Heartbreak as couple miss their £1,200 TUI honeymoon due to tiny passport mistake that could happen to anyone
The couple were banned from going due to a tiny passport mistake that could have happened to anyone.
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Staff insisted they could not travel
Joe and Beccy Barnes had booked a last-minute honeymoon to Ayia Napa, Cyprus, after tying the knot on Saturday August 2nd.
The pair, who have been together for five years, had collected all the money given to them as wedding presents to pay for a five-day, all-inclusive TUI package holiday.
However, when the couple arrived at East Midlands Airport on Wednesday [August 6th], they were shocked when TUI check-in staff discovered a 1cm rip on the upper right-hand corner of Joe's photo page in his passport.
TUI said the passport was 'very badly damaged', including suspected water damage, a small tear in the photo page, as well as the cover being ripped and repaired with tape.
The 35-year-old forklift driver said he'd flown with Jet2 on his stag do three weeks before with no issues, but said TUI staff insisted he could not travel.
The dad-of-two and his new wife remained in the airport for two hours trying to come up with a solution before heading home.
'The decision was pathetic'
Joe and Beccy, a 38-year-old civil servant, were 'devastated' after losing out on their £1,200 honeymoon, describing TUI's decision to bar them from the flight as 'pathetic'.
Joe, who lives near Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, said: "The wedding was the best day of my life.
"We just wanted to get away and chill out for a bit so used the cash from all the guests to book the honeymoon.
"We got to the front check-in desk and the woman said you've got a slight rip in your passport page. I need to go talk to my manager.
"She said 'yeah there's a rip in it'. I'd actually flown with Jet2 three weeks before for my stag do and that was absolutely fine.
"I didn't know about the rip until then. There was no compassion at all.
"I told them it was my honeymoon. But TUI headquarters got back to say 'do not let this man travel'.
"I thought this can't be happening. It was horrible. We sat around the airport for a good two hours trying to think of solutions.
"We thought we could catch a flight with a different airline, but Jet2 said they wouldn't let us fly either."
Fundraising for another honeymoon
The couple were left 'devastated' after returning home from the airport, and said they've complained to TUI about the 'pathetic' decision to ban them from flying.
Joe said: "I just couldn't believe it. Me and my Mrs were mortified. I felt like crying my eyes out.
"We'd had an amazing weekend with the wedding and everything just went downhill.
"My wife was absolutely devastated. It was a horrible feeling. I wouldn't want my worst enemy to go through this.
"I think it's pathetic I got denied boarding for that tiny rip. I could understand it if it was a massive rip over my photo or my personal details and you couldn't read them.
"It's looking doubtful that insurance will cover it. It's quite unlikely. We're just going to try and book something later on
."The worst bit is that it's other people's money. I would warn people to get their passport checked, even if there's a slight mark on it."
A spokeswoman for TUI confirmed that Mr Barnes was refused travel by check-in staff at East Midlands Airport due to his passport being 'very badly damaged', including suspected water damage, a small tear in the photo page, as well as the cover being ripped and repaired with tape.
The holiday giant said that staff recommended that Mr Barnes liaised directly with his insurance provider regarding compensation and to contact the passport office to get a replacement.
The Sun has approached TUI and Jet2 for a comment.
fundraising page has been launched to help pay for another honeymoon for Joe and Becci.
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