Umm what?

A savvy traveller decided to use a very unique hack to stow some extra hand luggage on her return flight – and the flight attendants didn’t even bat an eyelid

A clever hack involving undergarments has gone viral after one traveller revealed how she “stuffed” her bra before a Wizz Air flight – saving her a fortune on baggage costs.

The cost of adding extra baggage onto flights can sometimes be more expensive than the ticket itself – with restrictions getting tighter on hand luggage.

Budget airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet notoriously make last-minute checks at the gate – sometimes resulting in extra fees for those who are slightly over the limit. But one woman has revealed a clever trick for sneaking in extra clothes – and it’s all in her bra.

READ MORE: Drunk Jet2 thug causes holiday flight to be diverted after spitting on passengerREAD MORE: EasyJet statement on major border change which will impact millions from October

Chelsea Dickenson was flying home from Lisbon with Wizz Air who only allow a tiny 40 x 30 x 20cm cabin bag for free.

And while she managed the outbound flight fine, she wanted to try out the clever hack for her return journey. Just before her flight, she bagged herself a giant bra – that was not her size – for less than £5 from a local shop.

“I’d never seen anyone use a bra for this purpose. And the logic was solid: airlines weigh and measure your bag, not your body. My coat pockets had been carrying overflow snacks and chargers for years, so why not give my chest a piece of the action too?,” she told the Metro.

After making it through security, she headed straight to the toilets to get changed into her bra – surprisingly fitting a lot of clothes inside.

“On the day of my flight, I wasn’t about to stroll through security looking like I’d got a Portuguese breast enlargement – this was about getting through the scales and bag sizers,” she explained.

Chelsea stuffed the bra with her gym kit, a bikini, and a fishing vest. But one thing she hadn’t prepared for was the intense heat the extra padding would provide.

“It was like a private heat wave,” she wrote. Her boyfriend James also found the sight amusing.

At the gate, the flight attendants didn’t bat an eyelid and let them board the plane smoothly. But while it worked, she admits she wouldn’t do it again and would opt for less invasive options.

Top packing hacks to avoid extra baggage fees

1. Roll your clothes

Rolling clothes like T-shirts, jeans and dresses can save a lot of space in hand luggage thanks to making the items more compact compared to simply folding.

2. Packing cubes

Investing in packing cubes can save space – especially those that are vacuum packed meaning you can get rid of excess air and flat pack your clothes with ease.

3. Wear bulky items

On the plane, opt to wear your more bulky items like coats, jackets, hoodies or tracksuits. While you might be warm layering clothes, you can always remove them onboard and stow them in the overhead lockers.

4. Place heavy items at the bottom of hand luggage

Strategically packing can save a lot of space, with heavy items helping to keep the bag’s structure while offering more room for lighter items on top.

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Bianca Adler, who is aiming to become the youngest female to conquer the world’s highest peak, has admitted her devastation at having to turn around when so close to the summit

A girl who is in the process of attempting to climb Mount Everest has been praised on social media after her latest update revealed the toll four days in the mountain’s ‘Death Zone‘ had had on her – before things took an even worse turn. Climbing Everest is a complicated process, which typically requires mountaineers to spend months training both physically and mentally, as well as acclimatising to such high altitudes.

Bianca Adler, 17, is already the youngest female to reach the summit of Manaslu [the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres] and Ama Dablam [6812 metres], and now she has her sights set on the world’s highest peak too. The teenager is documenting her progress, with her clip on TikTok going viral, with a staggering 26million views in just 24 hours.

In it, Bianca shared footage of herself struggling to catch her breath after returning to her camp. Climbers are required to complete their ascent in stages, working their upwards via several camps along the treacherous route.

‘Death Zone’ sits at the ridge of Everest’s summit, some 8,000 metres above sea level and close to its peak of 8,849 metres. It is so-called as the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span.

Camp 2, meanwhile, which is located on the expedition’s more popular South Route, sits at approximately 6,553 metres high – and it is the trek there from Base Camp (5,364 meters) that Bianca is currently working on.

Barely able to speak, she muttered under her breath: “I just got back from Camp 2 and I’m at Base Camp and I feel horrible.”

Coughing and gasping for air, she continued: “My throat and my lungs… I’m so out of breath even though yesterday I was at 8,000 metres. I’m feeling the worst I have ever felt.”

In a follow-up video shared on Tuesday (September 23), a dejected Bianca explained that she later made it as high as Camp 4 (7,925 metres) but was “devastated” after being forced to turn around for her own safety.

“It’s so hard. I was feeling so good and so strong but I had to turn around due to something out of my control,” she explained, with the aid of an oxygen mask. “I can’t do anything about that and it would have been stupid to carry on.”

She elaborated on Instagram: “I had to turn around on Mt Everest at 8450m (400m below the summit). The winds were way too strong for what I believed was right for my own safety. I could feel my hands and toes going numb, the first step of frostbite.

“I couldn’t see anything, there was snow blowing everywhere. It was an extremely tough decision, but I always want to choose life over a potential summit. I felt strong, like I could summit, and was devastated.”

Bianca continued: “The next night, my Sherpa guides and I tried again from Camp 4, but I was too exhausted from the 10-hour effort the previous night, and turned around. After three nights, and almost four days in the Death Zone at 8,000m or above, we descended back down to Camp 2.”

