Ryanair Stops Manchester Couple from Boarding Flight to Tenerife Due to Small Tear in Husband’s Passport Causing Holiday to be Ruined

A couple’s much-anticipated holiday to Tenerife was abruptly canceled when Ryanair refused to let them board due to a small tear in the husband’s passport.

Abriella Monroe, 32, and her husband Sebastien, 36, had planned the trip to celebrate Sebastien’s birthday, but instead, they found themselves stranded at the airport.

A Minor Tear Leads to a Major Disruption

The couple, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, were all set for their two-week vacation when they encountered an unexpected hurdle.

Sebastien’s passport had a slight tear along the spine, where the glue had worn off a page.

Despite the passport being fully valid and the details and photo clearly visible, Ryanair staff refused to let him board the flight.

“At first, everything seemed fine,” Abriella said.

“We checked in without any issues, showed our boarding passes and passports, and even exchanged some money at Travelex using his passport.

We didn’t think there would be any problems.”

Passport Controversy and Confusion at the Airport

The trouble began when the couple approached the boarding gate.

Abriella passed her boarding pass and passport to the Ryanair staff, and everything was fine.

However, when Sebastien presented his passport, a staff member immediately pointed out the tear and declared it invalid for travel.

“We tried to explain and ask to speak to someone else, but it was no use,” Abriella recalled.

“We watched our flight leave without us.”

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Frustrated, the couple had to leave the airport and exit through Border Force, where officers assured them that Sebastien’s passport was valid and there was no issue with it.

Frustrating Wait for Luggage and Wheelchair

After being denied entry to the flight, Abriella and Sebastien had to wait an hour to collect their luggage and Abriella’s wheelchair, which had been removed from the plane.

“It was supposed to be a birthday present, and we just can’t believe it,” she said.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

Despite their clear frustration, they were left without any clear answers or immediate solutions.

“Now, we’re not sure what to do.

We may have to go to Liverpool to get him a new passport,” Abriella added.

Ryanair Defends Its Decision

Ryanair responded by defending the refusal, stating that the passport was “damaged” due to the tear, which they said made it invalid for travel.

A spokesperson clarified, “The UK Passport Office defines what constitutes a damaged passport, not Ryanair.

This passenger was correctly refused travel from Manchester to Tenerife as his passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.”

What Defines a Damaged Passport?

According to government guidelines from the HM Passport Office, a passport is considered damaged if any details are unreadable, pages are missing, or if there are rips, cuts, or holes in the cover.

Stains from ink or water damage also qualify as damage.

In this case, the tear was very minor, and Sebastien’s details were still visible.

Abriella was perplexed by the decision, especially given their previous experiences.

“We traveled abroad six years ago using this passport, and there was no problem then,” she explained.

“The passport has always been kept safe and well-maintained.”