A passenger was denied boarding at Manchester Airport due to a minor passport issue, ruining their holiday plans.
Manchester: So, there was this guy who got kicked off a Ryanair flight at Manchester Airport because of a tiny rip in his passport. Can you believe that? Abriella Monroe, 32, was all set for a birthday trip to Tenerife with her husband, Sebastien, who just turned 36. But their plans went south because of this passport issue.
The couple said a page in Sebastien’s passport had come loose, thanks to some faulty glue, and it caused a small tear. They thought it would be fine since he had used it to check in without any problems. But Ryanair had other ideas and said he was “correctly refused travel.” Talk about a bummer!
They watched their flight take off without them, which must have been so frustrating. They had to go back through passport control just to leave the airport. Abriella, who has paraplegia and relies on Sebastien for care, was really looking forward to this two-week holiday to celebrate his birthday. Now, they have to rush to the HM Passport Office in Liverpool to sort things out.
Abriella mentioned they had to wait an hour to get their luggage and her wheelchair back after being taken off the plane. They arrived at the airport two hours early, so it was a real letdown. She said, “It was supposed to be a birthday present, and we just can’t believe it.”
They had checked in their luggage and everything seemed fine. Abriella even said Sebastien used his passport to exchange money at Travelex without any issues. But when they got to the boarding gate, the Ryanair staff took one look at Sebastien’s passport and said he couldn’t travel because of that slight rip.
They tried to reason with the staff, but it was no use. They had to watch their flight leave without them. The Border Force even told them there was no problem with the passport, which must have been infuriating. Now, they’re planning to complain to Ryanair as soon as they get home.
According to government guidelines, a passport is considered damaged if any details can’t be read or if there are rips or cuts. Abriella said they last traveled with those passports six years ago without any issues. She keeps all their important documents safe, so this was a real shocker.
Ryanair defended their decision, saying the passport was damaged and not valid for travel. They pointed out that the UK Passport Office sets the rules, not them. It’s a tough situation for the couple, and you can’t help but feel for them.
