Jet2 Refuses Boarding to Passenger Whose Passport Was Issued Over 10 Years Ago

James Luton, from Royston in Hertfordshire, was refused boarding on a Jet2 flight from Stansted Airport to Portugal on Wednesday morning because his passport had been issued more than 10 years earlier. His passport was issued in February 2016 and expires in October 2026.

UK rules introduced after the UK left the EU prohibit travel on passports issued more than 10 years ago, ending the previous allowance for nine extra months of validity.

A Jet2 member of staff told Luton she was very apologetic but there was nothing she could do as she does not make the rules. The airline said it always reminds passengers to check passport validity in line with government advice and directs them to its travel requirements section. Luton, a father-of-two, had checked the expiry date before leaving home.

He had planned to relax by the pool on Thursday with a nice breakfast with Buck's fizz on a chill day for his 50th birthday. Instead he played a round of golf on his own after leaving his wife to board the plane. He told the BBC he had worked hard for what he thought would be the perfect 50th celebration but it was snatched away at the boarding gate and he was gutted.

He obtained an in-person appointment at Peterborough Passport Office on Friday morning and booked a one-way flight to Faro for that afternoon. Luton said he has officially moved his birthday to Saturday to celebrate with his family. He believes others have been caught out in a similar way and the number will only increase.

He added that the passport rule is not as well publicised as it should be and the priority is on checking your expiry date. In 2024 travel expert Simon Calder said thousands of people were at risk due to the passport rule change and that over 100,000 people lose their holidays each year as a result.