She concluded: “On the summit push, dad got sick and stayed at Camp 2 whilst I went up. On the way down, he was still sick and I was exhausted. We both got diagnosed with HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) and dehydration (which is normal for mountaineering). I still feel quite sick and extremely exhausted so taking time to recover.”

Scores of mountaineers were quick to praise Bianca’s efforts, however, offering words of comfort and encouragement. “I’m more impressed by how you handled this situation than if you would have pushed yourself to the top… now you can live another day,” one responded on Instagram. “That is what’s important. A true warrior.”

A second person noted: “Such a great effort and the summit isn’t what matters the most, sounds like it was extremely hard and you had to push yourself far but still had to make a tough, but correct decision, which is one of the most valuable and fulfilling experiences you can have in the mountains. So proud!”

Whilst a third individual confessed: “I can’t even imagine how thought that decision was, but safety is always number 1 and you made the right choice. The mountains will always be there girl, well done and huge congratulations on everything you achieved this season.”

A woman has gone viral on social media after she shared the petty revenge she got on a rude passenger who was sat next to her on a flight – and people are loving it

A woman has been praised after sharing how she got her petty revenge on a rude plane passenger as they got off the plane.

Flying can be a nerve-wracking ordeal, particularly when you’re stuck beside complete strangers for hours at a time. However, this doesn’t justify being rude to your fellow passengers. This lesson was one a woman called Charlotte felt compelled to teach a passenger that had been seated beside her during a recent flight, after he allegedly been ‘rude’ to everyone nearby without any clear reason. Consequently, she decided to get her petty revenge on him in return.

Taking to TikTok to share her experience, Charlotte began by explaining how she boarded her aircraft and made her way to her allocated row, where she’d been given the middle seat. A man was sat in the aisle seat as she got on, so she politely asked he stand to allow her access to her middle seat.

“I said ‘excuse me sir, I just need to get through to that seat cause I’m sitting there’,” she recounted.

Charlotte went on to describe how this prompted the man to glare at her with a blank expression before sighing heavily, remaining silent as he rose to his feet. He retrieved his bag from beneath the seat ahead as he moved to allow her to get through to her seat.

However, since they were sat in the over-wing emergency exit row, most carriers forbid passengers in these seats from storing luggage beneath the seat in front. Instead, any luggage must be placed in the overhead storage compartments. Due to this regulation, a flight attendant requested the male passenger relocate his bag to the overhead locker, causing him to stare at them too before sighing audibly before complying with the instruction.

And whilst the man didn’t utter a single word throughout the entire journey, Charlotte also claimed she could sense him jabbing her repeatedly with his elbow in a bid to make her shift and give him more room. However, each time she looked towards him, he would ‘pretend to be asleep’.

Obviously irritated by his behaviour by the time the flight came to an end, Charlotte ensured she secured her payback as everyone prepared to leave the aircraft.

“When we were getting off the plane, a woman and a child needed to get off before him, as they were sat in the row in front of us,” she explained, as it’s ‘plane etiquette’ to let the people in the rows in front of you get out first.

“He just stood there going [big sighs] so loud so everybody could hear,” she said.

Explaining she knew the man spoke English because she’d spotted his mobile was set to an English language setting, she decided to secure her petty revenge on the passenger.

“Because he was so rude to everybody that he bumped into this morning, I decided to tell him that he had poo on the back of trousers,” she revealed, saying he did in fact not have poo on his trousers. “But now he think he does. And yes, I am that petty when it comes to airport etiquette.

“Nobody really likes travelling anyway, so just be nice about it,” she said.

People quickly took to the comment section of the video, with many praising Charlotte for her actions.

“I love this level of pettiness!” one viewer commented, while another person said: “Gonna start carrying a pot of Nutella on me just to seal the deal.”

Another individual remarked: “I don’t know why people are so rude it costs nothing to be nice. What did he expect you to do?”

“This is amazing. I’m going to remember this,” a fourth person penned.

An experienced flight attendant has revealed the one thing to avoid doing on airplanes if you don’t want to risk sharing other people’s bodily fluids and germs

A flight attendant who shares her adventures in the sky on social media has provided some insider advice on what passengers should definitely avoid while onboard.

Natalie Magee has been flying for 20 years so certainly knows what she’s talking about. She’s seen the good, the bad and the very ugly during her time looking after airline travellers.

However, there’s one particular freebie that Natalie recommends refusing, especially on shorter flights because the risk of getting up close and far too personal with other people’s germs is horribly high.

Zooming through the clouds can often mean that it gets a bit nippy at times in the cabin, particularly if flying at night when the sun has gone down. So passengers may need a blanket to keep warm and cosy.

Complimentary blankets used to be provided by airlines on most flights for chilly customers but these days because of cost-cutting and environmental concerns it’s usually only international, long-haul and first-class passengers that they are available too.

You may not think that’s such a bad thing though when you discover what could be found on them either. According to Natalie, hair, food, bodily fluids and mould could all be lurking in the folds of the material.

She says travellers use them to wipe their nose, clean up spills and even to catch their toenail clippings but that’s not all. “Probably one of the grossest things I’ve seen is someone using blankets to change their baby’s diaper,” Natalie, who is from Colorado, US, told Travel + Leisure.

