TOTALLY GUTTED daughter cant come on holiday with us Friday!

susien

2007-07-17 22:29:12

Hi sorry to sound out on here but I feel I need to let off steam.

We are travelling to Hisaronu on Friday. Just got out the passports last night ready for the off, and a niggly feeling told me = dont know why that my daughter might soon need her own, she is a named child on mine. Always thought it was 18 for an Adult passport, but to my horror, went online and discovered once they turn 16, cannot travel on a parents passport.
Went to passport office this morning, but there is now a 6 week wait for a first adult passport, 2 to 3 weeks if there are no complications which is no good for us.
Cannot rebook holiday for later date, as will lose all our money, so we have to go without her.

She is absolutely GUTTED as she has just worked so hard for her GCSE's and this holiday was the one thing that was keeping her going to look forward to, and now it seems she cant go. Trouble is, if we dont go either we will lose all the money which cannot do.
They will not do a fastrack passport in 4 hours either, I begged and pleaded because new rules from June 1st 2007!!!!!!!!!
On the optimistic side, if her passport arrives in 2 weeks, my parents can book her a one way flight to Dalaman and she can join us out there as soon as she gets the passport, and then come home with us. BUT i feel it will be highly unlikely.

Anyone else experienced similar??

Please post all cheap flights to Dalaman that u find from Gatwick, Luton or Stansted between 24=30 July, as my parents will book it for her and get her on it.

I will ask my daughter to check the thread everyday to save my parents trawling the internet

Thanks for your help, I know you will help me if you can, you are a great helpful bunch of people

jdybnsn

2007-07-17 23:26:16

What an awful situation for you and your family

I can't help with the passport side, but a few other bits of advice that may come in useful.... I think in your position, I would speak asap to the airline you are flying with;

- firstly to reaffirm the passport ruling with them (unlikely you will get a different answer - but I would check)
- secondly check that if your daughter does not fly out with you, the airline will not automatically cancel her return flight, as this is often the case if they are not notified.
- thirdly check that your daughter would be able to fly with them unaccompanied, if she does get her passport later.
- appeal to the airline to see if they would be willing to place her on a cheap standby if, and when, the passport comes through.

Finally I might check my holiday insurance to see if there is any way I could legitimately qualify for a cancellation of the holiday.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but hoping your daughter will be able to join you for your holiday.

lynwestie

2007-07-18 06:50:52

oh Susi that really is horrible . God I feel for you. my son is the same age and the horror we would go through if the same happened to us would be undescribable.

Im sorry I cannot offer any help other than my support but totally agree with everything Judy says. The only one thought that sprung to my mind is a "s h i t or bust" situation and this may be a completely stupid and fool hardy thing to say but how about just taking your daughter to the airport and seeing what happens . hand the pasports over and wait . play dumb but have someone on standby to take her back home if necessary. :shock:

. Im so sorry but thats the only thing I can think of when you have tried everything else.

lyn

bridd

2007-07-18 06:51:41

I think one of your parents will need to fly out with her if her passport arrives. Assuming it's a charter rather than a scheduled flight, one of the party needs to be at least 18 years old to make a booking.

lynwestie

2007-07-18 07:02:43

just checked XL and they take from 16

. Im assuming her grandparents would book it for her so dont see a problem . once 16 they can travel alone with them. whilst i know its a different airline my son has travelled with easyjet and ryanair with his girlfriend and they are both 16 with no problems but i agree with Bridd to check first . the 18 situation may only apply if you are booking a package.

bridd

2007-07-18 07:13:23

I only know about Thomas Cook, Airtours and First Choice as my son was in a situation of trying to book a holiday with these companies with friends when he was 17.
Hopefully your company has a different policy.

SandC

2007-07-18 08:09:28

Those 2 sixteen year old girls recently arrested in Ghana for drug smuggling seemed to have no problems in travelling on their own when supposedly on a school trip, so don't worry about that side of it.

I really feel for you and would also like to thank you for alerting us to the changes in rulings from passport offices. I wasn't aware until now that you can't just go and turn up there and get your application through on the same day like you could before (I've known people have to do that last minute when they couldn't find their passports or one had expired). I know that's no help to you in your situation.

I really hope that your daughter at least gets part of the holiday. Good luck!

mehmeh

2007-07-18 08:13:39

I would stress jdybsn's second point. It is my understanding that airlines cancel the return leg if you do not check in for the outward flight.

This is such a terrible situation for you!

bellybally

2007-07-18 09:17:36

Hi, - I agree with Lynn,as a last resort I would take her to the airport anyway (Making sure grandparents are on stand by), and just play dumb, - it's worth a try, - A friend of our son's actually travelled with anout an out of date passport, which went unoticed, they only realised it was out of date on their return home!

