BRITISH expats had been barred from boarding a BA flight to Spain after airline workers claimed their ID paperwork had been now not legitimate after Brexit.
The group of expats, who stay in Spain, had been stopped from getting on the airplane to Madrid from London Heathrow after workers instructed them their papers had expired.
9 British expats residing in Spain had been barred from boarding a flight to MadridCredit score: AP:Related Press
The passengers had been instructed their paperwork had expired Credit score: @maximduncan
9 Brits had been caught up within the ordeal on January 2 – simply someday after Brexit guidelines got here into drive.
Employees members reportedly blocked the passengers from getting on the flight, and instructed them their pre-Brexit ID paperwork had change into invalid since December 31.
Nonetheless, each British and Spanish governments had beforehand agreed that the paperwork – known as the International Nationwide Identification doc and the brand new International ID Card – would stay legitimate regardless of the transition.
Max Duncan, a Madrid-based British journalist and photographer, reported the incident on Twitter.
The UK’s embassy for Spain replied to Duncan’s tweet saying: “This shouldn’t be occurring, the Spanish authorities have reconfirmed once more this night that the inexperienced residency doc shall be legitimate for journey to return to Spain as acknowledged in our journey recommendation.”
Mr Duncan additionally recorded a video interview with a distressed couple that wasn’t allowed on the flight.
The girl mentioned: “We arrived right here on the airport in the present day and we had been instructed we’re not allowed to fly as a result of we’ve got the unsuitable residency card.
“We had been instructed we’ve got to have the TIE card. We’re completely gutted.
“We’re going dwelling, Spain is dwelling.
“My husband is in pressing want of medical care.”
PLANE WRONG
Patricia Moody, a 69-year-old who has lived in Zurgena, south-west Spain, for almost 4 years, was amongst a bunch caught up on the airport.
She and her husband had spent £1,900 getting examined for the virus, travelling to the airport, and reserving new tickets after they had been refused boarding.
However their second try additionally did not go to plan.
She mentioned: “All through all of the months of negotiating Brexit, we had been at all times assured that nothing would change for us.”
Sam Dakin, an English-language trainer based mostly in Barcelona for the final 4 years, and his associate, had been additionally barred from boarding the flight.
He mentioned: “Simply because the federal government adviser mentioned that we might journey, we do not know whether or not that can occur once we flip up on the counters.
“We simply do not know the place we’ll get solutions.”
At this time the Spanish Embassy for the UK tweeted it was “conscious” that some British nationals who’re residents in Spain had been unable to board a flight.
In a message on Twitter, the embassy wrote: “We’re conscious that through the present journey restrictions there have been some issues for British nationals resident in Spain who’ve been denied boarding to return to Spain.
“We are able to additionally affirm that these UK nationals who can show that they’ve began their residency course of, however who don’t but have their new TIE card, also needs to be allowed to board flights to return to Spain.
“The Authorities in Spain will put in place this measure for a grace interval of seven days from January 4.”
In a press release, Spain’s International Ministry mentioned there had been “an remoted communication downside with some airways that affected a really small variety of travellers.”
They added that air visitors between the UK and Spain was continuing “with normality” by mid-Sunday.
Britain lastly turned an impartial nation after years of authorized wrangles on January 1.
Boris Johnson’s last-minute deal permits us to commerce freely with the bloc with out tariffs or quotas.
Underneath the pact, Brits will have the ability to journey throughout Europe and not using a visa for as much as six months in a yr, and a most of 90 days inside a 180-day interval.
Folks within the UK ought to have at the very least six months left on their passport earlier than they journey, as already suggested by the Authorities.
Then from subsequent yr – 2022 – Britswill additionally should stump up for a visa-waiver scheme to go to many nations within the EU.
The payment for that hasn’t been determined but – nevertheless it’ll cowl three-year durations and permit individuals to enter the Schengen Space for as much as 90 days inside any 180-day interval.
A pair mentioned they ‘had been gutted’ after airline workers instructed them they weren’t allowed on the flightCredit score: @maximduncan
The ordeal occurred at London Heathrow on January 2Credit score: @maximduncan
One other couple was instructed their paperwork had been invalid following BrexitCredit score: @maximduncan
