easyJet

A WOMAN was forced to miss her holiday after she was stopped from boarding an easyJet flight when they discovered an issue with her passport.

Donna Fairclough was due to fly out of Manchester Airport and was ‘heartbroken’ to miss out on an £820 holiday to Malta.

Donna Fairclough and her fiancé Gary Broadley were due to fly to Malta from Manchester Airport on January 3, 2026.

However, Donna was turned away from the flight by easyJet because of a sizeable tear in her passport.

The damage was across the photo page of her travel document and the size of the tear meant that she wasn’t allowed to board the flight.

Talking to Manchester Evening News, Donna said: “The rip was initially about a quarter-of-an-inch. I was excited to go away. It was heartbreaking because we lost out on a holiday because of a rip.

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“I said to my partner, you can still see my face and my passport number and it didn’t affect any of that. That’s what I couldn’t understand.”

As well as missing out on their holiday, the pair have claimed that easyJet won’t refund them for their break as the rip is classified as ‘accidental damage’.

Advice on the Gov.UK website reads: “If your passport is damaged you must replace it. You may not be able to travel with it. HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if […] any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing.”

HM Passport Office will also consider your passport damaged if you cannot read any of the details, the cover is coming away, or if there are stains on the page.

Donna has since got a new passport and has urged other holidaymakers to check theirs before travelling.

easyJet responded in a statement that the airline is “sorry” that Ms Fairclough was not able to go on her holiday and “understand how disappointing this must have been”.

The airline added it “works closely with the authorities and complies with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of customers and crew, and this means we can’t allow anyone to travel if their documentation is damaged.”

They then advised Donna on how she could get a new passport and have been in touch with further support.

It’s not just damage to passports that can halt passengers from boarding flights, issues with expiry dates have caught travellers out too.

Previous rules allowed British passport holders to roll over 10 months from their previous passports meaning they’d have validity of up to 10 years and 10 months.

But the current rules no longer see those additional 10 months as valid, even if they are on your passport.

So, if your passport was issued in June 2015, but your expiry date says September 2025, that expiry is actually incorrect.

Instead, your passport would have expired 10 years past the start date – making the real expiry is actually June 2025.

There’s also the three month rule – a number of countries require British holidaymakers to have a few additional months left on their passport to travel.

Most places in Europe require British travellers to have at least three months left on the passport before it expires.

Passport Rules

Everything you need to know about passports

Here’s another common passport mistake that is costing Brits £1.1million a year on holiday.

And another woman was left sobbing after easy passport mistake saw her BANNED from her flight.

THERE’S bad news for passengers flying with easyJet to Italy this weekend.

On Saturday, unions representing easyJet’s pilots and flight attendants have announced a strike due to to take place between 1pm and 5pm.

easyJet operates daily departures across Italy in destinations like Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice and Rome Fiumicino. 

Currently, easyJet says that there is only one return flight scheduled to and from the UK within the strike period which is currently set to operate as planned.

Another nine intra-EU flights are also within the strike period, but there are also plans in place to operate.

easyJet also told Sun Travel: “We have contingency plans in place so our flying programme to and from Italy is currently scheduled to operate as planned tomorrow.

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“We will contact customers directly should their flight be affected.”

Naples Airport operator GESAC has warned of “possible delays and cancellations”, urging travellers to check the status of their flights.

The industrial action has been taken as a result of delays in talks over roster patterns, post-pandemic wage restoration and integration of the new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

A number of services could be grounded and the select time of the walkout is to maximise disruption. 

SkyRefund has advised that if your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between a full refund or re-routing to your destination.

If the airline cannot fly you out quickly, they should book you onto a flight with an alternative carrier.

Commenting on passenger rights, Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of flight compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: “Passengers should be aware that while airlines often cite strikes as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, industrial action by an airline’s own employees, such as this walk-out by easyJet pilots and cabin crew, is generally considered within the carrier’s control under UK and Under EU 261/2004 regulations.

“Because this strike stems from internal disputes over wages and rosters, it does not typically meet the criteria for an ‘unforeseeable’ event.

“If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours, you aren’t just entitled to a seat on the next available flight; you are likely eligible for fixed financial compensation of up to £520 (€600) per person.”

