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A mother says a family holiday to Greece ended before it began after she was stopped from boarding at Gatwick because of a little-known post‑Brexit passport rule. The incident on May 11 cost the family time and money, and has prompted calls for clearer warnings to travellers.
Denied at the gate
Jansen Porter, a property maintenance apprentice from Milton Keynes, had been planning a trip to Kefalonia with her partner and their daughter to mark the youngster’s fourth birthday. The holiday, paid for over months and worth about £2,500, never got off the ground when staff at Gatwick flagged her travel documents while checking in bags.
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Porter says Jet2 staff told her her passport fell outside an EU limit tied to its date of issue, and she was refused boarding. She recalls breaking down in tears at the airport as the family’s plans collapsed.
How the passport rule affected her
Porter’s passport shows an expiry of December 2026, but it was issued in March 2016. Because it was issued more than ten years ago, the date recognised under the EU rule is effectively March 2026, according to what she was told by airline staff.
She adds that staff explained there is no longer a nine‑month carry‑over that might have allowed travel, and that the issue date — not only the printed expiry — was being used to determine eligibility to fly.
Confusion and consequences
Porter says she completed online check‑in without a problem and only discovered the issue at the airport. She questioned why the passport’s printed expiry date was not sufficient and said there had been no advance notification to renew.
After the cancellation she and her partner reorganised the trip at additional cost — she estimates they paid another £800 — and Porter has urged other travellers to verify their documents before travelling.
Calls for clearer guidance
Porter described the experience as devastating and says travellers need better information. She argues companies and authorities should make the rule more visible so families do not face the same shock at the departure gate.
Jet2 has been approached for comment.