That wouldn’t be such a problem if they were laundered after every use but that doesn’t always happen, according to the expert. “Most airlines have contract cleaners that take the blankets off after international flights and wash them in hot water, then seal them in plastic bags to be reused,” she explained. “However, on domestic flights, I’ve had blankets on my flights that we are instructed to just refold and put back in the bin.”

As a general rule she says if they aren’t in a sealed bag, they aren’t sanitary. So if you are someone who feels the cold when flying or needs to be covered to have a snooze, she recommends taking your own blanket. This way you know it’s clean and you won’t be snuggling up with someone else’s germs or illnesses.

Natalie has previously shared some of her many in-flight “peeves” and the most annoying things that passengers do. Along with parents changing babies on tray tables, people walking to the toilet barefoot and clipping their toenails while on board, she reveals one of her biggest pet hates is also hygiene related.

In a TikTok video she said she hates it, “when people don’t shut the bathroom door or leave the bathroom a mess. Also when you can hear it flush but not the sink so you know they didn’t wash their hands.”

Despite the niggles of life in the air with total strangers in a confined space, she reckons most flight attendants think of the aircraft as their own domain, which is why they want people to treat it well. “We would love it if people treated the space as their home and were tidy and respectful,” she said.

Natalie also believes it makes such a difference when passengers are polite and kind. “Honestly, when people say ‘thank you’ when they are getting off the plane (it is really great),” she reveals. “Or when they take the time to look at us when we are doing the beverage service and say please and thank you, we really appreciate it. I also like people who help others with their bags, especially mums and the elderly as we can’t always help everyone when boarding.”

Natali Khomenko has opened up about the unsettling experience in her Tokyo hotel room, and has said she has been left struggling with anxiety and PTSD in the wake of her ordeal

A woman has recalled a terrifying encounter she had with an unknown man she found hiding under her bed in a hotel.

Natali Khomenko, who lives in Thailand, decided to embark on a solo trip to Japan in March. Having arrived in the country, she checked in to her accommodation and was given a key card that would give her access the room.

Everything appeared fine so she set off the following day for some sightseeing, but she was in for a distressing ordeal upon her return. It comes after a warning has been issued to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

READ MORE: ‘Traumatised’ family stranded at Palma Airport after being told they can’t board Jet2 flightREAD MORE: Tourist, 27, has finger torn off by parade horse in Spanish fiesta horror

In a clip shared on her Instagram account, Natali explained: “I booked my solo trip to Japan because I thought Japan was a very safe country. I stayed in a very well-known chain hotel in Japan,” she said, adding that she stayed in the room for a day and everything seemed normal.

However, the next day when she returned to her room after a day of soaking up culture, she was shocked by what she found. “I unlocked my room, took off my clothes and laid down on the bed. That’s when I encountered a weird smell,” she said, adding that at first she thought it was coming from her hair or the bedsheets.

She even joked to herself about it ‘smelling like a dead body’ under her bed, but when she looked under it, she was horrified to see a pair of eyes staring at her.

“I saw an Asian man under my bed. I started to jump and scream and then the man climbed out from under my bed and stared at me for three seconds. Those seconds felt like my life was over,” she revealed.

Speaking to The Guardian , Natali further described the man as “east Asian, between 20 and 30, slightly overweight, a bowl haircut and black clothes.”

“I began to hyperventilate and froze on the spot, unsure whether he was about to jump on me, choke me or even try to kill me,” she said.

After the shocking incident, Natali said she immediately called the hotel administration and the police, and they found a power bank and USB cable under her bed.

She said she kept asking the hotel how the situation had happened, but they didn’t have any answers for her. “Even more, they suggested upfront that police won’t find the intruder because they had no cameras,” she continued.

She immediately changed hotels and demanded a full refund the following day. But she claims the hotel didn’t contact her back. She then reached out to holiday operator who she had booked the hotel through, and they offered her $178 (£133) in coupons – despite the fact she had paid $600 (£450) for three nights.

Having contacted the hotel once more, Natali was finally given a refund. But the emotional toll has been far greater. The woman has been struggling with anxiety and PTSD since returning home.

“Sadly, I’ve also had men write to me, claiming it’s my fault or that I just want to denigrate Japan. But all I want is justice, and to raise awareness so this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Women already have to worry about their safety too much, and this is another example of things not being taken as seriously as they should,” Natali said.

Buyers have the chance to snap up an idyllic and picturesque French home nestled in a small town for just €1 – but the houses come with some pretty strict conditions

While the thought of snapping up a beautiful French home for just €1 sounds like a dream – there’s one huge catch. It’s the kind of deal anyone would snap up in a heartbeat – especially as the costs of housing is through the roof, and it’s in an attempt to boost the popularity of the dwindling town.

But these homes in Ambert, located in the southeast of France have some conditions to them. Buyers are expected to invest significantly in renovations and meet strict requirements if they want the keys – and there is a significant amount that needs doing.

READ MORE: Gorgeous seaside town offers colourful homes and breathtaking views

Firstly, the cheap homes are only available to first-time buyers, as second-time buyers are prohibited from taking part in the scheme. The buyers also have to commit to staying in the home full-time for at least three years too.

According to The Local, those who purchase a €1 house in Ambert must commit to living in the property full-time for at least three years once it’s been made habitable. If they fail to do so, they risk financial penalties, including the repayment of any government grants given for refurbishment works.

