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Original poster

Help - travelling tomorrow, passport in washing machine

52 replies

LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 17:20

DS1 is flying to Spain with friends at 6am tomorrow.

He has just put his passport through the washing machine. Currently drying out - I'm not yet home from work to see it, he says it looks quite bad overall but plastic photo page looks OK.

Any advice/experience in whether he will be able to travel & what we could do?

OP posts:
BrieHugger · 13/06/2025 17:23

His best bet is turning up at the airport and hoping they accept it. Meanwhile maybe book an urgent appointment at one of the passport offices (unlikely before Monday). Fingers crossed. How on earth has he managed that?!

Original poster
LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 17:24

He has managed it via teenage stupidity, as far as I can tell! Unless he is subconsciously trying to scupper his holiday (I don't think so though).

OP posts:
menopausalfart · 13/06/2025 17:25

I washed my DPs on holiday in the US. It was fine once dried out.

JollyHostess101 · 13/06/2025 17:29

Ex airline manager here as long as the photo page is swipeable and the photo and all the pages intact (and attached) it should be fine! I’ve seen some very sorry states of passports over the years!

You won’t know if it’s swipeable until you get to check in though so good luck!!

Mayflyoff · 13/06/2025 17:29

I was told off, but allowed back into the UK with a virtually imperceptible watermark on one page of my passport. I was told I needed a new one. I doubt that one that's gone through the washing machine would be accepted. But I'd probably still give it a go, there's not much else to do.

Original poster
LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 17:33

@JollyHostess101 will they be able to check swipe-ability at the check in desk? DH is due to drop him off at airport (we live quite rurally) so can go along that far for moral support...

OP posts:
Septua · 13/06/2025 17:35

It varies. Some countries are very strict on the condition of the passport. I don't think Spain is too bad though, so I agree with pp, best bet is go to airport and hope for the best

JollyHostess101 · 13/06/2025 17:41

LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 17:33

@JollyHostess101 will they be able to check swipe-ability at the check in desk? DH is due to drop him off at airport (we live quite rurally) so can go along that far for moral support...

Yes when they check in most airlines swipe the passport to get the details and as long as works and isn’t completely falling apart they should just check them in and the photo is still clear they should be ok!

Its obvious when it’s water damage as apposed to anything else!

JollyHostess101 · 13/06/2025 17:43

Mayflyoff · 13/06/2025 17:29

I was told off, but allowed back into the UK with a virtually imperceptible watermark on one page of my passport. I was told I needed a new one. I doubt that one that's gone through the washing machine would be accepted. But I'd probably still give it a go, there's not much else to do.

That would have been border force not an airline they won’t stop you entering in a British passport no matter what the state of it!

Ive seen plenty of ropey ones over the years!!

Original poster
LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 17:47

@JollyHostess101 thank you! DS1 feeling a bit less panicky.

OP posts:
summerscomingsoon · 13/06/2025 17:49

He really won't know till he turns up. Airline are highly likely to not let him travel as they will not run the risk of Spain refusing him entry and then they will have to pay the cost of returning him to the uk

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 13/06/2025 17:53

Might be worth him taking his photo card driving licence with him as an additional proof of ID.

If he isn't allowed to travel he should try to get an appointment and get a new passport asap. Depends how the holiday was booked and whether it's separate flights, but assuming he and his friends are sharing accommodation, he may be able to fly out for the rest of the holiday a couple of days late.

ClassicStripe · 13/06/2025 18:31

I think they are very strict nowadays. There is always sad face stories on the mail about people who have tiny imperfections on their passports getting turned away.

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 13/06/2025 18:38

Best check with the airline, rules have changed and are a lot stricter. People have been turned away with less damage.

Original poster
LtGreggs · 13/06/2025 18:46

OK I am home and had a look. Its not great, but all pages are intact and looking a bit better as it dries. The plastic photo page looks perfect. We downloaded a biometric passport chip reader app and that says chip works and photo page scans. Going to give it a go tomorrow and keep fingers crossed. DH will give him a sad lift home if he doesn't get past check in!

I've set him thinking about whether he wants to try for an emergency replacement if refused - it's only a five day trip so might be tight to do that anyway.

There are three other friends going, so at least he's not leaving anyone in the lurch solo.

Nice lesson in checking pockets before washing...

OP posts:
menopausalfart · 13/06/2025 18:52

Fingers crossed!

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 13/06/2025 18:54

Ah, fingers crossed for him then.

GrandTheftWalrus · 13/06/2025 18:55

Mine got wet in my bag when caught in a bad rainstorm and there is water damage on some pages. I've since been to tenerife and mainland spain on it without issue.

afaloren · 13/06/2025 18:56

Just been abroad with mine which had Coca Cola dropped all over it. I was fine! I do need a new one tho. If it scans it will be ok.

Shinyandnew1 · 13/06/2025 18:59

My passport got quite wet some years ago and didn't look great-it did make it through passport control ok though. Fingers crossed

DancingNotDrowning · 13/06/2025 19:02

Believe it not my DS did this a couple of years ago and then last year my DH did it with his and two of the DC passports.

On both occasions it was days before we were due to fly. I was panicked after reading too many daily mail sad face style stories about people unable to fly due to tiny issues with their passports.

I spent hours ironing the passports to dry them and smooth them out and they were all fine so don’t lose hope

MushMonster · 13/06/2025 19:04

They are rather sturdy these days. Drybit well and you may be surprised at how it looks after. I hope is ok and he can ho on his holiday.

OnyourbarksGSG · 13/06/2025 19:06

I fly regularly with Ryanair and easy jet and I’ve never I’ve had to show my passport for a scan before flying? But I’ve never had checked in baggage, I just scan my boarding pass and then pass through security. The airline may want to see a proof of holding a passport but I’ve honestly gone through without even doing that multiple times

Clearinguptheclutter · 13/06/2025 19:16

I think he might be alright. Do let us know.

and yes ironing might be good idea at least an an attempt to not shock the check in agent too much.

the biggest risk is probably it not working at the egates coming back, which will probably result in a telling off at worst

Turmerictolly · 13/06/2025 22:06

Once fully dry, use a muslin or thin tea towel and iron it over to ‘smooth it out’ (obviously not the plastic page.
Hope he gets there.