URGENT advice for flying without passport

zweigy

I'm hoping one of you can give me some advice...

I am due to fly from Nimes (FR) to London on friday with Ryanair. I checked in online last week but have since lost my passport and do not have enough time to get a replacement (or emergency) one. I have my full UK driving license, photocopy of passport, wage slips etc. and was told that I can legally enter UK with these but it's Ryanair who will require a passport... what should i do ?

Thanks for any help!

moonrakerz

All you can do is speak to Ryanair.

It is quite correct that you do not need a passport to enter the UK - BUT - the airline that brought you to the UK has the responsibility (and cost) of removing you if UK Immigration do refuse you entry. Hence their reluctance to carry you without a passport.

zweigy

moonrakerz wrote: »

All you can do is speak to Ryanair.

It is quite correct that you do not need a passport to enter the UK - BUT - the airline that brought you to the UK has the responsibility (and cost) of removing you if UK Immigration do refuse you entry. Hence their reluctance to carry you without a passport.

Should I ring them in advance or just rock up to their desk at the airport?

delwynshd

Phone the british embassy, they should give you the best advice

Did you fly out to FR with ryanair

Del

whatmichaelsays

Given that Ryanair insist on passports only just for domestic flights, I'd say that your chances of getting to/from Nimes are comparable to the chance of seeing airbourne pigs or a ball of snow in the fiery underworld.

zweigy

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

Phone the british embassy, they should give you the best advice

Did you fly out to FR with ryanair

Del

The embassy tried to sell me a temporary passport which i can't afford.

I got on a bus to france with the company I work for a few months ago.

Given that Ryanair insist on passports only just for domestic flights, I'd say that your chances of getting to/from Nimes are comparable to the chance of seeing airbourne pigs or a ball of snow in the fiery underworld.

I'm going from Nimes to England.

Since I have checked in online and am only taking hand luggage, would airport security at the gate be following Ryanairs policy or their own?

delwynshd

You need a passport to fly no point turning up at the airport

How much did the embassy want

zweigy

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

You need a passport to fly no point turning up at the airport

How much did the embassy want

it would be ~£100 to get emergency passport but I can't get to embassy easily.

can't the ryanair desk at Nimes ring someone to confirm my nationality or inform immigration at london luton? i realise they risk £2000 fine if i am an illegal but if i have sufficient documents to convice them that i am british surely they will allow ?

stoneman

I once managed to get into the U.K. from the U.S. having had my passport stolen the day before. I was flying with Virgin and showed up really early to the desk in Vegas and they phoned immigration at Gatwick and they spoke with me. Gatwick agreed to accept me and told VS to let me on the flight.
Now the problem you have is that you are not flying with a company known for helping out. The only reason I was let into the U.K. was because I produced the police report about the theft. Not saying you should do this but I would go to the police and say I thought it was stolen and file a report, the roll up early at check in and see what happens.

morocha

Go and talk to the desk when you get to the airport. Sadly Ryanair people are not helpful at all when a customer have problems, they just tell you they can do nothing , they do control passport before boarding, once i was denied flying because of something else, but those girls there were really rude to me.

ninky_2

could you not claim the cost of a replacement passport on your travel insurance?

tbh i don't see why you would expect to be let on the flight when a temporary passport is possible to get (just costly). the reason that original passports are required is they are a lot harder to fake than photocopies. would you feel happy flying on a plane that let people on with photocopied travel documents?