I was forced to miss my honeymoon after easyJet banned me from plane over confusing passport blunder
A BRIDE missed out on her dream honeymoon after easyJet refused to let her on the plane – because her passport would expire in three months.
Shanice Budd-Smith, 29, says she felt like a criminal after trying to board a flight to Portugal with hubby Cameron, 27, last weekend.
EU rules state British tourists’ passports must be valid for three months after their return flight home.
Shanice’s passport expired on 10 August.
The couple, both posties for Royal Mail, instead went back home and went to the pub for dinner.
Shanice told The Sun: “I felt like a criminal, the easyJet passport officer told us my passport was invalid and if I went to Portugal they would deport me.
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“I had been so looking forward to our honeymoon and now it is ruined.”
Shanice and Cameron got married at a hotel overlooking the sea at Hayling Island, Hants., two days before they were due to jet off.
After returning home from Gatwick the newlyweds went for a commiseration Sunday roast with family.
They had booked an idyllic £600 four night stay at the Jupiter Algarve Hotel in Portugal, through easyJet Holidays.
The airline have refused let the couple change their holiday dates or refund their money.
Shanice added: “It’s a kick in the teeth.
“Obviously not an ideal way to start a happy marriage.
“I had no idea there was anything wrong with my passport.
“I assumed the expiry date was just a sign of when to renew it.
“I told this woman: ‘are you telling me I can’t go on my honeymoon?’ I couldn’t stop crying.
“She showed no remorse whatsoever, I felt humiliated.
“We’ve lost £600 and had no honeymoon.”
Rules state a British passport must be issued less than ten years before a traveller enters an EU country.
It needs to be valid for at least three months after the return flight home.
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An easyJet spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear that these customers weren’t able to travel.
“It’s really important that customers check that their passport is valid for their holiday and meets the criteria for their destination, which is why we remind our customers of this throughout their booking process and in the emails they receive leading up to their departure.”
