can see the battery expanding. Not great for something that’s now stuck to my finger”.

Some asked how long he’d had the device, and Daniel explained he bought it in January 2025. Some Samsung rings retail for £399, depending on the model.

He wrote: “Had it since January 2025. No clue on the battery health (never checked it and not even sure if that’s visible in the app).

“I think it definitely had some battery issue before, as it stopped lasting for more than 1.5 days. When I first got it, it was close to the advertised seven days, so I even stopped charging it regularly because of this. When it swelled, it had no battery juice left in it”.

Somebody shared that the same thing happened to them with a smart ring, saying: “I cut it off with a Dremel. If you do this, be sure you do not cut the battery, and slide a file underneath so you don’t slice your finger. I just saved you four hours in urgent care! Good luck”.

Another urged: “Go up to the nearest restaurant and tell them you need a stick of butter warmed for 30 seconds. Finger the butter and then wiggle that thing off”.

One man seethed: “This is so messed up. It’s one thing for a battery in a phone or even smartwatch to expand like this (at least you can take it out of your pocket or off your wrist), but a ring…very glad to see you got it removed ok”.

Daniel then shared an update, saying: “I was denied boarding due to this (been travelling for 47 hours straight, so this is really nice). Need to pay for a hotel for the night now and get back home tomorrow”.

He also shared that he “was sent to the hospital, as an emergency,” and “the ring got removed”.

“You can see the battery all swollen. Won’t be wearing a smart ring ever again,” he fumed.

Someone wrote: “Dude, I’m sorry you had to go through this”. Daniel said he was just glad his finger was “fine”.

Another person suggested they should be designed with a gap in them instead to get on and off easier.

A spokesperson for Samsung said: “The safety of our customers is our top priority. This is an extremely rare case, and we are in direct contact with Mr Rotar to retrieve the product and learn about the concerns”.

PLANE passengers need to be aware of this one boarding pass code which could land you the worst seat on the entire plane.

Although these tickets are small, they hold a wealth of information about flight details – some of which could impact where you are sat.

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At the bottom of a typical boarding pass there is often a SEQ number, according to Simple Flying.

This is also known as the “sequence number”.

It refers to the passenger boarding order for the flight.

For example, if your ticket reads SEQ08, it would mean you are the eighth person to check in.

With this information, you may be able to determine what seat you have been allocated.

Some airlines reportedly assign seats in the order of how travellers have checked in.

This means that people who were last to show up may be given a less desirable seat, reports say.

The SEQ code could also cause issues if the passenger is one of the last people to check in and the flight is full. 

In Groups

Other codes on boarding passes include the group number, with airlines like Air Canada and Finnair using these.

This code is designed to help make boarding easier.

It usually reads as something like “Group 1” or “Group 2”, which staff then call out at the gate.

These groups are often assigned based on things like families, passengers with disabilities and seating class. 

Enhanced Screening

Another common code on a boarding pass is “SSSS”.

This stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection – and works as an thorough security check.

It was created by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.

Passengers who notice it on their boarding ticket should expect an “enhanced” screening.

This can take longer than normal security checks.

And it can sometimes cause delays for travellers who don’t anticipate this factor.

Overbooking

Some airlines can also overbook planes.

When everyone turns up without anyone pulling out of the flight, those who check in last are at risk of being transferred to a different flight. 

Another code that appears on boarding passes is the booking reference or reservation number.

The Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on each and every boarding pass. 

This randomly-generated sequence labels you as a unique passenger.

It can help distinguish you in case you share an exact first and last name with another person on your plane. 

Every passenger’s PNR is essentially a detailed travel itinerary which includes a trove of data.

This includes things like flight details to meal preferences and even frequent flyer status.

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Sept. 9 (UPI) — NASA invited the public on Tuesday to grab a boarding pass and be a part of the space agency’s test flight of its Artemis II mission set to launch four astronauts into orbit next year.

Officials at the U.S. space agency NASA said its public effort to involve civilians in the orbital venture around the moon and back in the Artemis test mission flight means individual spots for “Send Your Name with Artemis II” need to be claimed before January 21.

