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Holiday Refund when Passport not valid

24

Comments

  • Rudixx
    Rudixx Posts: 35 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Heliflyguy wrote: »
    If Emirates are using the the visa check TIMATIC then its correct that if you are visiting for less than 3 months then you only need at least 3 months validity on your Polish passport same for UK passports.

    IATA website says the same, its a bit long winded though.

    http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

    The FCO visa help can be incorrect.

    I think FCO visa help is incorrect in this situation. The below is

    The below is reply that I've got from UAE embassy in London after I questioned them about 3 months passport validity. In the further emails they said that they won't accept temporary passports or national ID cards.
    Dear Sir,
    Please note that Polish citizens can obtain the visa upon arrival, no need to apply in advance. Also please be informed that your passport has to be at least 6 months validity on arrival and not 3 months. If it is less than 6 months, you will not be able to enter the country.

    I've seen people on forums saying that they managed to enter the country with less than 6 months passport validity but I don't know if I want to test my luck therefore maybe I could get a refund?

    Any thoughts?
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Have you actually asked Emirates for a refund?

    You booked using the information on their website, if that is incorrect they should give you a refund.

    However, if this is the criteria they are using this is what they will follow at check your passport when you check in.

    I would go back to Emirates and ask them either for a full refund or a guarantee you will be allowed to travel and will be allowed to enter UAE.
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It is probable that the check-in staff will rely on TIMATIC, and so will allow you to travel. Once you arrive in Dubai and meet Immigration there, anything could happen!

    Anyway, you have acted in good faith and relied on the information provided by Emirates. Should you be unable to travel (or unable to enter Dubai to take your holiday) you would be able to take action against the airline: they do have a duty of care in relation to the provision of information about visas and so forth. Your credit card provider would also be liable for this.
  • Rudixx
    Rudixx Posts: 35 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    It is probable that the check-in staff will rely on TIMATIC, and so will allow you to travel. Once you arrive in Dubai and meet Immigration there, anything could happen!

    Anyway, you have acted in good faith and relied on the information provided by Emirates. Should you be unable to travel (or unable to enter Dubai to take your holiday) you would be able to take action against the airline: they do have a duty of care in relation to the provision of information about visas and so forth. Your credit card provider would also be liable for this.

    What about this paragraph on Emirates website?
    KDLVlK7.png
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Rudixx wrote: »
    ....I only booked it couple days ago and the holiday is scheduled for 30/08/17.

    It'll be extremely hot, I hope everywhere you want to go has air con.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • Rudixx
    Rudixx Posts: 35 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    richardw wrote: »
    It'll be extremely hot, I hope everywhere you want to go has air con.
    At the moment temperature is the last thing I am worrying about :laugh:
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Rudixx wrote: »
    What about this paragraph on Emirates website?
    KDLVlK7.png

    A good point... I would hate to predict what a court would actually decide if matters went that far.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Have you actually asked Emirates for a refund?

    You booked using the information on their website, if that is incorrect they should give you a refund.

    However, if this is the criteria they are using this is what they will follow at check your passport when you check in.

    I would go back to Emirates and ask them either for a full refund or a guarantee you will be allowed to travel and will be allowed to enter UAE.

    Sounds reasonable, but
    1. no airline nor travel operator can ever provide a guarantee that a passenger will be allowed to enter a country: the authorities can change the rules without notice (I was once detained when my destination country changed the rules when my 'plane was actually in the air!) and in any case have absolute discretion to refuse entry to any visitor;
    2. going back to Emirates and highlighting the issue would almost certainly mean that the OP would then be prevented from travelling.
  • Voyager2002
    Voyager2002 Posts: 16,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Rudixx wrote: »
    Hello Experts!

    I booked a 6 nights holiday to Dubai through Expedia, it includes flights, hotel and car rental. I paid for everything with my VISA credit card and I've got world wide travel insurance with Nationwide.

    Does your travel insurance include legal cover?

    You made the booking in good faith, relying on information that Emirates provided. However, they include a disclaimer saying that they do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the passport and visa information that they provide.

    Of course, it is entirely possible that the London Consulate provided inaccurate information: do you have a friend who could ask at the Consulate in Poland, which is likely to be more familiar with regulations around Polish passports?
  • Rudixx
    Rudixx Posts: 35 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Does your travel insurance include legal cover?

    You made the booking in good faith, relying on information that Emirates provided. However, they include a disclaimer saying that they do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the passport and visa information that they provide.

    Of course, it is entirely possible that the London Consulate provided inaccurate information: do you have a friend who could ask at the Consulate in Poland, which is likely to be more familiar with regulations around Polish passports?

    My policy does cover some legal costs.
    Legal Costs
    Legal costs reasonably and proportionately incurred by your solicitor on the standard basis or in accordance with The Predictable Cost Scheme if applicable. We will also pay costs which you are ordered to pay by a court and any other costs we agree to in writing.

