A WOMAN from Bourne End was looking forward to catching up with her friends in Fuerteventura only for a post-Brexit rule to completely ruin her plans at Gatwick Airport.

Sarah Walsh, 64, was left stranded at the check-in desk on Sunday, February 19, when she was told her passport wasn't valid.

She had planned to 'celebrate life' with her friends after recently divorcing from her husband and moving house. 

Her friend booked the holiday in January 2023 to fly out on the Sunday and stay until Sunday, February 26 all-inclusive for just over £1,000. 

Ms Walsh said: "We stayed at the Gatwick Holiday Inn on Saturday night to be ready for our EasyJet flight at 6.30 Sunday morning. We wanted some winter sun and we have been away together many times before.

"We got up at 4 am and took the hotel shuttle to the Airport. We were just going to do our bag drop when the ‘greeter’ lady asked to check our passports. 

"I knew mine was due to expire in October 2023, and so it had what I thought was the required six months." 

The staff member asked if Sarah had any other documentation or if she resides in Spain, to which she replied 'no'.

She was denied travel due to her passport being more than 10 years from the issue date.

Since the UK left the European Union, Spain has implemented strict new rules on British travellers.

Anyone who enters the country from outside the EU must have a valid passport that was issued less than 10 years before the date they enter the country.

It must also be valid for at least three months after the day they plan to leave.

Sarah didn't realise this rule had changed, despite a lengthy ad campaign by the Home Office.

Sarah, who is a GP receptionist, said: "I hadn’t slept particularly well and wasn’t really fully awake but basically having checked again with another official I said goodbye to my friends. 

"They went off to get their flights and I came home in a state of shock by train. 

"I eventually got to Maidenhead Station, where my daughter picked me up and brought me home. 

"My daughter encouraged me to see if I could get an emergency appointment for a new passport, so I could go and join the girls at least for a couple of days!"

Sarah logged onto her laptop and managed to get an emergency appointment in Peterborough on Wednesday, February 22 at 11.30am. 

She paid £193.50 for the new passport and travelled to Peterborough by car due to trains being cancelled.

Luckily, she managed to book a flight with EasyJet for Thursday, February  23 at 6.20 am from Luton.

She said: "My lovely daughter took me to Luton on Thursday morning for my flight and I booked a Hoppa transfer from Fuerteventura airport to Aluavillage Fuerteventura in time to meet my friends, check in, have a beer and lunch!

"It was really worth the extra expense and adrenalin to not totally waste my money and time.  I challenged myself to do things I’ve never done…book a flight, travel alone across London and back from Gatwick and fly alone! 

"I’m very proud of what I achieved but I just feel knowledge of this information is patchy. Some of those I’ve messaged knew of it but I feel more don’t know and I'm sure I won’t be the last to have life turned around due to another annoying EU rule and I even voted to remain..."