The Artemis II program is a “key test flight in our effort to return humans to the moon’s surface and build toward future missions to Mars,” according to Lori Glaze, NASA’s acting associate director for exploration systems development based in the nation’s capital.

NASA is prepping for its 10-day Artemis II 1 mission next year that will send a crew of four astronauts around the moon in the bid to prep for future crewed landings on Earth’s neighboring satellite and beyond.

Notably, Artemis II will carry the first woman and person of color to the lunar surface in what has been described by NASA as a so-called “Golden Age of innovation and exploration.”

America’s NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are set to lift off no later than April aboard the Orion spacecraft and its space launch system rocket as the first crewed flight under NASA’s Artemis campaign.

“And it’s also an opportunity to inspire people across the globe and to give them an opportunity to follow along as we lead the way in human exploration deeper into space,” Glaze said in a statement.

NASA’s “send your name” initiative for the Artemis space mission with allow a person to send an individual name on an SD card along with the four-person crew as they test their rocket for critical hardware systems required for deep space exploration.

And, on return to Earth, participants can download their personalized inscribed boarding pass as a collectable.

“Your name could be flying to the Moon!” Canada’s space agency posted Tuesday on X as it called out for virtual crew members to fly alongside CSA’s Hansen on Orion.

NASA officials — who’ve assigned both English and Spanish sign-up portals — have called it yet “another step” toward new U.S.-crewed moon surface missions on the way toward ultimately sending the first American astronauts to Mars for the first time.

As Europe’s leading low-cost airline Ryanair plans to do away with printed boarding passes in the next few months, we’ve rounded up the boarding pass rules for other budget airlines

Ryanair plans to scrap paper boarding passes by November 2025, but what does this mean for other budget airlines?

While digital boarding passes are a popular option for passengers already, Ryanair – Europe’s largest budget airline – has become the first to completely do away with paper boarding passes as part of a move towards sustainability and a simpler boarding process.

However, with the upcoming change raising questions for many passengers around what kind of boarding passes they can travel with, The Mirror has put together a list of rules for some of the UK’s most popular low-cost carriers.

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Ryanair

At present, Ryanair accepts both printed boarding passes and those on a mobile phone. Passengers can download digital passes on its website or app, or print off paper passes at home on a single page of A4.

You can also get your boarding card printed at the desk for a fee of £55. However, this will change on November 3, after the airline announced that printed passes will no longer be accepted. Instead, passengers will have to download a digital boarding pass on the Ryanair app.

Ryanair has stated that the change is expected to save 300 tonnes of paper each year, while the airline’s CMO Dara Brady said the move would allow for a streamlined boarding experience.

In case of a customer’s phone battery dying or if a customer loses their phone, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said that staff will still be able to allow them onto a flight. However, in this event they should make sure to check in online no later than two hours before getting to the airport.

It is also important to note that there are some exceptions to the digital-only rule. Passengers flying out of airports in Morocco or Turkey (with the exception of Dalaman) will continue to require a printed pass.

Meanwhile, Tirana airport in Albania will also require paper boarding cards after November 3 – but this is set to change in March 2026.

easyJet

EasyJet accepts both digital and physical boarding passes and has not announced any plans to ban printed passengers. Passengers can arrive at the airport with their boarding cards already printed or have these printed at the check-in desk at no extra cost.

If opting for a digital boarding pass, note that these should be downloaded from the mobile app. You cannot use a PDF scan of your boarding pass on your mobile device as these won’t scan properly.

While the majority of easyJet airports accept mobile boarding passes, there are a number of exceptions which require printed boarding passes.

Jet2

Jet2 is another budget carrier that allows both mobile and printed boarding passes. Passengers are able to check in on the Jet2 app to download their boarding pass up to six hours before departure time.

If you miss this window, you will have to check in at the desk, a service Jet2 offers free of charge. It’s important to note that Jet2 also flies out of locations in Turkey and Morocco which require physical boarding passes.

Wizz Air

The low cost airline will generally accept printed and mobile boarding passes. However, it also flies from some airports that require printed documents. If you’re unsure, their website has a tool to help check which airports will require a physical boarding card.