    What you are covered for:
    1. Legal costs to help you claim damages or compensation:
    - For injury, illness or death, which happens during your journey.
    - Following a dispute about an agreement you have for your journey.
    The most we will pay for all costs will be £50,000 in total for any claim or claims arising from any one incident.
    2. Up to £250 in total for the first consultation that you arrange with a local solicitor if you are arrested or held by authorities during your journey.
    Subject to the exceptions and conditions of this section of the policy we agree to provide this cover if:
    - any legal proceedings will be carried out by a court which we agree to; and
    - we and your solicitor agree that it is more likely than not that you will be successful with your claim for damages.
    What you are not covered for (exclusions)
    (see also General Exclusions)

    Any claim arising from or relating to:
    1. Defending your legal rights in claims against you.
    2. Illness or injury which develops gradually or is not caused by a specific or sudden accident.
    3. Psychological injury or mental illness unless it results from a specific or sudden accident that has caused physical bodily injury to you.
    4. Action against another person who is insured by this policy.
    5. Legal costs that relate to a period before we have accepted your claim in writing.
    6. Legal costs if you stop or settle a claim, or withdraw instructions from the solicitor, without good reason. If this applies, you will then have to refund any costs paid by us during your claim.
    7. Fines, penalties, compensation or damages which you are ordered to pay by a court.
    8. Loss or damage that is insured under another section of this policy or any other insurance policy.
    Conditions
    If you do not keep to these conditions, we may:
    a) refuse or withdraw from any claim; and / or
    b) claim back from you costs paid by us.
    You must do the following:
    - Send us full details of your claim in writing as soon as possible and in any event no later than 180 days after the date you knew about or should have known about the incident giving rise to the claim.
    - Send us any other information that we ask for. (You must pay any costs involved in providing this information.)
    - If we ask, you must tell the solicitor to give us any documents, information or advice that they have or know about.
    - Fully co-operate with the solicitor and us, and not take any action that has not been agreed by your solicitor or by us.
    - Keep us up to date with the progress of your claim.
    - Tell us if the solicitor refuses to continue to act for you or if you withdraw your instructions.
    - Tell us if anyone makes a payment into court or offers to settle your claim.
    - Tell your solicitor to claim back all costs that you are entitled to and pay to us all costs that we have paid.
    - Get our agreement to stop, settle, negotiate or withdraw from a claim.
    Appointing a solicitor:
    - If we accept your claim we, or a solicitor we choose, will try to settle the matter without having to go to court.
    - If it is necessary to take your claim to court, or if there is a conflict of interests, you can choose the solicitor to act for you. Any solicitor you choose will be appointed to act for you in line with our standard terms of appointment.
    - You are responsible for all legal costs they charge but your policy will cover them as long as you keep to the policy conditions.
    - You must not enter into any agreement relating to charges with the solicitor without getting our permission first.
    - If a solicitor refuses to continue acting for you with good reason, or if you dismiss them without good reason, your cover will end immediately unless we agree to appoint another solicitor.
    You must tell your solicitor to do the following:
    - Get our written permission before instructing a barrister or an expert witness.
    - Tell us immediately if it is no longer more likely than not that you will be successful with your claim.

    We can do the following:
    - Contact the solicitor at any time, and he or she must co-operate fully with us at all times.
    - Decide to settle your claim by paying you the compensation you are likely to be awarded by a court instead of starting or continuing your claim or legal proceedings.
    - Refuse to pay further legal costs if you do not accept an offer or payment into court to settle a claim which we or your solicitor considers should be accepted.
    - Refuse to pay further legal costs if it is no longer more likely than not that you will be successful with your claim.
    Disputes
    You may refer any disagreement between you and us to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is a service offered to you free of charge. (See page 6 for details of our complaints procedure.)
    You also have the right to refer any disagreement between you and us to arbitration (where an independent person, known as an arbitrator, makes a decision to settle the dispute). The arbitrator will be a solicitor, barrister or other suitably qualified person that you and we agree on.
    If we cannot agree, the arbitrator will be chosen by the president of the Law Society (or other similar organisation) for that part of the territorial limits whose law governs this section of the policy. We and you must keep to the arbitrator’s decision. Whoever loses the arbitration will pay for all the costs and expenses of the arbitration.
    General Conditions 1, 3, 4, 6 and 10 on page 46 do not apply to Section M

    My friend in Dubai asked travel agency in Dubai and they said 3 months are ok and they also said temporary passport is fine too, then my friend called Dubai immigration and they said minimum 6 months and no temporary passports accepted.

    I wonder if people experience proves that 3 months are fine but officially it must be 6. I am not sure if I want to risk it and lose everything or try to get some refund.
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