Passport Issue Date

Anticrossmodulation9

Yesterday my wife and I were about to start a cruise,  boarding at Southampton, for a planned 12 night cruise of Spain, Gibraltar & Portugal onboard the P&O ship Britannia.

My wife checked in and was ready to proceed through Security to the ship, when I presented my Passport things suddenly changed, it would appear my passport was out of date, however the expiry date was not for a further 8 months (Dec 2033).  I was informed passports have to be 10 years from Issue date, my passport was issued in March 2013.

The end result, denied boarding, holiday cancelled and all luggage off loaded.

Apparently this is a recurring problem, everyone mentions you require 6 months remaining on your passport, in my case I had 8 months.

I paid for the holiday via Credit Card and had Travel Insurance.  Can I claim anything?

Caz3121

Anticrossmodulation9 said:

 I was informed passports have to be 10 years from Issue date, my passport was issued in March 2013.

this has been the case post Brexit, there has been a lot of media coverage over the last few years
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/01/new-government-tool-checks-if-you-passport-will-be-valid-for-tra/

this is the P&O information
https://www.pocruises.com/help/passports-and-visas

P&O Cruises guests can board and travel to EU countries* if their passport was issued less than 10 years before the day of embarkation and still has at least three months left before the date of expiry of the passport, as at the date of disembarkation

I doubt there is anyone you can claim anything from as this was your error

eskbanker

Anticrossmodulation9 said:

everyone mentions you require 6 months remaining on your passport

Not 'everyone', the EU rules are that you can enter the EU within ten years of passport issue and must leave no later than three months before expiry:

If you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:

• valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,
• which was issued within the previous 10 years

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-nationals/index_en.htm

eDicky

Anticrossmodulation9 said:

 it would appear my passport was out of date, however the expiry date was not for a further 8 months (Dec 2033).  I was informed passports have to be 10 years from Issue date, my passport was issued in March 2013

At the time of your early passport renewal in 2013 the extra months before it was due to expire were added to its validity. These months in excess of ten years are no longer recognised for entry to EU countries since Brexit and the loss of EU citizenship for Brits. The situation has been quite well publicised but unfortunately did not come to your notice, not even through the specific P&O cruise advice.

mr_stripey

very frustrating for you I should think - unfortunately another issue caused by our leaving the EU. I do seem to recall it was quite well publicized in the Brexit transition period although that doesn't help you now.

mr_stripey

as for insurance or a credit card claim I think you'd have very little chance. Failing to present the correct documentation for the trip definitely falls into "your" fault rather than anything external (I don't mean that in a mean way by the way, it's just not something likely to be covered by insurance I think).

Would P&O be sympathetic to a transfer to a different date maybe?

BathCro768

On the 6th April 2023 I was unable to join Ventura on a Cruise to the Canaries related to this passport issue and was issued with the following letter.

"Since Brexit, EU regulations state that UK passports cannot be more than 10 years old of the day of departure and require 3 months validity at the end of your cruise” and .“Unfortunately, we must ask you to return home. Your travelling party may now also choose to not travel, however, the terms and conditions apply as stated at the time of booking and you will be denied boarding at your own expense.” My own passport runs out on 28th November 2023

I have since found out that P&O have known about this problem since Christmas and are still turning customers away. To my knowledge two other families and a solo traveller was also turned away on the Ventura Cruise. P&O can remedy this problem easily by asking for passport start dates at the time of booking as well as expiry date, the latter which they currently ask for now. This would show a proper duty of care to their customers particularly related to European Cruises. However they probably realise they would then have to decline some bookings! They are members of ABTA V8764 so how does this kind of Quality Service fit with ABTA website statement "When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. Our experts work with UK and overseas governments, and our members, to make sure that information is current and accurate.” or "Code 2G Members shall, before a contract is made, advise their Clients of passport, visa and other entry and transit requirements for the journeys to be undertaken where it is reasonably practicable for the Members to obtain this information. In other cases, Members shall offer Clients reasonable assistance in obtaining such information. Members should also inform their Clients that passport and visa requirements can change before departure and that they should regularly familiarise themselves with the requirements."
P&O issue on-line boarding passes only asking for expiry date thus making matter worst when arriving at the port they want to know the start date!

One passenger who was turn away was able to get a new passport quickly and fly out and rejoin the ship. 
Whilst I will complain to ABTA  and beyond as I believe P&O are allow this problem to continue when they have a simple customer focussed remedy. Which in my view any quality company would do. 

All P&O information related to this issue is in small print and doesn't bring it to your attention like the Covid information.

michele-p

What an awful situation for you. Unfortunately it seems so many people still aren't aware of this, despite it being talked about lots on the forum. On our ski holiday this january 2 seperate people were offloaded from the plane on the tarmac with the same issue. They'd made it all the way to their seats to be turfed off.

Is there any chance of you getting an emergency in person appointment for a new passport, and catching up with the cruise by plane?

mr_stripey

BathCro768 said:

On the 6th April 2023 I was unable to join Ventura on a Cruise to the Canaries related to this passport issue and was issued with the following letter.