If you are unable to print your boarding pass yourself, Wizz Air can do it for you at the check-in desk for a fee of €40 (around £35). Otherwise, you can pre-book the printing service online for €13 (around £11).

However, the two exceptions are if you are travelling Agadir in Morocco or Zaragoza in Spain. Online check-in is not available for these airports, so they offer full desk check-in which includes printing boarding passes for free.

A woman was left red-faced after she was denied boarding at the airport when she realised she’d made a mistake with her burgundy passport

When jetting off abroad, it’s crucial to have all your paperwork in order. This includes an up-to-date passport, travel insurance and potentially a visa. It’s vital to have these documents ready well before you set off, as turning up at the airport without them could see you denied boarding – leaving you stranded with no way to start your holiday.

Most travellers are aware that passports need to be valid when flying, and many countries also stipulate how long they must remain valid during their stay. For instance, within the European Union, your passport needs to be valid for at least three months beyond your planned return date.

However, one woman recently had her holiday plans scuppered when she overlooked a crucial detail about her burgundy passport before attempting to board her flight.

Olivia Alcantara was all set for a family getaway, but upon reaching the airport and retrieving her passport from her bag, she realised she’d made a monumental error – she’d brought the wrong document.

In a TikTok video, Olivia is seen burying her face in her hands against her suitcase as she holds up the passport she’d mistakenly brought along. Although it was the same burgundy colour as the old UK passport, the front cover was noticeably different.

Rather than bringing her genuine passport along, Olivia had mistakenly packed a LEGO passport instead.

The footage featured the popular Jet2 Holidays advert soundtrack as the camera revealed her father, who appeared utterly dismayed by his daughter’s error.

A LEGO passport resembles an authentic passport but bears LEGO branding on its cover. You can take the passport to any LEGO-authorised shop to receive stamps, and each outlet worldwide offers distinctive markings.

Viewers responding to the clip were astounded by how Olivia could have made such an error, with many stating they verify their passports numerous times before departing home, never mind reaching the airport.

One individual commented: “Who doesn’t check their passport 1000x before they even get to the airport?!”

Another remarked: “It’s dad’s fault for trusting his kids. He should have nagged, checked and made sure, no matter how much the family insisted things were fine.”

Passport checks to make before travelling

The first thing you should verify before travelling is that your passport remains current. UK passports are typically valid for 10 years for adults, so if you possess a recent blue passport, it ought to be valid, having only been issued since 2020. If yours is burgundy, you must confirm that it is still valid before you travel.

Each country has its own set of rules regarding passport validity, which can extend up to six months beyond your intended departure date, so it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the regulations of your destination.

Typically, EU and Schengen countries mandate a three-month validity from your planned exit date, while Australia, India, and the UAE require six months from your arrival date.

The US, Canada, and Japan only necessitate that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay, but it’s recommended to have a few extra months to spare to prevent any potential complications.

Ridership across Metro’s transit system plunged in June after federal immigration authorities conducted dramatic raids across Los Angeles County, sowing fear among many rail and bus riders.

Last month, the transit agency’s passenger numbers on buses continued to dip, although the reasons are not fully clear.

Ridership on rail crept up roughly 6.5% in July after a decrease of more than 3.7 million boardings across the rail and bus system the month before. Bus ridership accounted for the bulk of the June hit, with a ridership drop of more than 3.1 million from May. In July, bus boardings continued to decrease slightly by nearly 2%.

While it’s possible that concerns over safety have persisted as immigration raids continued to play out in the Los Angeles region, a drop in bus ridership from June to July in years past has not been uncommon, according to Metro data. A review of the number of boardings from 2018 shows routine dips in bus ridership during the summer months.

The agency said “there is a seasonal pattern to ridership and historically bus ridership is lower in July than June when schools and colleges are not in regular session and people are more likely to take time off from work.”

June saw a roughly 13.5% decline from the month before — the lowest June on record since 2022, when boardings had begun to climb again after the pandemic.

The reduction in passengers was not felt along every rail line and bus route. Metro chief executive Stephanie Wiggins noted during a board of directors meeting last month that the K Line saw a 140% surge in weekday ridership in June and a roughly 200% increase in weekend ridership after the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center.

