I was BANNED from Ryanair flight because of tiny mark on my passport – anyone could make the same mistake
A GRIEVING pensioner was banned from a Ryanair flight and made to feel 'like a criminal' because of a harmless mark on his passport.
David Burton, 70, was trying to fly from Exeter to Faro, in Portugal, last week when the low-cost airline said a tear meant his travel document was invalid.
The expat was back in the UK to attend his closest friend's funeral in Cornwall, but was blocked from returning to Portimao, where he has lived for 30 years.
David had planned to get the 5.35pm Ryanair flight to the holiday hotspot but was turned away at check-in when staff spotted the mark – caused years ago by a luggage sticker.
It tore off the surface paper of David's official observations page, even though there are none listed.
The father-of-two said he had travelled across Europe for years using the passport and never had a problem at border control.
Yet his treatment at the hands of Ryanair's staff left him 'shook up and startled'.
2
Retired David told The Sun: 'I gave the agents my passport and they just went off with it.
'He came back and said it was being checked, to see if it's valid.
'Eventually they came back and said that Ryanair is very strict with documents.
'He came back with another young man and he said, 'You won't be travelling to Portugal today from this airport. You might be able to travel from Bristol or Gatwick'.
'He was trying to assert himself, so I thought there was no point in arguing.
'Not that they would know, but I'd just laid one of my friends to rest.
'My wife told me to go outside and get some fresh air. I wouldn't treat anyone the way I was treated.
'They were looking for a problem and a reason not to let me fly. You can use the word criminal, but it certainly felt like they had been trained to boot me off.'
The rejection, for which David was not offered a refund, meant he had to book a new Jet2 flight from Bristol the next morning, setting him back hundreds of pounds in train and bus fares.
The next day, David sailed through check-in with no issues, and agents told him his passport was perfectly valid to fly.
The shocked pensioner added: 'Once I got to Faro, I asked the border agent if there was anything wrong with my passport.
'He looked at me like I was stupid, said no, stamped it, and sent me on my way.
'I'm just staggered this happened, and it's really shaken me.
'I'm lucky I could re-book the flight, or I really would have been stuck.'
A Ryanair spokeswoman said: 'This passenger was correctly refused travel on this flight from Exeter to Faro by the gate agent at Exeter Airport as his passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.'
What are passport rules?
What are passport rules?
The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know."
Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
"But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months."
In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
"And you'll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK."
Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
"The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted - some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Flight attendant reveals real reason why you should never swap seats
By Switching seats on a plane is always controversial. And now a flight attendant has taken to social media to warn passengers not to let another holidaymaker switch seats with them. Leanna Coy, a cabin crew member based in the USA, posted a TikTok video titled ' Why you shouldn't switch seats on the plane'. The flight attendant explains that she was recently asked to switch seats with a passenger on a United Airlines flight. Leanna says that the woman asked her to swap her aisle seat for another aisle seat in a different row. She reveals: 'Normally, I am absolutely 100 per cent against changing seats. Your lack of planning should not constitute me having to move.' But on this occasion, Leanna explains that she decided to swap seats. However, the flight attendant quickly regretted her decision. The cabin crew member says that if the woman did anything against the aircraft's rules, such as smoking in the bathroom, her behaviour would be associated with Leanna's seat number. And there's another reason that Leanna says she was left 'anxious' by her decision to trade seats. 'I realised I'm flying United,' explains Leanna. 'If you know anything about United's service, if you want to buy drinks or anything, you have to put your card onto the app ahead of time, which I've done before.' This means that the passenger who swapped with Leanna would be able to access her card to pay for items. Leanna claims that she spoke to the flight attendant who confirmed that the passenger would be able to use Leanna's card to order items to the seat. She adds: 'Now, do I think this lady was trying to scam me out of money on my card? No. But that's just something to be aware of. 'I fully support you if you don't want to switch seats. You are entitled to the seat that you chose.' In the comments, TikTok user and cabin crew member 'FAWN' says: 'I always ask people their last name when they buy a drink to verify it's the saved card. 'Honestly I don't ever charge without verifying because I'm always scared I'll charge the wrong person.' And another flight attendant agrees, saying: 'Usually we ask for last names for inflight purchases'. But a user who said they worked as a United gate agent, also warned passengers not to switch seats on the plane. 'Molly' says: 'Please never switch up seats without telling the gate agents/flight attendants, for the exact reasons you said and we can get in trouble.' A flight attendant recently revealed why crew are required to carry two flashlights at all times.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Princess Eugenie makes rare appearance in a backless swimsuit in sweet snap with her sons
