'Nightmare' as Woman Can't Board Flight After Overlooking Passport Detail

A woman has gone viral for living every traveler's "nightmare" and warning others not to make the same mistake. Fran Haining, 26, a freelancer from Oxfordshire, England, was hours away from a sun-kissed vacation in Greece when she was turned away at the airport due to the age of her passport. Read more: Compare the Best Rewards Credit Cards for Travel "My passport didn't actually expire until February next year, but it was 10 years old in August. I checked this online before we went and I thought it was going to be fine," Haining (@franhainingg) said in the TikTok video shared on June 13, which has been viewed close to half a million times. She told Newsweek that she was "crying in the airport having only had 30 minutes of sleep the night before." According to Gov.UK, when traveling within Europe's Schengen Area, passengers' British passports must be issued less than 10 years before entering the country and valid for at least three months after the day they leave. Read more: Which Airlines Have the Best (or Worst) Fees? This Schengen Area includes 23 of the 27 European Union countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland—but not Ireland, where the Common Travel Agreement is in place. In the video, Haining records herself traveling in a car at 5:30 a.m. and says, "I got declined to get on the flight." She said she was currently driving three hours to London to get an emergency passport, and "fingers crossed" would get a passport to get a new flight the next day.

But the unexpected adventure was far from over, as she then explained in a voice-over that she was turned away from the passport office because she did not have an appointment and had to return to London two days later. Read more: How to Choose a Travel Credit Card "So, instead of waking up in sunny Greece, I was waking up and commuting to London with all the other 9-5 girlies," she said. Eventually, four days later after spending £300 ($380) on a new passport and securing new flights, they made it to Greece. Haining told Newsweek: "It was very stressful and expensive but we didn't want to miss out on the holiday we paid for and wouldn't get the money back for." Thankfully, she added, "The holiday was lovely in the end." Hundreds took the comments of Haining's video, now fearful they would be turned away despite having several months left on their passport as it had either passed or was close to passing the 10-year mark since being issued.

"I honestly have no idea about advice because the online passport checker says my passport was and still is fine for travel, but obviously it wasn't. I'm still just as confused, to be honest," Haining said. Before the United Kingdom left the EU in what became known as Brexit, British passport holders could travel to Europe on a passport that had been issued more than 10 years ago, as long as it had not expired. The rules are different when traveling from the United States to the Schengen Area on an American passport. It must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry. This rule applies even if you stop in Canada or the U.K. on your way over, despite those countries not having the six-month rule, according to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Do you have great travel stories or videos you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.