Metro has struggled with ridership in recent years, first when the pandemic shuttered transit and then when a spate of violence on rail and buses shook trust in the system. Those numbers started to rebound this year and before June’s drop, had reached 90% of pre-pandemic counts.

But financial challenges have continued. Metro, which recently approved a $9.4 billion budget, faces a deficit of more than $2.3 billion through 2030. And federal funding for its major Olympics and Paralympics transportation plan to lease thousands of buses remains in flux. Maintaining ridership growth is critical for the the agency.

More than 60% of Metro bus riders and roughly 50% of its rail riders are Latino, according to a 2023 Metro survey. The decline in June’s ridership was due in part to growing concerns that transit riders would be swept up in immigration raids. Those fears were magnified when a widely shared video showed several residents apprehended at a bus stop in Pasadena.

Three of the men who were arrested at the stop by federal agents are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. They spoke earlier this month at a news conference in favor of the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals decision to uphold a temporary restraining order against the immigration stops and arrests.

Pedro Vasquez Perdomo, a day laborer, said he was taken by unidentified men while waiting at the bus stop to go to work like he did every day. He said that he was placed in a small space without access to a bathroom or adequate food, water and medicine. Vasquez Perdomo said the experience “changed my life forever” and called for “justice.”

Closures at stations during the raids and D Line construction beneath Wilshire Boulevard also affected June’s numbers, according to Metro officials.

A packing method that went viral last year has been revealed to be a huge risk for those wanting to save money on their luggage allowance

Packing to maximise your luggage allowance can be a challenge, especially for those prone to over-packing. Whether you’re a fan of rolling your clothes instead of folding them, or prefer to pack your suitcase upright rather than laying it flat, there are numerous hacks that can help you optimise your suitcase space.

However, trying to sneak in more than your allowance permits can be risky and could even result in a broken suitcase if overstuffed. Leaving behind bulky items like hairdryers and towels, which are typically provided by hotels, can lighten your load.

There are also some unconventional methods to squeeze more out of your luggage. One flight attendant even suggested using a Duty-Free bag for extra items, as this doesn’t count towards your baggage allowance.

While you might get away with sneaking a plastic bag from Duty-Free onto your flight, there’s one slightly crafty packing method that will likely land you in hot water.

Keeping track of each airline’s luggage allowance can be perplexing, and when in doubt, it’s best to verify. While wearing an extra layer or two, instead of packing them, is unlikely to cause any issues, there’s one thing that’s sure to land you in trouble, reports the Express.

Many of us often pack a neck pillow to ensure comfort during a flight, particularly on long-haul journeys, but some TikTok users have suggested bringing an empty pillowcase and stuffing it with clothes to create a makeshift pillow.

TikTok is a fantastic source for travel tips, especially packing advice, but one packing trick shared on the platform could potentially result in you being denied boarding.

The ‘pillow hack’ that went viral last year involves passengers stuffing an empty pillowcase or even a neck pillow with additional clothes to avoid paying for extra luggage. While this has worked for some, it has spectacularly backfired for others.

One user who attempted this crafty packing technique was ultimately denied boarding after a dispute with airport staff. TikToker @natashaorganic was caught with a pillowcase full of clothes at Orlando International Airport and was eventually escorted away by airport security after refusing to pay for extra luggage.

While it might seem like a cost-effective option, it could end up costing you more, especially as airline luggage policies are continually changing and becoming stricter. You wouldn’t want to risk having to discard clothes at the gate after your pillow stuffed with clothes is discovered.

Experts warn that, with airlines routinely overbooking flights on purpose, a simple check-in mistake could see the start to your holiday getting delayed

UK airports are gearing up for a record summer travel boom, with millions of us planning to fly to exotic destinations. But with budgets getting ever tighter, airlines are even more likely to deliberately overbook flights to eliminate any risk of wastage due to passengers failing to show up for their booked flights.

But with that deliberate overbooking comes the risk of being turned away at check-in.

How can travellers work out if they’re at risk of missing out on their flight? Experts from leading luxury airport transfer provider SCS Chauffeurs explain that there’s a unique code on every boarding pass.