One huge downside is that the houses need some serious work. From the roof to the wiring, and everything in between, the two homes on offer require a fair but of renovating. Due to the extensive TLC needed, potential buyers may even be asked to provide a written plan outlining the extent of the work and how long it will take to complete.

Ambert has become the latest community to adopt the tactic in trying to boost it’s population and stop it from dying out – as it clings on to the 6,500 population.

It comes after a UK home was put up for auction with a starting price of just £1, but also came with considerable work needed for potential buyers. Promoted by estate agents Pattinson on TikTok, the pair of modest-size flats in Newcastle-upon-Tyne appear to have been ransacked inside, with the previous occupants’ belongings left behind in a somewhat sorry state.

Beginning at front of the building, Pattison’s clip shows an overgrown hedge concealing the majority of the building.

The living room contains piles of broken furniture and rubbish – with no carpet visible whatsoever thanks to the mess. A framed picture of Jesus sits on the floor of the room, which has also been littered with vinyl records, CDs and board game boxes.

The video, which has been viewed more than 1,000 times saw a handful of people respond to its caption of, “Would you buy this property for £1?” – all of whom said they would. However, while the starting price at auction may be low, the house is likely to sell for more.

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From unlimited water refills to extra special meals and private cockpit tours, here are 10 free perks you can ask for on flights that most passengers don’t know about

Flying doesn’t have to mean making do with whatever’s handed to you in a tiny plastic tray, with airlines offering more hidden extras behind the scenes.

According to Serena Toselli, a luxury Australia travel agent, there are plenty of perks hiding in plain sight on your next flight – and they won’t cost you a thing.

Serena shared her insider tips on Instagram, revealing the ten freebies you can ask for mid-flight that most travellers don’t realise are available. Here’s what to request next time you’re cruising at 35,000 feet.

1. Refill your water bottle

Flight attendants are usually happy to refill your reusable water bottle during the journey, according to Serena.

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to avoid that dreaded post-flight fatigue.

2. First aid kit or basic medicines

Cabin crew have access to a basic first aid kit and often carry essentials like painkillers and plasters on request.

They can’t hand out full-on pharmacy supplies, but they’ll usually help with the basics.

3. Visit the cockpit (while on the ground)

A rare treat for aviation enthusiasts. Once the plane has landed and passengers have disembarked, you can sometimes ask for a peek inside the cockpit.

Many pilots are happy to give you a quick tour if they have time – especially if you’re travelling with kids.

4. Special meal requests

Didn’t pre-order a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free meal? It’s still worth asking if the crew have any spare special meals available.

If they do, they’ll often happily swap your tray for one that suits your needs.

5. Extra food

If you still feel hungry after your in-flight meal, there could be the option of requesting seconds if there are leftover portions – particularly on quieter flights. There’s no guarantee, but it never hurts to ask.

6. Child-friendly supplies

Travelling with little ones? Many airlines stock child-friendly items such as colouring books, crayons, or even small toys to help keep them entertained.

Some also have baby essentials like nappies or wipes if you’ve run short.

7. Comfort items

Some airlines stock comfort items like eye masks and ear plugs – particularly on long-haul flights. Those can make all the difference when trying to fall asleep on a plane.

8. Travel gadgets

According to Serena, some airlines might even carry tech gadgets for those who forgot them.

From universal adapters to portable chargers or power banks, it’s worth asking if you have forgotten your own to see what they have lying around.

9. Special pins for kids

Some airlines might even offer collectible pins for aviation fans. These can range depending on the airline, but they can reflect the tail of the plane or feature a special slogan.

10. Warm towels

You might be offered warm towels to help you freshen up, particularly on long haul flights. You can ask for one to wipe your face and hands if you need a pick me up before landing.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton-loved Aspinal of London just slashed £255 off its work-ready tote bag

Susan Edwards said her holiday was ‘horrendous’ from the minute she arrived at the Greek island of Corfu with her daughter and three other family members

A fuming mum has vowed never to book with TUI again following a “nightmare” all-inclusive trip to Corfu, where she claims there was “no English food” or hotel entertainment.

Susan Edwards embarked on a seven-night holiday to the Greek island on 12 May. She stayed at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel with her cousins, aged 77 and 78, her daughter, 30, and second cousin, 50.

However, Susan, 69, from Westerhope, described the holiday as “horrendous from the minute [they] got there.”

The holidaymaker explained: “It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn’t have anything to drink.

“I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there’s certain things I can’t eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water.”

Susan and her party arrived at the hillside hotel around 2pm on 12 May, ready to enjoy some food and refreshments after their long journey.

After climbing a large ramp to reach the hotel reception, Susan said she was told that pool-side food would be served at 5pm for guests, which she claims was a “one-inch square of baklava”.

Her dissatisfaction only got worse the next day when she discovered there was “no English food” available at the hotel. Describing the grub on offer, Susan said: “On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce,” Chronicle Live reports.

“There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage.

“We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice – I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn’t eat that. It’s the worst holiday I’ve ever been on.”

The mum says she couldn’t enjoy her preferred drink during her holiday because she doesn’t fancy ouzo and doesn’t drink brandy. She explained that she would normally have bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand.

“By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that”, Susan fumed.

TUI’s website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being “all about the laidback life” where “ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda”, aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also says the four-star hotel has its own private patch of beach “just steps away”.

