Child’s passport only has 2 months on it. Flying to Spain on Saturday!

You need to be checking the website every 30mins - appointments come on at random times and be prepared to travel to a Passport Office

Bit of a gamble, but I did an online child renewal last month. Filled form in and posted old passport on the Friday afternoon, received new passport the following Friday morning.

I think you need to see if you can move the holiday to another date. Plan C seems a bit harsh, unless your visit was say to an elderly relative who lived where you were going to.

I'm feeling very smug about ordering my new passport after I checked on Saturday, otherwise I'd have been in your shoes in July.

There is a slim possibility Spain immigration may accept you, however you would need to turn up to the airport on the day and wait for a handling agent to call them. Before brexit I would say they would except a child like this 4 out of 10 times. After brexit I've only had them accepted 1.

Did ds' online and was back within a week. They keep you posted on each step.

I work at the airport and the first thing we do is check expiry op. They won’t check you and you’ll be sent to the ticket desk or sales desk of whichever airline your meant to be flying. Then at the desk they’ll tell you to get a new passport and then ring and book a new flight once you’ve sorted it. If it’s a package deal and you want to re book for a later date they might be able to do it for a charge or if part of your party want to go and leave dc behind you can. You definitely won’t be able to travel and if I were you I wouldn’t waste my time going to the airport I’d just ring the airline direct and advise you won’t be travelling and tell them why.

• I don't think you were rude OP. You know the guidelines and the rules and were asking if anyone had been in this situation and what they'd done

Id get cross if people were telling me information i was already fully aware of and had said so

People like to be dicks on here, makes them feel better about themselves I assume*

But the OP didn’t say in her first post that she knew the law was that there had to be 3 months remaining.

Of course it's Brexit - Brexit has caused a change to the rules. What would have been a perfectly valid passport is now not valid.

It's shit for you all, but Brexit was two years ago. It's normal to check your passport when booking or in good time before travelling to be sure.

I'd try to move the holiday.

I think all posters have been trying to help you, OP. I think you were very rude to a couple of them who had only reiterated the rules and how there were no exceptions.

I think you lost a lot of sympathy at that point. You lost practically all of mine, although I do understand that you have had a shock and are stressed about it, as anyone would be.

Passports are scanned electronically at airports now as far as I can see, not just visually inspected. It WILL flag up. He won't be allowed to travel.

Personally, I would try to rebook the holiday to buy yourself some time. Perhaps there is availability for the school Easter holidays still? There might be a charge for doing that, but you may well have no choice but to suck it up

Then, get a face to face appointment and sort all passport issues asap.

I have donned my hard hat in anticipation of your response.

Seriously though, I really do hope that you can get something suitable sorted.

The airline will be fined if they let you board. You won't be allowed unfortunately.

My friend was refused travel at the check in desk for this reason, they do check the expiry date and how long left to that date.

I wouldn't chance it it would be far more stressful and upsetting being turned away at the airport.

It's now 3.5 weeks since I posted my children's passports for renewal! Sorry, you've no chance!

Spain won't allow it. We checked as we had just under 6 on return flight.

@Triffid1 - how it is unexpected that a passport will expire? I mean, the expiry date is written right on there? Sorry, just don't understand this kind of thinking, especially if you are thinking of booking an international holiday, wouldn't you check that that the passport meets the requirements for the country that you are travelling to? Especially for younger kids who aren't old enough to responsibly manage this themselves.

Very disappointing for your son OP, but unfortunately the rules around this are quite strict. Hopefully you can change your holiday and get the passport sorted.

Tbf to OP, I've just looked on the fast track child with Neale and the first appointment is Friday unless you live in Belfast or Glasgow.

You might be better just to post it! It could come back quicker just on the ordinary service!

I don't think you were rude OP. You know the guidelines and the rules and were asking if anyone had been in this situation and what they'd done

Id get cross if people were telling me information i was already fully aware of and had said so

People like to be dicks on here, makes them feel better about themselves I assume

I do feel for you OP. Yes OK many people have said you should have checked dates on everyone's passport but you didn't - we're human and we all make mistakes, I've made stupid mistakes before too. Is it this Saturday you travel? I think I'd personally try to get an appointment, even if it's a passport office further afield.

We had a similar situation with one of the children in my family when we were travelling abroad for a family wedding. Her mum managed to get an appointment at Durham (a few hours away from where they live) and she called them and explained and basically begged them to help and they agreed that rather than posting the passport, she could wait and collect it later that day. They literally got home with the passport 8 hours before they flew but otherwise their plan B was going to be to fly out a few days later. Not sure what the rules are now but it's certainly worth asking if there's anything they can do to speed it up (even if you have to pay extra), they can only say no. Really hope you get something sorted.

You said the soonest appointment was Friday. Is that just for your local. How far are you prepared to travel. Is there an appointment sooner?

[quote FloBot7]@HaveringWavering Yes I fully believe it was a mistake and they missed the expiration date when it was checked in the UK. Unless the mum was the worlds best actress she seemed taken by surprise herself. My point was, even if OP went and hoped they missed it, she'd probably be denied entry on the other side. The odds of someone making a mistake on both sides are probably slimmer than the Euromillions.[/quote]
Yes, sorry, wasn’t criticising you, just picking up your story and running with it.

Sounds like they do check that the passport has enough time on it from these experiences. Bloody brexit

They checked passports before brexit and I'm pretty sure the rule was the same.

@HaveringWavering Yes I fully believe it was a mistake and they missed the expiration date when it was checked in the UK. Unless the mum was the worlds best actress she seemed taken by surprise herself. My point was, even if OP went and hoped they missed it, she'd probably be denied entry on the other side. The odds of someone making a mistake on both sides are probably slimmer than the Euromillions.