Good luck, and let us know how you get on,

Regards, BBB

Sagres

2007-07-18 09:22:27

susien,
Firstly my commiserations - what an awful disappointnent for you all !!
As for flights, use THIS site.Use the 'London any' option as the departure airport.As already advised, check that your daughter will be able to fly unaccompanied and write a signed letter of consent giving your agreement to her travelling alone, just in case it's needed.Bear in mind also that you'll have to arrange transfers for her from Dalaman to your resort as she won't be travelling as part of a package.Sorry to complicate matters further for you, but you'd also need to contact your travel insurers to check out the situation as far as they are concerned.
Good luck- I hope everything works out for you.

cyberspacekadette

2007-07-18 09:33:40

I would agree with the "acting dumb" idea - it has to be worth a try...
Get that new passport applied for in the meantime and keep your fingers crossed it comes on time.
Get in touch with your holiday insurance to see if you'd be covered if you cancelled (although probably not, because as far as they're concerned, you should have checked your passports at the time you booked the holiday)
It's all very complicated, and I'm so sorry for you and your daughter

My kids have always had their own passports and they're next due for renewal in 2009 when son will be 19 and daughter will be 16 - I'll have to make sure they allow plenty of time for this considering the long wait some people have to go through.

Sagres

2007-07-18 09:43:19

The 'acting dumb' approach is all very well, but have you considered the situation if it works on the way out but not at Dalaman on the way back ?
Are you really prepared to risk the stress and hassle that this would inevitably cause ?

Fiona

2007-07-18 09:48:09

hmmm.... not sure about the acting dumb bit. Just how much more devastated would your daughter be if she is turned down at the airport( and the odds are very much that she will be)You know your daughter best though - could she cope with it?
Hopefully if you put your application away as soon as you discovered the problem then there is a chance that she will get some time away. ( however, best to be honest with her re the chance of it not coming on time)
I dont suppose one of you can manage a week away later with her? You may get lucky with a last minute deal.

susien

2007-07-18 10:56:37

Thanks guys for all your replies.

We have submitted the passport yesterday, but minimun will take is 2 to 3 weeks they said.

Cannot act dumb and take her as the passport office removed her from mine before I go so they can process hers. Anyway the chances are she would be deported at Dalaman which would be terribly scary and distressing for all of us, not worth the risk.

Have contacted my travel agent A1 travel who have said she should be able to fly with a letter of consent. Have to ring them on Friday morning and then they will hold her return flight open for her as long as we have informed them of the situation.

The only consolation is that if I had not realised and taken her on Friday night to Gatwick and we were refused, none of us would have gone on holiday as we could not have left her at Gatwick on her own.
I will be able to get the Turkish family who we are staying with to pick her up i am sure, as they are already picking us up, its included in the cost of the rental of the apartment, but If i have to pay a bit extra I am happy for that.
I have promised her I will take her away again for a week around the 24th August on my own as she should def have her passport by then. But I will certainly not book anything until we have it to hand!!!!!

Will keep you updated!!! Will maybe ask them if they can put any flights on standby. A1 have flight on Thurs 26th for under £100 from Stansted so that would be perfect.

if they dont let her travel without an adult I will be soooo annoyed because she is now an adult in the eyes of passport and immigration so what is the difference???

:shrug

Fiona

2007-07-18 11:03:07

at least she will have August to look forward to.It won't seem much of a consolation to her now of course. I feel so sorry for you all. Hopefully grandparents will spoil her

susien

2007-07-18 11:11:25

Yes thats as long as the passport arrives before the 24th!!! We cant really go before because we are waiting for GCSE results on 23rd and I have my other 2 children at home before that, hubby has another week holiday booked on 22nd thankfully!!
If they call her for interview, which is around 50% of first time new passport applicants it will definately take SIX weeks and she will have to travel for over an hour to an interview centre!!!!

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW YOU STILL CAN GET A FASTTRACK OR PREMIUM SERVICE PASSPORT IN 4 HOURS FOR A RENEWAL OR CHILD UNDER 16. But just not for a first applicant, you are an adult at 16 and have to have a full adult 10 year passport. It costs an extra £47 to get it in four hours and you need an appointment at a regional passport office.

jdybnsn

2007-07-18 11:36:02

Fingers crossed it all comes through quickly for her :tup

lynwestie

2007-07-18 12:10:16

I bet its through by the end of next week

fingers crossed

calabonagirl

2007-07-18 13:07:50

What a nightmare for you. I hope that you get the passport soon. when I read your post I made sure I had a look at the dates on our passports, just in case. CBG

justinewhitts

2007-07-18 13:14:26

hi,
so sorry to hear of your problems.
my son was on my passport which needed renewing a couple of weeks ago. sent form off by recorded delivery on the wednesday and got my new passport and my son`s own passport back the following wednesday! i couldnt believe it only took a week!!! :shock:

but my son is only 12 yrs so not an adult but still i was very impressed how quick it was, i was expecting to wait 3 weeks too.
hope you get it sorted out and enjoy your holiday.

from justine

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