However, Susan claimed there was no entertainment at the hotel which is “stuck there in the middle of nowhere”. She added: “There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn’t get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel.”

“There’s a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone’s case up for them.”

She also expressed her frustration over not being able to get a second key for the room she shared with her daughter. Susan explained: “I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned.

“But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn’t be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told ‘no, too expensive’.”

Susan said she usually holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she felt comfortable knowing “there’s a big company behind you if anything goes wrong.”

However, this time, her confidence in TUI has been shaken due to what she perceives as an inadequate response from the travel firm.

She has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers by TUI, but she claims that other guests she met at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI’s final £100 voucher offer.

“In the past I’ve paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I’ve always thought you’ve got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare,” Susan said.

A spokesperson for TUI UK said: “Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution.”

A woman was left almost crying as she was told she may not be able to make her journey to Paris as there was something wrong with her passport – but she had no idea there was a problem

A woman was left almost sobbing as she realised she’d made a big passport mistake when she was travelling from Sydney to Paris. Jane Lu was trying to board her flight with a passport she’d recently used on two trips to America when she was told that she may not be able to fly due to there being something wrong with it.

Over the top of the video, she wrote: “Help?! Has anyone ever had this happen?” as she explained the situation to her followers. Jane explained that she couldn’t get onto her flight because staff told her her passport was invalid due to “water damage”.

“They’re saying that I’m flying by China, and they might not let me through, and Paris might not let me through, but I’ve already flown twice with this passport to the US,” she seethed, almost in tears.

She said that because she’d gone to America twice on the passport when it was damaged, she “didn’t think it would be a problem”.

In a follow-up video, Jane explained that she had to “sign a waiver” that said if she got turned away in Paris, she’d have to make the journey back to Australia, so she was nervous about what would happen, because she had an over-24-hour journey ahead of her.

She said that she hoped they’d be “super chill” as she arrived in Paris, and it turned out they were, as she managed to get in and could complete her business trip successfully.

In the comments, someone wrote: “I think the people at the check-in in Australia are just way too thorough. This happened to my sister. They told her she had to board the flight at her own risk as her passport had a water stain. But when we landed in Singapore, they did not even notice”.

Another defended the airport, however, saying “border security is paramount”. A woman warned her to “apply for a new passport” and to ensure she “keeps it perfect,” rather than allowing it to get water-damaged.

“What I wanna know, how do SO many people get water damage on their passports? Are ya’all taking them for a swim?” someone fumed.

A travel agent shared her advice, penning: “Travel agent here – a passport is a legal document, so, therefore, it must not have any damage. If an airline sends you to a place and you are denied entry, they receive a massive fine.

“Also, you can be detained on arrival for having a damaged passport. Much better to be denied here than to be put in jail or be turned around at the other end. If it’s damaged, it needs to be replaced.

“Some countries take this pretty seriously. I had a customer detained when their family went overseas and their kid spilt water on their passport and risked it. It’s not about intention, it’s about being safe”.

According to My British Passport, if a passport is too damaged, then the owner of the passport may not be able to fly. They share that the extent of the damage determines whether it can still be used.

Minor wear and tear might be acceptable, but if the passport cannot be read or the chip is damaged, boarding may be denied.

According to the Post Office, the HM Passport Office classifies a passport as damaged if the following conditions are met: the details are indecipherable, the laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution and the bio-data page is discoloured.

A shocked mum faced the wrath of an entitled plane passenger who called her a vicious name when he realised she’d booked her three-year-old child a first-class seat

An entitled plane passenger erupted into a sweary rant at a mum who booked her toddler a first class seat.

The foul-mouthed tirade came as a shock to the parent, who insisted her little girl was well behaved throughout the flight.

Every summer, a fierce debate ramps up online over the ‘correct’ flying etiquette with children – with some less tolerant passengers insisting that kid-free flights should exist.

The mum was confident that her three-year-old tot could handle the flight easily, having travelled many times before, but one passenger fumed at the concept of a toddler having a first class ticket, as they hated the thought of sitting next to a child.

Taking to Reddit to share her flight ordeal, the mum wrote anonymously: “My husband, toddler (almost 3) and I were flying across the country for Thanksgiving. Since we could afford it due to a nice pay raise my husband recently got, we decided to splurge on 1st class tickets for the trip.

“My toddler has always been a good flyer and has flown a lot throughout her short life. She’s never been disruptive or cried on an airplane, this flight included.

“She’s good at staying in her seat and tells us when she a needs to go potty, food, a toy, etc. She stayed seated and quietly playing throughout the flight, only getting up when she had to go potty.”

Despite the little one being on her best behaviour and not disrupting other travellers, one passenger was seething at the mum for sitting her child in first class – as he complained to the cabin crew on board.

The mum explained: “The issue was with another 1st class passenger. We boarded early since my husband is disabled and when another 1st class passenger saw us he started glaring.

“We take off and all is good. My kid fell asleep in the middle of coloring [sic], husband is snoozing. I’m listening to music when I get a tap on my shoulder.

“It was the guy that glared at us as he boarded and before I could even get a word out he told me that children weren’t allowed in 1st class and that we needed to move to our ‘real’ seats”.

In a bid to avoid confrontation, the parent asked the flight attendant to deal with the man’s complaint, as she felt ‘uncomfortable’. Things seemed to get cleared up, but the man was still hot with rage.

