.jpg)
Losing your passport is not the solution Just worry You have while traveling in a foreign country. Over the years, many travelers have been denied boarding due to their documents Sunken, torn or damaged Somehow through the many things that can happen while moving around and sightseeing.
Discretion as to whether a passport can be accepted is often left to the airline Boarding agent or customs officer One allowed into the country – this week, 25-year-old Laila Marsh was denied boarding a TUI Group plane (Twifi) A flight from London to Cancun above a “slight mark” on the data page in her passport.
RELATED: Another country is close to scrapping passports entirely
As Mark described to the British newspaper The Independent, the gate agent at Gatwick Airport told her that she would not be able to board the plane because her passport was damaged. Mark, who was traveling with her sister Caimarne, had returned to England from a trip to Morocco a few days earlier and had not had any problems with her passport at any time.
“Just crazy”: The traveler was denied boarding by one airline, but allowed by another
But since there was no way to “object” the decision once a person was denied boarding, Mark decided the only way to save her flight was to try another airline. After letting her sister go on a TUI flight as scheduled, Mark paid £1,200 (about $1,522) for a same-day flight to Cancun on British Airways.
Despite losing the £1,000 (about US$1,268) she had paid for her original ticket, Mark was allowed to board the plane and continued on her journey rather than having to return home and take time to apply for a new passport.
More about travel:
- Another National Park That Made It Hard for You to Visit
- Delta Air Lines introduces a luggage change that travelers will love
- United Airlines passenger accident sparks rapid response
“I think it’s crazy that TUI says my passport is damaged and won’t let me on the plane for fear that I won’t be allowed into Mexico through passport control, and then another airline won’t have a problem with the same passport,” Mark told a local media outlet. “Let me travel to Mexico and then pass passport control.”
“This whole experience left a bitter taste in my mouth.”
She was also allowed to enter Mexico without any problem, and said that after double-checking with a customs agent, she was told there was no problem because “no pages were torn, you can still scan it and everything is clear.”
TUI Group, which issued a statement saying it was “sorry to hear that Ms Marsh was unable to travel” but noted UK passport requirements “that must be followed”, likely had something to do with the fear of being denied entry to Mexico. customs.
In such cases, the airline is responsible for getting the passenger home, and while major airlines are likely to bear the risks and costs associated with them, low-cost airlines have been known to take the extremely cautious route and not allow passengers to board – an option that can Saves money in the short term but results in bad PR from unhappy customers.
“This whole experience with TUI has left a bitter taste in my mouth and I just want to avoid that happening again,” Mark said.
RELATED: Veteran Fund Manager Picks Favorite Stocks for 2024
