I asked travel experts the mistake everyone going on holiday needs to avoid
Countless Brits are eagerly anticipating their summer getaways, yet there's a crucial check that must be done beforehand. Numerous travellers have already fallen foul of this requirement, with their trips left in ruins.Travel expert Simon Calder recently said that "thousands upon thousands" of holidaymakers have failed to spot the issue until it's too late, resulting in missed breaks. To prevent further disappointment, a range of travel experts were asked about the essential check everyone should complete before departing for the airport.The consensus among experts was clear: those travelling to Europe must verify not only that their passport remains valid, but also confirm it was issued within the last 10 years. Prior to 2018, passports could stay valid for up to 10 years and nine months.However, current regulations for the EU and Schengen zones require that passports be no older than 10 years upon arrival at your destination. Additionally, they must remain valid for at least three months beyond your planned return date.The essential check for all British travellersFrancis Hellyer, chief executive of tickadoo, explained: "People check the expiry date, see it is months away, and relax. But for getting into the EU the border does not care about your expiry date, it cares about your issue date."He added: "If your passport is more than 10 years old on the day you land, you can be turned away at the gate even with eight months left on the page. Check the date of issue, not just the date of expiry."Natasha Inglis, Implementation and Client Success Director at Good Business Travel, warned: "Your passport might still be in date, but that doesn't always mean it's valid for travel."She went on to explain: "Most travellers only look at their passport's expiry date, but the issue date is just as important. For travel to EU countries, passports must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive."This means that certain valid passports could still be rejected at the airport, so it's really crucial to check both dates before you travel."Patrick Hill, Head of Paramount Cruises, revealed he is witnessing "more and more" holidaymakers being caught out, particularly those making last-minute bookings.He stressed the importance of checking passport validity before booking rather than waiting until just before departure, and urged travellers to familiarise themselves with the regulations regarding the 10-year issue date.Patrick cautioned: "If you renewed before October 1, 2018, the Passport Office sometimes carried over unused months from your old passport. The EU doesn't count those. So check your date of issue, not just your expiry, they're not the same thing."Beyond the 10-year age restriction on passports, travellers must also ensure their document has at least three months' validity remaining beyond their intended departure date from the Schengen area. Patrick also highlighted that cruise lines frequently require six months' validity from the end of the voyage.He continued: "Check both your issue date and expiry date the moment you start booking, not the week you travel. We've seen too many holidays evaporate at the check-in desk over a few missing months."How to verify your passportFind the issue date on your passport's photo page and add 10 years to it. Ensure your outbound flight departs before that calculated date.Then, find your expiry date and subtract three months from it. Make sure your return flight is scheduled before that adjusted date.Remember to verify every passport in your booking, particularly children's passports, as these are only valid for five years.Francis Hellyer cautioned: "Do not assume that being allowed to check in means you are safe. Airlines turn away borderline passports to avoid EU fines, and immigration can still refuse you even after you board. If anything looks tight, renew now."He added: "When someone is refused boarding, the flight is only the start of the loss. We see how much a family spends on the holiday itself, the tours, the show tickets, the day trips, and a lot of that is non-refundable. A passport check takes two minutes and it is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy for the whole trip."