“The flight attendant came and explained to him that we were in the correct seats that we paid for and asked that he sit back down and not bother us again. He did go back to his seat but as we were getting off the plane he whispered to me that I was a ‘fat c***’ and that he pays too much money for first class to be surrounded by children.”

Desperate for advice, the mum concluded: “My kid was the only kid in 1st class and she didn’t misbehave or even cry so at first I felt like I was in the right, but after talking to family at Thanksgiving many of them told me that we should book economy next time because people pay extra to relax in 1st class. Are we really a******s for flying 1st class with our toddler?”

Many people flocked to the comments section to defend the mum’s decision, as one wrote: “Even if your child did cry, it wouldn’t have mattered because you paid and are entitled to the seats you paid for… if they don’t want to be around children/other people that bad – they should fly private”.

Another added: “I can understand why he would initially be wary and upset, but he frankly should have calmed the f down once it became apparent that your toddler was just sleeping peacefully like anyone else.

“And since you know that your kid is a good flyer, there’s no reason not to sit first class if you can”.

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A holidaymaker who wanted to visit pals in New York claims a political meme put him in hot water but The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a robust denial

Political memes are hugely popular on the internet but one holidaymaker with a funny picture on his phone claimed he was “made to feel like a terrorist” when he tried to enter the United States.

Tourist Mads Mikkelsen, 21, had arrived at New Jersey’s Newark Airport on June 11 with plans to visit friends in New York City before making his way to Austin, Texas.

Mads said that when immigration officers found a meme of US Vice President JD Vance on the Norwegian’s phone, he wasn’t allowed into the country.

“I was subjected to abuse of power and harassment,” he told Norwegian newspaper Nordlys. “They took me to a room with several armed guards, where I had to hand over my shoes, mobile phone and backpack.”

The tourist claimed he was quizzed about “drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism… totally without reason” before being thrown in a cell. But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, hit back with a firm denial, saying: “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons”.

READ MORE: Foreign Office warns 800,000 Brits risk ‘harsh’ detention under new travel rules

Mads said officials threatened him with jail or a $5,000 (£3,600) fine if he didn’t give them access to his phone. He claimed agents then found the Vance meme, which distorted the politician’s face to make it cartoonish, chubby and bald and it was game over.

“The picture had been automatically saved to my camera roll from a chat app but I really didn’t think that these innocent pictures would put a stop to my entry into the country,” said Mads, who claimed he was next forced to give blood samples and supply fingerprints.

“It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting,” he added. “I tried to pull myself together several times but in the end, I just wanted to get home.”

But The U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the story wasn’t quite as Mads had painted it. “Fact Check: FALSE,” they wrote on X. “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”

Mads told Nordlys that he was questioned at the airport about illegal drug use. He admitted to having used cannabis on two occasions – in Germany and in New Mexico. “It’s legal in both places, so in my mind it was irrelevant,” he said.

The tourist also said he never got the impression that the drug-related questions were an issue at the time of questioning.

The Norwegian was flown back to Norway the same day and when his claims reached social media, supporters branded his US ban “authoritarian”. “Remember when JD Vance went to Germany to lecture them about free speech?” said one user on X.

“So much for free speech. Note to visitors: Best not come for a few years,” added another supporter.

Mads’ ban comes after reports last month that an Australian woman was detained and jailed overnight before being deported. Nikki Saroukus, a former police officer from Sydney who was visiting her US military husband, had arrived for a three week holiday with her mum when she was taken in for questioning.

“They were asking me about ice and meth and whether I knew how much was being imported from New Zealand,” said Nikki, who was allegedly forced to sign a document stating she was not a part of a cartel and had no affiliation with gang members.

The Australian claimed she was handcuffed and subjected to an in-depth cavity search before being detained overnight and flown back home.

A young couple’s two weeks of passion in the sun quickly turned to pain following an excruciating bedroom injury, which ended up throwing cold water over their holiday and, ultimately, their entire relationship

As she jetted off on holiday with her then-boyfriend, Harriet Smith* had no idea that their dreamy trip would result in an x-rated injury – and, ultimately, the death of their once-sizzling sex life.

Celebrating the end of their finals, the students, then in their early 20s, were in a jubilant mood as they landed in Tunisia for what should have been a blissful two-week break. They enjoyed plenty of romantic moments both inside and outside the hotel room as they looked ahead to a “new chapter.”

But then, around halfway through the holiday, a wince-worthy bedroom blunder through cold water over their dreamy getaway.

One night, after enjoying dinner and a few drinks together, things became especially steamy between the pair, who were still very much in their “honeymoon period”. Sadly, this “night of passion” would be their last.

Speaking with the Mirror, Harriet recalled how, “right in the middle” of their intimate moment, her poor other half began “howling” in pain, screaming out, “Oh, god, oh god.” As Harriet herself put it: “It wasn’t even post coital, it was mid coital.”

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Harriet, from the Midlands, told us: “I just remember him howling out and just thinking he was joking and like hopping around and then thinking, ‘S*** this is serious’.”

They immediately ceased their amorous antics. It was dark, and so the issue wasn’t immediately clear. Then Harriet realised what had happened. She revealed: “His foreskin had gotten stuck, and he couldn’t move it.”