According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, more than six million passengers were denied boarding globally in the last year, with many unaware that early check-in could have guaranteed their flight.

Hadleigh Diamond, luxury airport chauffeur provider at SCS Chauffeurs, explains: “SEQ stands for Sequence Number, and it tells airlines the order in which you checked in for your flight.

“A SEQ of 001 means you were the first to check in; 152 means you were the 152nd. While it doesn’t affect your seat assignment or boarding group, it’s crucial during overbooked flights, especially on budget airlines.

“When flights are oversold, which is increasingly common during peak periods – airlines have to choose who gets involuntarily denied boarding.”

One of the main factors used is the check in order. If you were one of the last to check in, you’re more likely to be at the bottom of the priority list.

“When we arrange transfers, we often remind passengers to ensure they’ve checked in early, whenever possible, to avoid a potential flight issue.” Hadleigh adds: “Airlines tend to overbook flights as not all passengers turn up on the day.”

When a flight is so overbooked that passengers are denied boarding or offloaded, the airline will usually ask for volunteers. But if no-one comes forward, each airline will deny boarding to passengers in line with its own policies: “For many airlines, this involves using the SEQ number as a fair tie-breaker.

“You might be more likely to be denied boarding if you’re travelling alone or without luggage, have paid the lowest fare or were the last to check-in.”

Don’t assume a booked seat means that you have a guaranteed flight. Overbooking affects all classes, including economy with assigned seating. Look for SEQ on your boarding pass – It’s usually printed under or near the barcode. A low number is better.

There are two key tips for avoiding disappointment.

First of all, the experts say, try to check in as early as possible. Most airlines allow online check-in 24–48 hours before departure. Set a reminder and check in online it the moment it opens.

Secondly, if you’re flying with friends or family, make sure everyone checks in together to avoid getting split up by the SEQ system. In worst-case scenarios, some members may board while others are denied.

One of the factors used is the check in order is the order in which people checked in. If you were one of the last to check in, you’re more likely to be at the bottom of the priority list

An easy-to-overlook code on your plane boarding pass could let you know whether or not you’ll be kicked off a flight.

Holidaymakers should be paying close attention to the ‘SEQ’ number, as it could let you know your chances of a big spanner being thrown in the holiday works.

When flights are oversold, which is increasingly common during peak periods, airlines have to choose who gets involuntarily denied boarding. One of the factors used is the check in order is the order in which people checked in. If you were one of the last to check in, you’re more likely to be at the bottom of the priority list.

Hadleigh Diamond, airport chauffeur at SCS Chauffeurs, explains, “SEQ stands for Sequence Number, and it tells airlines the order in which you checked in for your flight. A SEQ of 001 means you were the first to check in; 152 means you were the 152nd. While it doesn’t affect your seat assignment or boarding group, it’s crucial during overbooked flights, especially on budget airlines.

READ MORE: Inside the eerie UK ‘plane graveyard’ where jumbo jets from around the world are ditched

“When we arrange transfers, we often remind passengers to ensure they’ve checked in early, whenever possible, to avoid a potential flight issue”

With travel demand surging, overbooking has become a more regular practice across major airlines. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, more than sux million passengers were denied boarding globally in the last year, with many unaware that early check-in could have protected their seat.

“Airlines tend to overbook flights as not all passengers turn up on the day. When a flight is so overbooked that passengers are denied boarding or offloaded, the airline will usually ask for volunteers. But if no-one comes forward, each airline will deny boarding to passengers in line with its own policies,” Hadleigh added.

There are other boarding pass codes that are worth paying attention to, such as the SSSS that appears on many tickets for travel to or from the US.

Chloe Jade Meltzer, 30, has been traveling the world since 2015 and has visited 162 countries. Out of the hundreds of times she has traveled, Chloe has had ‘SSSS’ written on her boarding pass six times.

Those four letters stand for secondary security screening selection – meaning the passenger has been flagged for additional security checks by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before boarding the flight.

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This means they will have to undergo additional screening procedures, including pat-downs, hand swabs, and thorough luggage checks before boarding the plan. Chloe says one of the most common signs a traveller will have ‘SSSS’ appear on their boarding pass is if they don’t get issued it immediately.

