and the world
Join our complimentary newsletter, “Brexit and Beyond,” to receive the most recent updates on how Brexit is affecting the UK and the rest of the globe.
and analysis
Join our Brexit newsletter to receive the most recent updates and commentary.
Since 1994, Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been a travel writer for The Independent. Each week, he delves into a significant topic in the travel industry and its implications for readers in his opinion column.
“Did you assemble this firearm yourself?”
Last month, I shared my experience of spending a bizarre night at Stansted airport where the Essex hub transformed into a movie set for the action film, One More Shot.
The terminal, now called “Stannywood”, was used as a substitute for the “Washington Baltimore” airport. In the final movie, Stansted is the setting for numerous shootings. I described the terminal as being fatal for multiple characters, stating that the death toll was comparable to the capacity of an Airbus A320.
The latest installment of the less intense Channel 4 show, Truelove, explores the complexities of mortality. According to the creators, the series grapples with the most challenging moral dilemma – is it ever justifiable to assist in someone’s death? In the concluding episode, a pivotal airport scene takes place.
This weapon was not a semi-automatic rifle, but rather the post-Brexit regulation stating that British passport holders are not allowed to travel to the European Union.
At the Bristol airport, David (played by Peter Egan) is at the airline desk preparing for a flight to Malaga. He urgently needs to get to Spain and hands his passport to the check-in agent. The agent carefully examines it.
“Is there an issue or a problem that needs to be addressed?”
The check-in agent confirms by saying, “Yes, do you understand?”
David asks, “What is this that I am seeing?”
“You have a remaining time of two months and 26 days. The EU requires three months.”
David maintains that the passport is legitimate.
“I apologize, sir, but the EU/Schengen visa is only valid for three months. Can I assist you with anything else?”
Keen observers (or those, like myself, who may need to increase their outdoor activities) may quickly observe that David’s passport is classified as “blue” – a category that has only been distributed since 2020. The soonest that any adult with this type of passport will need to renew it is in 2030.
This important turn in the plot is even more concerning as it causes confusion with the regulations. When traveling to the EU, a British passport cannot exceed 10 years in age. On the scheduled return date, the passport must have at least three months of validity remaining. Focusing solely on the expiration date may lead viewers to overlook the 10-year requirement.
Viewers of One More Shot will not think they can bring a gun to the Stansted security checkpoint, but those who watch Truelove may mistakenly believe that only the expiration date of a UK passport matters for traveling to the European Union.
David’s trip is not going smoothly upon his return to Bristol airport.
“I have to travel to Spain today.”
“If it is an urgent situation, the passport office will assist you.”
“What – in London?”
“Next stop: Newport, located just over the bridge.”
The check-in agent who was not very helpful could have directed David to the Online Premium service. This service allows you to complete the application process ahead of time and schedule an appointment, if one is available in Newport.
A passport is promised on the spot, so long as your papers are in order. At a cost of almost £200, this is best avoided. So if you are heading for the EU, this is a good moment for me to remind you to check the passport issue and expiry dates for you and your fellow travellers: under-16s are particularly annoying because their documents expire after five years.
Currently, it seems that passport renewals are only taking one week. Therefore, please keep in mind that international travel already involves enough stress.
Source: independent.co.uk
