A couple’s birthday holiday to Tenerife was thwarted after they were denied boarding a Ryanair flight due to a ‘slight rip’ in the husband’s passport. Abriella Monroe, 32, and Sebastien, 36, were left devastated as they were prevented from jetting off on their vacation. The ordeal began when a glue on a page of Sebastien’s passport came loose, resulting in a small tear along the spine. Despite having used the passport for check-in, currency exchange, and duty-free purchases without any issues, airport staff deemed it unacceptable for travel.
Ryanair defended their decision, stating that the passport was damaged according to UK Passport Office guidelines. The distressed couple, who had arrived at the airport two hours before their flight, had to witness the departure of their plane without them. They were later informed by Border Force officers that Sebastien’s passport was indeed valid for travel. The couple now faces the inconvenience of visiting the HM Passport Office in Liverpool to resolve the situation.
Abriella expressed her disbelief at the incident, highlighting that Sebastien’s passport had been kept in a folder alongside other documents without any damage. She recalled the sequence of events leading up to the boarding refusal and the subsequent removal of their luggage and wheelchair from the plane. Ryanair’s response reiterated their adherence to passport damage guidelines, leading to the couple’s holiday plans being disrupted.
Abriella Monroe had shared her frustration at the turn of events that unfolded at the airport, causing significant distress and inconvenience to their travel plans. Despite following all the necessary procedures during check-in and security checks, the couple’s holiday dreams were shattered due to the passport issue and subsequent boarding refusal. The incident serves as a reminder of the stringent passport regulations in place and the potential impact they can have on travellers, even in seemingly minor cases of damage.