While trying to fly from Sydney to Paris, the woman almost shed tears after discovering a serious error in her passport. Jane Lu faced a potential travel disaster with the passport she had previously used on two trips to the state as airline staff advised on possible issues due to “water damage” to documents.
She suffered and took her to social media and posted a video: “Help me!! Have you ever had this happen?” Share her ordeal. Jane said she suddenly discovered that despite having successfully entered the US twice using a water-damaged passport, she might suddenly stop boarding the plane due to concerns from the transport and destination countries about the condition.
“They say I'm flying in China. They may not pass through me, and Paris may not pass through me, but I have already flew twice to the US with this passport,” she visibly upset.
Jane then revealed in a follow-up clip that she was being required to “sign a waiver” in recognition of the risk that she would have to bear the costs and inconvenience of returning to Australia if French authorities refuse to enter. On a trip of over 24 hours, the tension was obvious, exacerbated by fear of being turned back upon arrival.
But she smiled at Jane, who eventually thrusts into French customs. There, officials were “super cold” about her passport status and managed to make her business trip well.
In the comments section, the traveler wrote: “I think the people at Australia's check-in are too thorough. This happened to my sister. They told her that she had to ride the flight at her own risk because the water was stained in her passport.
Yet another user equips strict airport regulations defenses, saying “border security is paramount.” The lady advised travelers to “apply for a new passport” and shouted to keep the water damage free, rather than risking it.
This topic got heated with one comment expressing bewildered frustration.
Travel experts will consider the conversation and provide professional insights. “Travel agents here – Passports are legal documents, so you should not cause any damage. If the airline sends you to a location and is denied entry, they will receive a heavy fine.
“You can also be detained for having a damaged passport upon arrival. It's much better to be denied here than to get in jail or head to the other side. If it's damaged, you'll need to replace it.
“Some countries take this quite seriously. They've gone abroad and detained customers when their children spill water on their passports and took risks. That's not intent, it's safe.”
My UK passport, a major authority on passport issues, states that severe passport damage could potentially ground passengers. They should note that whether or not the passport is still available depends heavily on the severity of the damage that occurred.
Mild wear and tears may be acceptable, but boarding may be denied if the passport cannot be read or if the tip is damaged. According to the Post Office, the HM Passport Office will classify the passport as damaged if the following conditions are met: Details are unreadable, laminates allow for the possibility of photo replacements, and biodata pages are discolored.