Princess Eugenie yesterday shared a series of sweet photographs with her sons to mark World Ocean Day. The eco-conscious mother-of-two, who divides her time between Portugal and London, took to Instagram to share the adorable images of herself with August, four, and Ernest, two, at the seaside to mark the annual celebration. In one image, she played with her children in the ocean while donning a backless swimsuit and a pair of white linen shorts. Eugenie, who has taken up environmentalism in the hope of helping future generations, held Ernest's hand as August went on ahead into the water. The 35-year-old captioned the post, 'The ocean is the greatest wonder of the world. Celebrating @unworldoceansdaytoday and everyday.' She has a track record of being environmentally aware and has been an ambassador for the Blue Marine Foundation since June 2021. The royal is an avid campaigner of environmental issues and even had a plastic-free wedding to her husband Jack Brooksbank in 2018. Eugenie, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, also shared two stunning images of beachside scenery in the post. The final snap showed her youngest son Ernest enjoying a stroll at the shore while dressed in a warm jacket and wellington boots. Eugenie has continued to show her dedication to the environment on multiple occasions, including her 2023 trip with the Solent Seascape Project, the first attempt to actively restore the ocean in the UK. At the time, Eugenie described how being a mother made her want 'to do more' for her children and future grandchildren, adding that she hopes her son August will one day take up environmentalism too. During the trip she wasn't afraid to get stuck in and helped scientists clean hundreds of oysters before they returned them to the sea. Princess Eugenie also avoids using any single-use plastics at home and has already started educating her children about climate change. She previously said, 'My son's going to be an activist from two years old, which is in a couple of days. Everything is for them, right? Every decision we now make has to be about how August is going to be able to live his life.' It comes after Princess Eugenie opened up about the 'sense of shame' she felt when she first saw her scoliosis scar - and revealed how she 'trained her brain' to think it was a 'cool thing' instead. In a rare, wide-ranging interview, the royal mother-of-two also discussed how her Sarah Ferguson raised her to be proud of her scar after she went underwent surgery at the age of 12. In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter had rods inserted into her spine after she was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), and told that she would need corrective surgery. After the eight-hour operation, Prince Andrew's daughter spent three days in intensive care, a week on a spinal ward and six days in a wheelchair before she was able to walk again. Speaking to The Telegraph, Eugenie revealed she had a 'sense of shame' when she couldn't wash or dress herself and was shown her scar, which runs down her neck and spine. However, she claimed her mother, the Duchess of York, removed all the stigma about the scar and helped her see it in a positive light. Eugenie said, 'She was amazing. She'd ask me if she could show it to people, then she'd turn me around and say, 'my daughter is superhuman, you've got to check out her scar'. 'All of sudden it was a badge of honour – a cool thing I had. It trained my brain that it's ok, scars are cool. 'It became a positive memory, a part of me, that I could do something with in the future. I could help heal other people.' After a tumultuous few months after surgery the young Princess had to be turned gently in bed and wear a brace. Eugenie, who has since became a patron of Horatio's Garden in 2019, which helps nurture the wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres, often speaks about the stigma surrounding scoliosis. Last year, she posted a sweet tribute to her mother on Instagram, explaining: 'My mum caught my scoliosis early and I was lucky enough to get the help I needed at 12 years old. 'I thank her so much for that and also thank her for the confidence to be proud of my scar. 'She removed all the stigma around having scoliosis for me by confidently showing people what I'd been through and it took all the fear and anxiety out of being different at such a young age. I am forever grateful and wish everyone to be proud of their scars.' Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine which can cause uneven shoulders. Many people who suffer from the condition struggle to find clothes that fit due to the body shape it creates. Although treatment is not always necessary for the condition, some people who develop scoliosis can be required to wear a back brace to stop the curve worsening as they get older. In cases where surgery is required, patients may undergo a spinal fusion operation; a procedure that can last up to seven hours. Writing for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity previously, Eugenie said, 'In 2002, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), and told that I would need corrective surgery. 'This was, of course, a scary prospect for a 12-year-old; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt in the days and weeks before the operation.' The Princess continued: 'During my operation, which took eight hours, my surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of my spine and one-and-a-half inch screws at the top of my neck. 'After three days in intensive care, I spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but I was walking again after that.'