Chloe, a travel blogger, from New York City, said: “I have gotten ‘SSSS’ on my boarding pass periodically over the years. When I get one, I will just try get the checks out of the way and head straight to the boarding gate to be screened again by airline staff.

“Usually, how long it takes depends on how fast you get to the boarding gate, how your bags are packed and how fast they are at searching. When you are checking into your flight, you usually get your boarding pass. If you don’t get it straight away, that can be a sign your pass will have ‘SSSS’ written on.”

Chloe says if you are flagged for secondary screening you will be pulled aside at the gate before you board. She said you will then either be given a pat down or a detailed search of your luggage – or you will be tested for explosives.

Ryanair will implement a major boarding pass change this winter which will see scores of travellers forced to use digital alternatives to the traditional paper boarding passes

Like most British holidaymakers, you likely download your boarding pass onto your phone to avoid queuing at an airport kiosk or finding a printer.

While early check-in and digital boarding passes are convenient and eco-friendly, some passengers still prefer the tangible version. But Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, has announced that in 2025, the airline will fully transition to digital, with plans to phase out airport check-in desks altogether.

This means the company will no longer accept printed boarding passes, requiring passengers to have theirs ready for scanning on their phones.

Although this might irk those who aren’t tech-savvy, Ryanair states that 60% of its customers use digital boarding passes, with paper ones becoming less popular.

READ MORE: Every new Ryanair route coming to UK airports this summer

At present, Ryanair also charges a hefty £55 to passengers who forget to check in and download their boarding passes before arriving at the airport. This change could potentially eliminate such hidden fees.

Ryanair confirmed that the move to mobile boarding passes will be pushed to November 3, 2025, after it was initially set to take effect by May 2025. In the lead up to the new measure, here are the boarding pass rules for the UK’s most popular airlines.

TUI

The boarding pass rules for TUI depend on whether you’re flying with them. Online check-in is available for all TUI customers travelling on TUI flights (those with flight numbers starting with TOM).

If you’ve booked through TUI but are flying with a different airline, you’ll need to check that specific airline’s website for their boarding pass regulations.

On the TUI website, passengers are informed: “To log into the airline website you will be asked for your flight reference number. Please note, this is not the same as your TUI booking reference. Your flight reference number will be a 6-character alpha-numeric code and can be found on your booking confirmation, e-ticket or in manage my booking on the TUI website.”

easyJet

easyJet promotes the use of their app for downloading mobile boarding passes to keep travel details at hand whilst also cutting down on paper waste. Nonetheless, easyJet acknowledges that some airports in their network are yet to accept mobile passes.

The comprehensive list of easyJet airport destinations requiring a printout of your boarding pass is detailed below:

• ADB – Izmir
• AGA – Agadir
• AYT – Antalya
• AQJ – Aqaba
• BEG – Belgrade-Beograd
• BJV – Milas Bodrum
• DJE – Djerba
• ESU – Essaouira
• HRG – Hurghada
• IVL – Ivalo
• JSH – Sitia
• LXR – Luxor
• NBE – Enfidha-Hammamet
• PRN – Pristina
• RAK – Marrakech
• RBA – Rabat Sale
• RMF – Marsa Alam
• SPX – Cairo Sphinx
• SSH – Sharm El Sheikh
• TIA – Tirana
• TNG – Tangier Ibn Batouta

Passengers departing from these locations can still check-in online via www.easyJet.com but should remember to print out their boarding passes for flying. Additionally, note that a portion of these airports insists on a document check pre-security.

British Airways

British Airways gives travellers the flexibility to opt for either mobile or printed boarding passes and extends the convenience to Apple Watch users as well.

If you’ve got the British Airways app installed, it can alert you when your flight is ready for check-in. Once you’ve checked in and downloaded your boarding pass, you can access it offline on your Apple device.

Here’s how to get your boarding pass on your Apple Watch:

1. Download the British Airways app on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
2. Check in for your flight using your iPhone.
3. Download your boarding pass to your iPhone’s Passbook/Wallet via the British Airways app.
4. Scan your Passbook boarding pass at security and boarding gates.