Looking back more than 20 years on after the agonising blunder, Harriet, now 47, reckons their wild bedroom antics contributed to the horror injury. And their ordeal was far from over.

A “private” sort of person, Harriet’s partner was deeply “embarrassed” as he headed to A&E by himself, having to deal with the additional hurdles of being far from home, in a land where he didn’t speak the language.

Worried Harriet waited in their room for news. He arrived back around two hours later, with doctors having given him something to numb the excruciating pain. From that point on, however, it was clear that the second half of their holiday would be far less idyllic than the first.

Harriet shared, “It just obviously significantly impacted the rest of the holiday. There are before-and-after pictures where we’re smiling on camels and looking really loved up, and then there’s the after pictures where he just looks in pain, and he probably was.”

While the first week of their trip was spent camel riding, trying out extreme sports, and exploring local cities, the second was far more low-key, with plenty of relaxing by the pool and chaste early nights. Naturally, sex was off the table for the rest of their stay, with Harriet’s boyfriend being scared to even hug her or become “aroused” in any way.

When they returned to the UK, Harriet’s partner had to have an operation. It would be “at least six weeks or two months” until they slept together again, which, as remarked upon by Harriet, “is quite a long time when you’re 21”. She added: “Honestly, it was never really the same again”.

As well as physical intimacy falling flat, Harriet also found that her partner was too humiliated to discuss the issue with her and, even though she was “very sympathetic”, there wasn’t really much she “could do to help”.

They stayed together for about another year after the Tunisia incident, and, looking back, Harriet believes the injury ultimately spelt doom for the relationship. She reflected: “It was always something. I was worried about hurting him. So I think it really took the wind out of our sails.

“It was a real passion killer. And I think he probably had that association with me that, you know, although it could have happened to anyone at any time, it happened to us. I don’t think it just ruined the holiday, I think it was probably not a relationship killer, but certainly quashed things in the bedroom.”

Until now, Harriet, who fortunately hasn’t been put off sex in the long run, has kept her story secret and has only ever confided in a few very close girl pals.

For a while, she’d “forgotten about it”, having “blocked it out”. However, being a mum of teenage boys has made her sympathise with her former beau’s plight all over again.

Harriet empathised: “I just think, ‘Oh my god, poor thing’. You know, that’s your nightmare as a man to have something like that happen!”

Nowadays, Harriet is no longer in touch with her ex, who now lives overseas with his wife and children. As far as she’s aware, there doesn’t appear to have been any lasting damage to his private parts.

She noted: “Obviously, the fact that he’s been able to have children, he’s sorted that out then. I mean, that obviously didn’t cross my mind at the time, but yeah, you know, everything’s in working order.”

*Names were changed in this story

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A dad who is gearing up for a summer getaway with pals has sparked furious debate as he plans to leave his young son home alone in the middle of the night

A dad has sparked a fierce debate after insisting it’s no big deal to leave his 10-year-old home alone while he sleeps.

Parenting is full of endless time pinches and juggling never-ending to-do lists, and sometimes you’re caught in a conundrum on who is going to look after the kids while you’re out and about.

One couple are in a heated argument over this man’s situation, however, as they can’t agree on whether it’s acceptable to leave their young son at home unattended while they head to the airport.

The exasperated mum took to Mumsnet to share her frustration at her husband, explaining: “Me and hubby are have a little disagreement about leaving our child home alone for an airport run.

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“For context, child is 10 and an overall sensible child, very well behaved and a great sleeper in general. DH [darling husband] and friends are off on a short trip next weekend and need to leave for the airport at 4am.

“He says leave [our son] in bed because I’ll be back in 45mins (1hr max). I’d planned on getting him up and putting him in the car in his dressing gown, but everyone thinks that’s silly.”

The mum added that her little lad “doesn’t care” about being left alone in the house but will “ultimately do as told”. She then asked whether she was being “unreasonable” by waking him up and bringing him along for the car journey.

Other parents were quick to wade in on the debate, with most in agreement that the boy shouldn’t be left home alone. One commenter bluntly wrote: “I wouldn’t be leaving my 10 year old alone at 4am nor would I be getting him up out of bed. Tell him to book a taxi.”

Meanwhile, another said: “Well, obviously you can’t give your husband a lift, and any sensible person wouldn’t even ask at that time. Just tell him to book a cab – it’s clearly not a long trip to the airport anyway.”

Other mums were more sympathetic on the issue, with one stating: “I think this is OK actually although I can see I’m in a minority.”

Some pointed out that while the journey seems quick, the mum could face delays driving back. One parent commented: “I wouldn’t leave him home alone…what if something happens to you or you’re delayed? Or he wakes up and is confused? Dressing gown in the back of the car for a one off early morning is fine…”

And another added: “No. And the danger probably isn’t that something would happen to your child. It’s that something could happen to you to prevent you coming back within that timeframe.”

The online debate comes as many parents have been left wondering what the legal age is for children to be left home alone as the summer holidays come up. Helen Westerman, the NSPCC’s head of local campaigns, explained: “A child who doesn’t feel comfortable shouldn’t be left alone.”

She said this is why making a universal legal age is impractical, as some children, albeit the same age, have different levels of maturity.

Ms Westerman emphasises the important point that babies and very young children should never be left unattended, not even for short periods, regardless of whether they are asleep or awake. She added: “Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period.”

