Mum refused entry onto Ryanair flight over 'confusing' passport rule that left family going on holiday without her
17.04.2022 - 13:41
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A woman had to wave goodbye to her husband and son at a Ryanair check-in desk after being refused onto her flight over Brexit passport rules. Ana Tiganescu and her family had planned a week-long holiday - their first in three years - to Faro, Portugal, flying from Leeds Bradford Airport.
But scientist Dr Tiganescu was sent away from the check-in desk and barred from the flight because, despite having six months left before it expired, her passport was issued more than 10 years ago. The family were forced to make a split second decision about whether they would catch the flight without her, the Mirror reports.
Dr Tiganescu, who works at the University of Leeds, is now spending Easter alone while her family holiday in Portugal. "This was a huge shock and very distressing for us all – especially my son, who didn’t understand why I wasn’t allowed to go with them," she said.
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"I was left very upset, in shock, and humiliated, waiting for an unspecified amount of time, almost two hours, for a Ryanair steward to escort me back through security. This situation was deeply distressing. When I finally made it back out of the airport, I was in such a state that I couldn’t remember my postcode for a taxi home."
Now that the UK has left the European Union (EU), Brits are subject to stringent passport requirements set by each of the member states. The majority of countries require travellers from the UK to have at least six months until the expiration date on their passport, and for it to have been issued no more than 10 years ago.
The UK government's official travel advice webpage for Portugal states: "Your passport must meet two requirements. It