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Laura Savage arrived at London Heathrow Terminal 5 on Friday, November 4th, with plenty of time before her British Airways flight to Oslo.
She possessed a ticket for a BA762 flight to the capital of Norway, along with a valid passport that allowed her to travel to Norway and any other country within the Schengen Area until October 12, 2024.
Unfortunately, Ms. Savage, who is 35 years old, was prevented from boarding her flight by the ground staff of British Airways. They informed her that UK passports older than nine years were no longer valid for use. Despite her attempts, the staff did not allow her to board and British Airways kept her fare.
After being denied boarding, Ms. Savage, a property stylist from Oxfordshire, reached out to British Airways to express her disagreement.
However, British Airways stood by its choice to refuse her entry. The Customer Services team stated: “Since you did not have a valid passport, our employees were unable to let you board the flight.”
She has sent over 10 emails to the airline providing evidence that her passport meets the post-Brexit requirements, but has not received a response.
Ms. Savage reached out to The Independent, expressing her frustration with attempting to file a complaint and receive compensation from them. She noted that the only method of submitting a complaint is through email, but she has not received a response from them.
After a very early start from her home, Ms Savage parked at Heathrow and passed through Terminal 5 security as normal. But at the gate for the 7.55am departure, British Airways ground staff told Ms Savage her passport was too close to expiry to be acceptable.
They demanded that UK passports become invalid for traveling to the European Union and wider Schengen Area nine years after they are issued.
In the past, this was not an issue. During its time as a member of the EU, the UK allowed passports to be used until they expired. However, after Brexit, European countries now consider UK citizens as “third-country nationals”. When traveling, the passport cannot be more than 10 years old. Additionally, on the day of departure, it must have at least three months left before it expires.
Ms. Savage’s passport is eligible for travel to Norway and other countries in the Schengen Area until January 2025, with a validity date of 12 October 2024.
She expressed that she had to give up her trip and also spend money on the plane ticket, parking, and fuel, despite it not being her fault but rather theirs.
According to the regulations for European air travelers’ rights, Ms Savage should receive a complete reimbursement for her flight and an additional £220 as compensation for being unjustly denied boarding.
A representative from British Airways apologized for the inconvenience their customer experienced and assured that their teams are actively working towards a resolution.
Source: independent.co.uk