Alternatively, you can print your boarding pass on regular paper, allowing you to bypass the kiosk and head straight through security. However, BA notes that this depends on your departure airport.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air allows passengers to present both online and printed boarding passes. To board your flight, ensure your complete the following steps:

1. Check in online on our website, using the WIZZ mobile app, or at the airport.
2. Print or download your boarding card.
3. If you have checked baggage to drop off, visit the baggage drop desk in advance. Check-in and baggage drop-off times can be found in the Check-in and Baggage Drop-off Times section.
4. If you hold non-EU travel documents, please proceed to the check-in counter to have your documentation checked and your boarding card stamped.
5. Present the boarding card, along with your travel documents, at the gate no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

A new TikTok travel hack has seen holidaymakers being refused onboard their flight, and it’s all to do with how they’re packing their luggage

When it comes to jet-setting, there are specific rules and regulations we must adhere to at the airport, particularly regarding what you can pack and how much is permitted in the UK. However, a recent TikTok trend has resulted in travellers being denied boarding.

The ‘travel packing’ trend has seen a whopping 402 per cent increase in Google searches over the past month alone. Travel packing involves holidaymakers seeking innovative ways to maximise their luggage space – a necessity as budget airlines continue to tighten their baggage allowances. Nonetheless, holiday provider Travel Republic has unveiled some top travel hacks that won’t land you in hot water at the airport this summer.

READ MORE: Doctor tells Brit dad to ‘carry on’ as he loses two stone in two months with one change

So, what’s this TikTok travel hack all about? In 2023, the ‘pillow hack’ was making waves on social media, reports the Express. This crafty trick involved passengers stuffing an empty pillowcase or neck pillow with extra clothes to dodge paying for an additional bag for clothing.

TikToker, @natashaorganic, recently posted a video showing the hack spectacularly backfiring, which has amassed 2.8 million views and nearly 300,000 likes.

The footage depicts a passenger looking rather disgruntled after staff at Orlando International Airport informed them they needed to pay for extra baggage for their pillowcase full of clothes.

This resulted in a dispute with the airport staff, and as the passenger failed to comply with their request, they were subsequently denied boarding and escorted from the gate by airport police.

No traveller would want to invest all that time, money, and effort only to be informed that they cannot board their flight.

Kate Staniforth, head of marketing at Travel Republic, commented: “Whilst many TikTok users have claimed this hack works, unfortunately, this is not always the case and you can be caught out.

“It’s down to the discretion of the airline staff, meaning you could be left with a choice between paying for additional luggage or leaving your items behind.

“You don’t want to risk the enjoyment of going on holiday and having to either leave your possessions or pay for additional luggage at the airport as it is nearly always cheaper to pay for baggage in advance.”

Two tribal nations filed a lawsuit saying that the federal government used the trust fund money of tribes to pay for boarding schools where generations of Native children were systematically abused.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Wichita Tribe and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California said that by the U.S. government’s own admission, the schools were funded using money raised by forcing tribal nations into treaties to cede their lands. That money was to be held in trust for the collective benefit of tribes.

“The United States Government, the trustee over Native children’s education and these funds, has never accounted for the funds that it took, or detailed how, or even whether, those funds were ultimately expended. It has failed to identify any funds that remain,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. A spokesperson for the Interior declined to comment on pending litigation.

In 2022, the Department of the Interior, under the direction of Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to run the agency, released a scathing report on the legacy of the boarding school era, in which Native children were stolen from their homes, forced to assimilate, and in many cases physically, sexually and mentally abused. Countless children died at the schools, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves at the institutions.

That report detailed the U.S. government’s intentions of using the boarding schools as a way to both strip Native children of their culture and dispossess their tribal nations of land.

The tribes are asking the court to make the U.S. account for the estimated $23.3 billion it appropriated for the boarding school program, detail how that money was invested, and list the remaining funds that were taken by the U.S. and allocated for the education of Native children.

Last year, President Biden issued a formal apology for the government’s boarding school policy, calling it “a sin on our soul” and “one of the most horrific chapters” in American history. But in April, the administration of President Trump cut $1.6 million from projects meant to capture and digitize stories of boarding school survivors.

Brewer writes for the Associated Press.