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Ryanair passenger uses wild hack to get 20kg worth of luggage on board for free
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A budget holiday can quickly turn expensive once you factor in the extras, and hidden baggage fees are often to blame. Passengers are increasingly being stung by extra charges, with some forced to pay £60 or more at the gate for bags that apparently don't fit into the baggage sizers. Last year, Ryanair and Easyjet were fined a combined €150 million (£126 million) for 'abusive' baggage charges in Spain. And there have even been calls for the EU to intervene over the 'ridiculous' charges. To avoid forking out for a checked bag, some savvy travellers are taking matters into their own hands, inventing clever packing hacks that allow them to sneak extra luggage onto their flight. From buying a travel pillow for extra storage to hiding items in duty-free carriers, there's a plethora of TikTok luggage tips that promise to help dodge the add-ons. One traveller, Rob Adcock, shared a simple yet bizarre hack on how to sneak 20kg of luggage on board a Ryanair flight totally free. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. The BBC presenter, from Stoke-on-Trent, frequently makes headlines with his travel tips and tricks and knows a thing or two about how to go abroad on a budget. In a video, which has racked up 2.4 million views and over 50,000 likes, he films himself putting his clothes through a vacuum pack machine. Placing several squashed parcels into his backpack, he laughs as he makes his way onto the £15 flight. And despite trepidation, Rob then breezes past the usually eagle-eyed gate agents, without any of them suspecting a thing. All Ryanair passenger fare types include a small personal bag, which must fit under the seat in front. This can be a handbag, laptop bag or backpack, with the dimensions 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Cabin baggage, which must be stored in the overhead locker, can be purchased. It must be 10kg and 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Checked baggage can also be added on. This must be under 80 x 120 x 120 and must be dropped at the check-in desk before security. Ryanair's website says: 'You must adhere to the baggage allowance on your booking. If your small bag or 10kg cabin bag does not fit in the baggage sizers, which are placed at every boarding gate, we will tag your bag and place it in the aircraft hold, subject to payment of a gate bag fee. You can collect it on the baggage carousel at your arrival airport.' One user declared him the 'package cube final boss' in the comments, but others were more skeptical, including one who said: 'Vacuum-packed stuff is heavy .' 'Literally saw someone get caught doing this in Budapest today,' a user named Ronan added. 'It didn't end well.' More Trending And as another pointed out, there's a major flaw in the hack: 'How are you supposed to vacuum it back up before going back on the plane when going home?' You're unlikely to have access to a vacuum at your beach resort hotel, so if you are going to recreate Rob's trick, you'll need to pack a portable one or see if housekeeping can lend you theirs – otherwise, you won't fit your items in your bag again, and will end up paying for a case on the journey back. Plus, while this technique is definitely a space saver, many airlines have rules on how heavy a passenger's carry-on should be. So make sure to check the guidelines of the airline you're flying with. Metro has contacted Ryanair for comment. The airline's website states that its free small bag must fit under the passenger seat in front and be no larger than 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Knowing what you can and can't pack in your luggage isn't easy – the list is long and differs depending on whether you are taking your bag into the cabin or checking it into the hold. Remember that there are rules on how much liquid you can take in your hand luggage, and be sure to check the guidance for the country you are travelling to because different parts of the world have different rules. Below is a list of prohibited items you cannot pack in any luggage you take on a plane: Smoke canisters and smoke cartridges Flammable liquids and solids Oxidisers such as bleaching powders Organic peroxides Tear gas devices or any gas cylinders Infectious substances such as live virus materials Wet-cell car batteries Magnetrons and instruments containing mercury Instruments containing magnets Fireworks and pyrotechnics Firelighter, lighter fuel, paints, thinners Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weedkiller Radioactive materials, acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper Vehicle fuel system components that contain fuel Explosives, ammunition, detonators and related equipment Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Wizz Air launches £18 flights to 'enchanting' European gem where pints are just £1 MORE: I was cabin crew for 26 years — here's how we handle emergencies at 30,000 feet MORE: Ireland has a US border — it could help travellers nervous about Trump's America
