Dad warns of simple passport mistake that saw him banned from flight with family

This simple passport rule change could affect your family holidays – and it cost this dad-of-3 £3,000

A dad has warned parents to be aware of one simple passport 'mistake' that could see you being turned away from a flight, even if your passport is in date.

The little-known passport rule was brought in after Brexit and could have an effect on ALL family holidays – and it's something many are unaware of.

Dad-of-3 Peter Holt, 50, and his family – wife Claire, 47, sons Rocky, 8, and twins Axel and Hunter, 6 – were jetting off on a family holiday to Croatia when Peter was turned away by EasyJet for breaking a passport rule.

While Peter's passport was issued in July 2013 and normally would have expired 10 years after that (in July 2023), passport rules up until 2018 meant that anyone who renewed their passport early could add any remaining months to their new passport.

This meant that Peter's passport actually expires in March 2024.

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A warning for others

However, post-Brexit rules state that UK passport holders travelling to any EU country are denied entry 10 years after their passport is issued – even if it still has extra months left.

Which meant that Peter's passport was NOT valid for travel to Croatia.

Instead, the dad-of-3 had to pay an extra £3,000 and drive more than 1,000 miles to meet the rest of his family, driving through France, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.

Peter's experience serves as a warning to other families, as he was able to book his flights, check in online, drop his bags off and get his boarding pass before being alerted to his 'mistake'.

Peter – who explained how his wife and sons were 'in tears' as he was turned away – said:

'I was annoyed. We had booked the holiday in February, and it said nothing about an issue with the passport then.

'I had my boarding pass, been through bag check, passport control, yet now at the final stage I was turned away, It just didn’t – and still doesn’t – make sense.'

But he wasn't the only one, as 2 other people ushered out of the airport at the same time had the 'same issue' with their passports.

'The situation was just so unnecessary'

After deciding to drive instead, Peter said he didn't experience the same issue at Border Control, adding:

'The crazy thing is both the English and French border control teams at the crossing accepted my passport adding further mystery to the tale.'

Warning others to check their passports are valid for travel, Peter said he was sharing this story so other people do not have to face the same trouble he had at the airport.

He added:

'I am glad to have made it, but the situation was just so unnecessary. I just wish someone, be it easyJet or the UK Passport Office, would have let me know.'

What did EasyJet say?

A spokesperson for EasyJet said:

'Unfortunately Mr Holt was unable to fly to Pula due to their passport not meeting current validity rules. easyJet follows the rules on passport validity as set out by the authorities where we operate.

'We remind customers during booking and before they travel to ensure they are aware of the requirements for the destination they are flying to and it is customers’ responsibility to ensure they have valid documentation for travel.'

What are the current rules for travelling to an EU country?

1. Check your passport is valid

Even if your passport is still in date, you may still be unable to travel to certain countries in the Schengen Area (which includes countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece and Croatia), because these countries require your passport to be no more than 10 years old from point of issue when you're travelling there, and be valid for 3 months (and sometimes 6) after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting.

2. Make sure you have the new GHIC card (which replaces the EHIC)

If you have one of the pre-Brexit European Health Insurance cards (EHIC), it will remain valid until its expiry date.

However, if yours has expired, or you've never had one, then you should apply for a UK GHIC card instead, before you travel.

Both the EHIC and GHIC let you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. It doesn't, however, replace travel insurance.

But be warned, some countries that used to accept the EHIC now do not post-Brexit, so check before you travel.

The Post Office's website says:

'Neither [the GHIC or the EHIC] now provides this cover in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, which used to accept the Ehic.'

3. Make sure you know the hand luggage rules

Many airlines have updated or changed their hand luggage rules over the last few years. Make sure you're up to date with what you're allowed to take with you, before you get to the airport.

Find out more about the passport and other travel changes brought in this year here.

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