Jonathan Arthur, 34, and wife Xun Sun, 35, were flying from Shanghai Pudong Airport to London Heathrow for a family wedding when they were told they couldn’t board their British Airways flight

A family was barred from their flight due to suspicions over insect bites on their toddler’s leg.

Jonathan Arthur, 34, and his wife Xun Sun, 35, were travelling from Shanghai Pudong Airport to London Heathrow for a family wedding when they noticed some insect bites on their one-year-old son Joseph.

Upon clocking the bites, they asked British Airways staff at the desk where they could purchase some allergy medication as a precaution.

The couple alleges that the check-in desk assistant called a medical advice hotline who advised them not to board the flight, fearing that the rash around the bites might be a reaction to Joseph’s mild peanut allergy which could worsen during the flight.

The airline staff insisted that the child needed a ‘fit to fly’ letter from a doctor and escorted the family away from the boarding gate, making them feel like criminals.

Have you been blocked from a flight? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Martin Lewis’ warning to Brit holidaymakers over common luggage item

After being turned away, they spent the entire day at the airport before re-booking flights with another airline, which didn’t require a letter, for that evening.

The bites, no larger than 1cm in diameter, vanished within 10-15 minutes of applying a bite cream and caused no further discomfort to the child, the parents claimed.

Jonathan, a marketing and sales professional from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, currently working in Hangzhou, said: “It was nothing more than swollen bites.”

He added: “At the desk they asked loads of questions after they saw the bites and so we told them about his mild peanut allergy.

“The medical staff at the airport said to apply some ointment and wait 10 minutes – which we were happy to do. But the BA staff said we needed to call their medical advice line.

“They thought his peanut allergy was the cause – so they didn’t want to take the risk. His bites were actually going down by this point, and my son was completely fine. But as we were speaking, staff were already unloading our suitcases. We were treated like we had done something wrong.”

The dual-nationality family had booked return flights at a cost of £3,000 two weeks prior, with the intention to fly back on May 1 for a family wedding on May 3.

Upon discovering four itchy welts surrounded by a pinkish rash and slight swelling on their son’s legs, back and arms during their holiday, parents sought online medical advice.

An e-doctor confirmed that the marks were indeed bites and suggested purchasing antihistamines to reduce the inflammation.

Before heading to the departure gate, the couple queried if they could purchase these medications at an airport pharmacy.

However, the sight of the marks and the mention of medicine linked to allergies prompted the boarding gate staff to summon the airport’s medical personnel and to consult BA’s medical hotline.

Jonathan explained: “The bites just came out red because of the heat, and because he had a nappy on rubbing against them.”

The family hypothesised that their son’s reaction might have been caused by bedbugs or mosquito bites at their accommodation and simply planned to acquire some allergy relief as a precaution.

Jonathan revealed that the airport’s on-site medical team, who were not BA employees, asked if they had any bite cream in their luggage – which they did – and instructed them to use it.

He stated that they informed him that if the bites began to subside within ten minutes, they would be cleared for flight – however, he alleges that a BA medical adviser over the phone vetoed this.

Despite arguing that the bites and rashes were unrelated to his mild peanut allergy, Jonathan and Xun were informed they could not board without a fit-to-fly certificate.

Jonathan said: “BA simply told us we couldn’t fly, gave us a case number and someone to contact about a fit-to-fly letter. We knew the rash had nothing to do with the peanut allergy – the bite was already subsiding after we applied the bite cream.”

They are now liaising with BA and their third-party booking agency to seek a refund. Jonathan expressed: “We felt like criminals – as if we had done something wrong.

“I find it odd that someone else in a different country can speak to an airport staff member who isn’t a medical professional, diagnose and refuse boarding, without seeing the rash.

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“When you pay for a service you expect to be treated like a customer, not like a nuisance.It felt like they thought ‘they’re not flying, just get rid of them’.”

A spokesperson for BA commented: “We take the safety and well-being of our customers very seriously and do everything we can to support them when issues like this arise.

“This includes accessing specialist medical advice to assess an individual’s suitability to travel, which is what happened in this case. Whilst we appreciate our customer was disappointed with this decision, we never compromise passenger safety.”