The charity also warns against leaving children under 16 alone overnight and reminds parents to consider any additional needs a child may have when deciding whether to leave them at home alone or with an older sibling.

If you hear this word whilst you are on a flight, it might mean that one of your fellow passengers has died on board – and cabin crews have a whole host of codewords like this

Cabin crews have a lot to deal with as they take care of passengers during their flights. In addition to keeping everyone happy and well-fed, they occasionally have to deal with more major crises, but flight attendants are known to use secret codewords to ensure that they don’t panic any of the other passengers.

One phrase, in particular, can mean, if you hear it whilst travelling, that someone on the plane has sadly died – and the staff are trying to let each other know what’s going on, whilst keeping the situation under wraps from the passengers.

The code words regularly used for a death mid-flight are “Angel” or “Code 300.” These words allow discretion while the crew deals with the sad situation and ensure that no excess attention is drawn or alarm is generated amongst those on the flight.

Travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may encounter on a flight, but do not know what they mean. Whilst most flights go smoothly, on others there can be some issues where flight crews need to communicate with each other secretly, so as not to alert passengers.

There are a number of other in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may hear when on a flight.

If a traveller hears ‘Squawk 7500’ or ‘Hotel’, it means that a hijacking is in progress. As a passenger, if you hear this either mentioned by the flight crew or air traffic control, it signals that there is a potential security threat on the flight. Usually, the aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger.

Another alert is ‘Code Yellow’. A ‘Code Yellow’ indicates a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, it allows crew members to discreetly monitor a situation and assess whether they need any assistance.

If a serious but non-life-threatening emergency occurs while on a flight, passengers may hear ‘Peter Pan’. The phrase indicates that something is wrong onboard the flight, which could be mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but it also signals that the flight is not in imminent danger.

‘Mermaid’ is a nickname used for a passenger who deliberately sprawls across empty seats. This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out to try and claim the extra space. Last year, one passenger got into an argument with another passenger over an empty seat, as she was told she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to sit in it despite nobody paying for it.

The woman needed to move seats because something was wrong with hers, and a flight attendant informed her she could move to an empty seat in the row across from her own. When she tried to sit in it, however, the woman sitting next to the empty chair told her she “wasn’t allowed”—despite nobody having booked it.

‘Code Adam’ is not used onboard planes but in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a ‘Code Adam’, staff will begin searching the airport while securing exits to prevent abductions. At an airport, ‘Code Bravo’ may also be used to signal a general security alert.

Finally, while ‘VIP’ is usually used to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ in the airline industry, it can sometimes refer to a ‘Very Irritating Passenger.’ Crew will sometimes use the code to refer to a traveller who is making excessive demands, complaining a lot, or generally being difficult without violating any specific rules.

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On long-haul flights, there is a tiny, and normally completely secret room that passengers are banned from entering, but one flight attendant has pulled back the curtain – literally

The next time you’re about to take a snooze on a long-haul flight, you are going to want to remember this secret area exists on the plane – as passengers are totally banned from entering it.

It isn’t just the passengers who need to get some rest while they fly across the world – the cabin crew also need to make sure they get some sleep as they work their seriously long shifts making sure all their customers are well watered, fed, and safely enjoying their trip.

But to the uninitiated, you might wonder where on earth the flight attendants manage to get any rest – as they are seemingly always working hard.

READ MORE: ‘Selfish woman stole my plane seat so I kicked her chair every two minutes’

One air hostess revealed on her TikTok account that there is actually an entire secret area tucked away on long-haul flights for exactly this purpose, lifting the lid on the aviation industry’s best-kept secret.

In a viral TikTok video that has racked up over 1.3 million views, flight attendant Kaytee ( @gh.inthesky ) gives passengers a rare glimpse into the secret areas of the plane where cabin crew can catch some much-needed shut-eye. The clip shows Kaytee climbing into a compact, dimly lit space above the main cabin, entirely out of sight from passengers.

“This is where we sleep on long-haul flights,” she explains, showing off her allocated bunk. The bed is fully equipped with a thin mattress, bedding, and, of course, a safety belt to keep the crew secure in case of turbulence. Despite its confined dimensions, Kaytee describes the pod as surprisingly comfortable. “The turbulence actually rocks you to sleep, it’s like being in a cradle,” she says.

These hidden crew rest compartments are often compared to ‘coffin-like’ spaces due to their incredibly snug design but are a vital feature on long-haul aircraft.

They are typically located either above the main cabin, near the cockpit, or in compartments underneath the passenger seating area. Each bunk is also fitted with a privacy curtain, a pillow, and dim lighting to ensure the crew can get some well-deserved sleep during extended journeys.

Reactions to Kaytee’s tour have been mixed, with some TikTok users fascinated by the behind-the-scenes look at airline operations. Others feel uneasy at the sight of such a compact space.

One commenter wrote: “What in the coffin is this?” while another jokingly added, “I’d need an escape plan before even getting in there!” Despite their claustrophobic appearance, these rest areas are essential for flight attendants who are working long shifts, which can often span 10 hours or more.

All airlines are required to provide designated sleeping quarters for crew members on long-haul flights to ensure they remain alert and refreshed throughout the journey.

For many passengers, the idea of crew members vanishing mid-flight has always been an unsolved mystery. But now, thanks to social media, we have an exclusive look into the secret world behind the curtain (literally and figuratively)!

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