A dad said his children were left in tears after they were barred from a flight to the Channel Islands - because they didn't have photo ID. Shane Lloyd's teenage son and daughter were set to fly out for a week-long holiday him in Jersey, where he lives.
However, he said Dylan, 13, and Grace 14 were told at the departure gate they wouldn't be able to board the Manchester Jet2 flight as they did not have their own photo ID. The teenagers were travelling with their aunt.
UK passengers travelling to Jersey, in the Channel Islands, do not need a passport but adults are asked to travel with some form of photo ID. The Jersey tourist board says kids under 16 are not required to show ID on domestic flights, and the adult they are travelling with can "vouch for the child's identity", the MEN reports.
Jet2 has now apologised and booked the children on new flights. However, furious dad Shane says his time with his children has been cut short and he claims he has still been left around £1,000 out of pocket due to the error.
He said: "I couldn't believe it. I was furious. I was at Jersey Airport waiting for them then I got a call from my sister saying they wouldn't let them get on.
"They've flown over, it must be 15 to 20 times now since I've been here, they've flown with easyJet, with Jet2, from Manchester, from Liverpool, and they've never needed ID. My daughter lived here with me for 18 months and she flew back six months ago on a Jet2 flight and didn't need photo ID.
"Every time I make their mum pack their birth certificates though just in case but this time they said even they weren't good enough. They had to come all the way back through security. They were both in tears.
"The worst part of it is their mum was meant to be going away herself but her holiday was cancelled as well the same day. If it hadn't have been they would just been left stranded there and I wouldn't have been able to get to them."
The official website of Jersey's tourist board says: "Children under the age of 16 do not need to show ID on domestic flights. The adult they are travelling with can vouch for the infant/child’s identity." The website does add: "Always check with your airline and ferry company before travelling to confirm the identification you’ll need to carry."
The children have passports, although one of them is out of date, Shane said, and they didn't bring them as they knew they weren't necessary. Dylan and Grace had already passed through airport security when they were stopped.
They were travelling with Shane's sister, their auntie Leah, who did have photo ID on her. Although the children also had their birth certificates with them just in case they were still denied boarding.
The teenagers, from Wigan in Greater Manchester, have flown over a dozen times to Jersey on different airlines and have never been asked for photo ID, Shane said. And he said their plans have into turmoil on what is a momentous family occasion.
His girlfriend is pregnant and he was flying his children over for a gender reveal party where they would find out if they were getting a new brother or sister. He had booked a week at a campsite on the island for them but cancelled it when they weren't able to travel.
Shane said he was now struggling to re-book any accommodation for the family due to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. After the Manchester Evening News contacted Jet2, Shane says the airline got in touch and admitted it was their error and offered to book the children on new flights today as well as refund the original tickets.
He said: "I spoke to them yesterday and they were still saying I was in the wrong. But last night I got a phone call from a lovely lady who admitted it was their mistake, that they should have been let on and said we were entitled to compensation.
"They have also booked them on new flights today for free. I'm obviously pleased I'm going to get to see them now. But I'm still angry they left two children at the airport just because someone didn't know the rules.
"We've lost two days together now. I also cancelled the accommodation when I thought they weren't coming over. I've lost all my money on it that because it was less than 24 hours beforehand and I'm really struggling to find anywhere else now.
"We're ringing round but everywhere is booked up because of the Jubilee. It still leaves a bit of a sour taste to be honest."
A Jet2 spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we have been in touch with the customer and are pleased to say the matter has since been fully resolved.
"We would like to apologise to the family for any inconvenience caused.”
