To be upset for these families turned back at the airport

[TarasHarp55]

I've just read about another family turned back at the airport because some of the passports weren't valid anymore. I know it's their fault that they hadn't realised they now needed six months more than their expiry but hell we're all human we make mistakes.

This was a family with little children all excited for their holiday, months of saving and preparation. I'd have been tempted to turn a blind eye. I don't think I could bear to refuse them., and hopefully not get into trouble for it. Anyone else feel like this?

@Clymene yeah me too but when you're getting actual gov.uk emails in your inbox telling you something different it does get very confusing!

Whats the point of the expiry date if it effectively 'expires' months before....its totally ridiculous.
Once upon a time passports were only issued valid for 10 years from the date of issue regardless of how much time was left on your old one. Then, the EU countries agreed that they would recognise amongst themselves extra months when people decided to renew early. It made sense, because international flights becoming routine for a lot more people and it allowed renewals to be made in good time when it was convenient for you. Plus, within the EU you could travel on other documents (e.g. driving licence) some of which could be renewed early. It was all very sensible.

When the UK left the EU, the UK chose to wipe the slate clean and recognise as few of the previous agreements as possible (described by May as the 'Clean Break' policy). The UK made choices that meant the expiry date in your passport is not necessarily the expiry date in practice. Yes, it's ridiculous. But so's the whole scenario that got us to this point.

There was a man in the news the other day who was refused on a Ryan Air flight because he only had 6 months left but then he bought a ticket from the Jet2 desk that let him fly to the same destination.

I do feel for the families. It is confusing.

Oh FFS. Of COURSE YABU. How can anyone feel sorry for these people? If they lack the intelligence and foresight to make sure everyone travelling has a valid passport, (when they book the trip!) they deserve all they get. They will probably be crowdfunding next to beg for the money for another holiday!

I saw a feature on yahoo news the other day, where some woman claimed her £40,000 overseas wedding next week is RUINED, because she and her DH couldn't go, because their baby - born 12 weeks ago hadn't received his passport yet (that they sent for 3 weeks ago!!!)

Beyond stupid. Why the fuck would you plan a destination wedding for 3 months after your baby is due? KNOWING said baby won't have a bloody passport for the trip?! Cry me a bastard river.

Oh and another problem (one of many i fear) with our new post-Brexit passports is that not only do they take forever to come through and also look like a shit forger's fantasy (mine has an actual ripped off page at the back - I did query it but apparently it's "fine") but also they no longer have digital signatures. I mean I signed mine with a biro, like it's 1999. So buh-bye to any of the old scanned cross referencing we had re driver's license renewal and the like. It's all paper now. From an uncontactable government office.

Really? I have been travelling abroad since the early 1980s and have been to some 30 countries, and I find this scenario highly unlikely.

Also, mega LOLz at some posters on here blaming Brexit for peoples incompetence. Mumsnet never fails to deliver.

Do you have any evidence for this, or did you just make it up?

Well I never had a passport that cost close to a hundred notes, took twelve weeks to reach me, arrived with a page ripped out and had as a key security feature me to unsupervised scribble a note on it in biro prior to Brexit, so I'm guessing that Brexit is the cause.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

This was a family with little children all excited for their holiday, months of saving and preparation.

But apparently not even a glance at the requirements which have been publicised over and over again.

This exactly. Soooo many months and soooo much preparation, but couldn't be fucked with taking 3 minutes to check everyone going on the trip, has passports that are valid for travel.

Unbelievable.

Never mind, we can piss and moan to the press, take no responsibility for it ourselves. and blame Brexit for it.

Yeah that'll be it, it's Brexit. Course it is. Can't be any other reason. I mean there has NEVER been problems with passports being delayed before! It has NEVER happened!!! 🙄

Fuck me, this place sometimes!

For context, I sent for a new passport in February this year. Sent for DH's too. Both took 23 days to get to us, perfectly intact!

And you completed them with biros, presumably? You think that's ok?

Oh also, our passports were £75 (did them online.) 10 years ago (when we were in the EU,) they cost £80. We did it through the post office.

It's about £100 now (through the post office,) yeah, but... sit down as this may SHOCK you to the core..........

OVER THE YEARS THE PRICES OF THINGS RISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know. breaking news right!!!!! And it's not even anything to do with BREXIT. COZ IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD! (Need a flannel to mop your brow there???)

This is 2022, we did it online luv. It's not the 1980s anymore...

Current passport office delays and inability to contact the office are v well known about btw via press reports and the like. It is not just me as some twat on a talkboard saying this.

@JingsWullie Did you seriously complete your passport application with BIRO?

Give me a moment to have a little titter at that.

What century are you posting from?

@CrashBandicootOnSanityBeach well that's what I thought too, that everything had been digital for decades. But when I got my new passport I had to sign the passport itself with a biro.

Apparently you didn't.

Omg are you international fraudsters?

There has always been delays on passports at peak times. For DECADES!!! It's got fuck all to do with Brexit. Get a grip!

Yes, @CrashBandicootOnSanityBeach the new passports require one to sign them with a biro once you get them. I've said that at least three times now. Given that you've also got a new passport recently I thought you would have known that's how it's done now. Unless you're fibbing. I agree it's positively archaic.

You asked if we completed the APPLICATION with biros, you can't just deny it because you have made yourself look incredibly silly. The post is up there. ^ at 23.25

@JingsWullie

And you completed them with biros, presumably? You think that's ok?

Are you OK hun? Serious question.

Completed as in validated on receipt. You did that, yeah? You think that's ok?

Lack of digital signature was already causing problems for some holidaymakers on our most recent trip re incoherence with driving licence etc. Anyone who wants to renew a UK driving licence/convert a provisional into full will likely face similar issues over the next few years until they sort it out.

And what the fuck is wrong with signing your signature with a biro when you receive your passport anyway???

Because all other passports and forms of ID are now digitalised so there's a gap when citizens of a particular country have a non digitalised passport. It's just not very good. Also my entire passport was pretty unsatisfactory. As well as the ripped end page the photo looked black and white as opposed to the colour version I'd sent in. Ok so it had the hologram on the page but the information contained on that page - which I signed with a biro, yes I will say it again even though you seem to lose your shit when I mention it - was very unsatisfactory.

I had to sign my passport with pen 6 years ago.