Overview
- Wendy Melville was stopped at Luton Airport on October 26 after staff noted her passport would expire in January 2026, falling foul of the three-month validity requirement.
- Her husband and two children continued to Crete while she remained in the UK to obtain a replacement passport at the earliest available appointment two days later.
- She reported that online check-in did not flag the issue, removing an opportunity to renew before travel.
- Out-of-pocket costs included about £250 for the new passport, £106 for a hotel near Gatwick, and £86 for a replacement flight.
- She rejoined her family on the third day of the holiday, and coverage published November 5–6 urges travellers to confirm passport validity and destination entry rules, which in many countries require three to six months remaining.