Actress Stranded Despite Passport Valid Until 2027
Tracy-Ann Oberman MBE, best known for playing Chrissie Watts in EastEnders, was denied boarding a Ryanair flight to Spain at the airport, despite her passport not expiring until June 2027. The 59-year-old actress took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration, saying she was left 'stuck' and appealing to Ryanair and the Home Office for help.
New EU Rules Cause Confusion
Oberman posted: 'Just tried boarding a flight to Spain. My passport runs out June 2027. Was refused boarding because apparently it ran out in 2026 according to new European rules. Can anyone explain this to me? I'm now stuck @Ryanair @ukhomeoffice - check your passports people. Who knew.'
Followers quickly explained that passports are only valid for 10 years from the date of issue, regardless of the printed expiry date. Oberman replied: 'I wasn't aware of this. It doesn't flag it up massively when you book the ticket.'
MoneySavingExpert and Travel Expert Weigh In
MoneySavingExpert warns: 'If you renewed your burgundy passport early, it could be more than 10 years old. The extra months may have been added to the new passport's validity. This means your passport could have plenty of time left on it but could still be more than 10 years old, and therefore excluded from some travel destinations.'
Travel expert Simon Calder responded to Oberman: 'If your passport runs out in June 2027, the earliest it could have been issued is September 2016 – which means it cannot have had its 10th birthday yet. If you have been wrongly denied boarding, the airline must find you another flight as soon as possible, including on a rival airline if that is the fastest way to get you there. In addition, you should be provided with a hotel if an overnight stay is needed, and cash compensation.'
Passport Rules for EU Travel
According to Citizens' Advice, Britons need to renew their passport if fewer than three months remain at any point during their travels. They also note that if your passport is a decade old or more on the day you arrive in an EU nation, counting from the date of issue, it may be invalid.
Oberman stated she received no warnings when entering her passport details into her reservation. She had been looking forward to a family break after a busy schedule of theatre and television work, including filming Harlan Coben's The Woods and preparing for Noel Coward's Present Laughter.
Ryanair Response
A Ryanair spokesperson told The Mirror: 'As we have not been provided with the booking reference or flight details, we are unable to comment on the basis of an unsubstantiated X thread.'