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Here’s more information on what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to a mystery ‘tech glitch’.

And these are the circumstances where you won’t get any compensation for a cancelled flight.

The beach resort recently gave local clubs permits to open 24-hours a day along the shore, turning the area into a serious clubbing zone and a cheaper competitor to the party island of Ibiza

If you’re looking for chilled days on the beach followed by all-nighters at the club, then Ibiza might be your go-to destination. But the Balearic Islands aren’t the cheapest option, and certainly not the only place where you can party all night long.

One beach resort is emerging as a serious contender for those who want to enjoy the party vibes, but can’t stretch their budget to a week in Ibiza. Set on the picturesque Pag Island just off the coast of Croatia, Zrce Beach is becoming a major destination for fans of night – and day-clubbing.

Zrce Beach is about an hour and 20 minutes from Zadar airport, which has Ryanair flights from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London-Stansted, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne, making it easy to access from the UK. Flights start at just £21 one-way with the budget airline and take about 2.5 hours.

The beach itself has smooth pebbles and turquoise seas, and its position in a sheltered bay means there are shallow, clear waters for swimming. Along the beach, you’ll find a variety of beach clubs renting out loungers and Bali beds, or you can grab a spot next to a palm tree.

Outside of festival time, the daytimes here tend to be relaxed, with people sipping cocktails in beach clubs and enjoying chill music and the occasional dips in the sea. Some clubs have their own pool areas where you can enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

As the sun starts to set, the parties begin, and the great thing about Zrce Beach is that it has so many bars and clubs in a relatively short, walkable area, so you can simply wander around and find the best party. Noa Beach Club is one of the most unique clubs in the area, with a huge pier where you can dance and party surrounded by the sparkling blue seas.

At the other end of the beach is Kalypso, where the party often spills out onto the seafront. DJ sets last until the small hours in this paradise-themed club, and there’s an outdoor chillout area right next to the sea. There’s also Euphoria Club, famous for its giant cocktails and outdoor parties that often go on long after the sun comes up.

But it’s the summer festivals that really bring in the crowds, with stages set up right on the beach, boat parties, and international DJ sets that last all night. Zrce Spring Break Croatia takes place over two weekends in 2026, on May 22 to 25 and June 4 to 7, and is set to include Spring break games, water sports, and of course, plenty of late nights.

One of the summer’s biggest events is the Balkan Wave festival, with acts from July 9 to 11. Regular tickets cost €89.99 (about £77) for all three days, or you can book accommodation packages from €229.99 (just under £200) which include four-nights accommodation in a basic apartment nearby plus access to the festival.

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Many visitors stay in nearby Novalja, which during peak season has regular shuttle buses to and from Zrce Beach. Hotel Kaneo is popular with guests who want to enjoy the lively nightlife and is on a long stretch of sandy beach with rooms from £54 a night. For those on a budget, there’s the Casa La Cha – Hostel & Bar, which is also on the beach and has apartments that sleep up to eight people, making it ideal for groups.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

easyJet’s new travel report shows dark sky tourism, padel holidays and Gen Z trends are dominating summer bookings to Spain and beyond

Dark skies tourism is set to be one of the top travel trends this summer, driven by a growing fascination with astronomy and astrophotography, according to The Great British Holiday Audit by easyJet and easyJet Holidays. The report highlights a surge in bookings for Spanish hotspots like Valencia, Palma Mallorca, and Ibiza, particularly around August 12th, as travellers aim to combine sun-soaked breaks with catching the solar eclipse.

These locations are perfectly situated in the eclipse’s path and benefit from long, clear summer days. And the trend is especially popular among Gen Z and has been amplified by TikTok, following a wave of interest sparked by the Northern Lights visibility in the UK in 2025.

Beyond astronomical events, longer short-haul flights of five to six hours are also becoming the “new norm”. For example, Tunisia saw a 12% increase in easyJet flights, particularly to the island of Djerba. Meanwhile, Tbilisi, Georgia is gaining traction as a popular city-break destination.

And travel to longer-leisure hotspots such as Morocco, Turkey, and Cyprus has seen a 21% rise.