Grant Hardy and his wife were all set for a relaxing getaway to Tenerife when their plans took an unexpected and frustrating turn.
Instead of boarding their Smartwings flight at Jersey Airport, they found themselves stranded and out of pocket by nearly £4,000.
The reason? Airport officials misinterpreted post-Brexit passport rules and wrongly denied him boarding.
Valid Passport, Wrong Decision
Hardy, who resides in Guernsey and works in the telecom industry, arrived at the airport on February 21 with a passport that fully complied with EU entry requirements.
It was issued on March 27, 2015, making it less than 10 years old, and it had an expiry date well beyond the required three months after his planned return on February 28.
In fact, his passport was valid until October, meaning he had eight months left before expiry.
To confirm his eligibility, Hardy even checked his passport details through the TUI passport checker, which cleared him for travel.
But despite this, Swissport officials at Jersey Airport claimed his passport was invalid, citing a non-existent rule that additional months beyond 10 years were not recognized in the EU.
Stranded and Left with Huge Expenses
The couple had no choice but to stay overnight in Jersey and book a flight back home, which cost them several hundred more pounds.
Their travel insurance did not cover the incident, making the loss even more frustrating.
To make matters worse, when Hardy attempted to show documentation proving his passport was valid, Swissport officials refused to engage and even called the police on him.
Hardy recounted that he remained calm and polite, simply standing his ground, but was publicly questioned at the airport.
Fortunately, the police officer who spoke with him saw no issue and even shook his hand, wishing him well.
Yet, Swissport refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing.
When Hardy later complained, the company allegedly “stonewalled” him, providing only a single email response that advised him to contact the airline instead.
A Systemic Issue?
According to Hardy, this wasn’t an isolated case. A taxi driver at the airport mentioned that multiple passengers had faced the same issue in recent weeks.
It appears to be part of a broader problem where ground staff misunderstand post-Brexit travel regulations, leading to unnecessary disruptions for travelers.
When contacted for a statement, a Swissport spokesperson maintained that their staff had followed the correct guidelines based on Schengen rules.
However, Hardy’s experience echoes that of another family at Gatwick Airport, who lost £1,300 after Norwegian Airlines’ ground handlers misinterpreted the same passport rules.
Unlike Swissport, Norwegian later admitted their mistake and apologized.
How to Avoid Passport Travel Nightmares
Given these growing incidents, travelers need to be extra cautious when checking passport validity before flying.
While many countries, such as the USA, Canada, and Australia, only require passports to be valid for the duration of the stay, others, including Thailand, Egypt, and Turkey, require at least six months of validity.
Additionally, passport holders should ensure they have enough blank pages available.
Some countries, like Italy and South Africa, require at least two blank pages, and running out of space could lead to denied entry—even if the passport itself is still valid.
For anyone planning to travel, it’s crucial to check the latest entry requirements on the UK government website and, if in doubt, clarify with both the airline and airport staff well in advance.
Hardy’s ordeal is a stark reminder that even a simple misunderstanding of travel regulations can turn a dream holiday into a costly nightmare.