"Since Brexit, EU regulations state that UK passports cannot be more than 10 years old of the day of departure and require 3 months validity at the end of your cruise” and .“Unfortunately, we must ask you to return home. Your travelling party may now also choose to not travel, however, the terms and conditions apply as stated at the time of booking and you will be denied boarding at your own expense.” My own passport runs out on 28th November 2023

I have since found out that P&O have known about this problem since Christmas and are still turning customers away. To my knowledge two other families and a solo traveller was also turned away on the Ventura Cruise. P&O can remedy this problem easily by asking for passport start dates at the time of booking as well as expiry date, the latter which they currently ask for now. This would show a proper duty of care to their customers particularly related to European Cruises. However they probably realise they would then have to decline some bookings! They are members of ABTA V8764 so how does this kind of Quality Service fit with ABTA website statement "When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. Our experts work with UK and overseas governments, and our members, to make sure that information is current and accurate.” or "Code 2G Members shall, before a contract is made, advise their Clients of passport, visa and other entry and transit requirements for the journeys to be undertaken where it is reasonably practicable for the Members to obtain this information. In other cases, Members shall offer Clients reasonable assistance in obtaining such information. Members should also inform their Clients that passport and visa requirements can change before departure and that they should regularly familiarise themselves with the requirements."
P&O issue on-line boarding passes only asking for expiry date thus making matter worst when arriving at the port they want to know the start date!

One passenger who was turn away was able to get a new passport quickly and fly out and rejoin the ship. 
Whilst I will complain to ABTA  and beyond as I believe P&O are allow this problem to continue when they have a simple customer focussed remedy. Which in my view any quality company would do. 

All P&O information related to this issue is in small print and doesn't bring it to your attention like the Covid information.

They could, but I wouldn't want to be stopped from booking flights/holiday/cruise whatever for say, next year and if my passport runs out later this year, but I know I'm going to renew it before the cruise?

If we swap a fancy cruise with P&O for the check in desk at Ryanair - the problem is still the same. If you turn up at check in with the wrong documents, or out of date passport then that's really on the passenger, however unfortunate or unfair it might be.

TELLIT01

BathCro768 said:

On the 6th April 2023 I was unable to join Ventura on a Cruise to the Canaries related to this passport issue and was issued with the following letter.

"Since Brexit, EU regulations state that UK passports cannot be more than 10 years old of the day of departure and require 3 months validity at the end of your cruise” and .“Unfortunately, we must ask you to return home. Your travelling party may now also choose to not travel, however, the terms and conditions apply as stated at the time of booking and you will be denied boarding at your own expense.” My own passport runs out on 28th November 2023

I have since found out that P&O have known about this problem since Christmas and are still turning customers away. To my knowledge two other families and a solo traveller was also turned away on the Ventura Cruise. P&O can remedy this problem easily by asking for passport start dates at the time of booking as well as expiry date, the latter which they currently ask for now. This would show a proper duty of care to their customers particularly related to European Cruises. However they probably realise they would then have to decline some bookings! They are members of ABTA V8764 so how does this kind of Quality Service fit with ABTA website statement "When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. Our experts work with UK and overseas governments, and our members, to make sure that information is current and accurate.” or "Code 2G Members shall, before a contract is made, advise their Clients of passport, visa and other entry and transit requirements for the journeys to be undertaken where it is reasonably practicable for the Members to obtain this information. In other cases, Members shall offer Clients reasonable assistance in obtaining such information. Members should also inform their Clients that passport and visa requirements can change before departure and that they should regularly familiarise themselves with the requirements."
P&O issue on-line boarding passes only asking for expiry date thus making matter worst when arriving at the port they want to know the start date!

One passenger who was turn away was able to get a new passport quickly and fly out and rejoin the ship. 
Whilst I will complain to ABTA  and beyond as I believe P&O are allow this problem to continue when they have a simple customer focussed remedy. Which in my view any quality company would do. 

All P&O information related to this issue is in small print and doesn't bring it to your attention like the Covid information.

It has always been the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they have valid travel documents.  That hasn't changed.  The requirements around passport dates has been publicised very widely for at least a couple of years now. 

eskbanker

BathCro768 said:

P&O can remedy this problem easily by asking for passport start dates at the time of booking as well as expiry date, the latter which they currently ask for now. 

[...]

P&O issue on-line boarding passes only asking for expiry date thus making matter worst when arriving at the port they want to know the start date!

Although you're understandably seeing this as a P&O problem, I do have some sympathy for this specific point, even though responsibility undeniably rests with the passenger to ensure that they have correct documentation.

Without conducting a detailed analysis, my recollection is that I've submitted Advance Passenger Information to a variety of airlines since Brexit, with the passport expiry date being collected but not its start date, which has become relevant post-Brexit.  I doubt very much that it would be easy to modify systems to codify government rules within their systems and validate documents at the time of booking, and travel companies will naturally be reluctant to take responsibility for this, especially when those rules can change at any time before departure, but as you've found, this can lead to a false sense of security....