It’s one mistake that can ruin your holiday before your holiday begins – and it happens more frequently than you think. Don’t pack your passport into Carry-On unless you want to have an airport disaster. Credit: William Burton, Shutterstock
Are you planning a holiday? Packed with your sun cream, charger, snack…And have you hid your passport in your carry-on suitcase? Stop right away, Sunshine – that innocent little habit can turn your dream trip into passport panic.
In 2024, the EU recorded 6.7 million commercial flights. This is a 5.8% jump from 2023 total to 6.3 million, as European skies are busier than ever.
Spain’s Ana Airport Network concluded in 2024 with a record-breaking 39.3 million passengers, a surge of 9.2% from 2023. The sky was driven by 2.59 million aircraft, with cargo transport surged to 2.28 million tonnes, an increase of 18.6% the previous year.
It’s a lot of people jumping down – and there are many possibilities to foul one of the most expensive mistakes of travel: keep your passport anywhere Exclude Physically to you.
Hand your beloved cabin bag at the gate and check in at the last minute, Poof! Your passport is currently in the cargo limbo and you could be stuck in border control so that it appears you were trying to enter the country with anything other than the atmosphere and boarding pass.
Bag Check Brander: Passport to Disaster
More travelers are packed into carry-on thanks to airlines playing Tetris on their luggage policies and charging additional fees for check bags. But here’s a twist – flights are full, bins are overflowing, more and more people are being forced Gate check A bag just before boarding.
If your passport is in that bag and you forget and you are tied up in an international meadow, say goodbye to smooth sailing.
why? you everytime Pass the immigrants before reunite with checked baggage. No passport = no entry. Queue interrogation, missed connections, tears at the terminal, emergency planes.
Are you flying from London to Los Angeles on a stopover in Madrid? If your passport is locked in your suitcase during Madrid suspension, access will be denied and you will almost certainly miss the connected flight.
It’s not just a check of the bag – there’s theft, Too much
Even if it’s you it’s not Forced to check your bag, your passport is not safe. Theft in flight may sound like a dangerous Netflix drama plot, but that’s it I’ll do it It happens – especially when the overhead bins are packed and the bags are in 10 rows behind you.
Easy picking of fingers that is so daunting that it makes you feel so daunting and opportunistic. But is it more common? Good old oblivion. Once you land, there’s only one distraction: a crying baby, a dash to passport control, or simply a Holiday Days.
The truth: British couple launched from Greece
Are you not satisfied yet? In 2018, a young British couple flew to Greece and accidentally left their passports on a plane. Before they scream “Op!”they’re back on their next flight to the UK.
“There were people who were looking at us like criminals,” they said. Independence.
“They gave us boarding pass and chucked us on the next flight, we didn’t get a choice.”
Their passports were never seen again – perhaps swipeed, Binning or will be swallowed by Limbo at the airport. Replacement cost? Up to 100 pounds each. Not to mention the stress, the shame of missing out on vacation, and telling your nan that you never even reached the beach.
Barcelona Blues: Bag stolen, ruining holidays
One traveler struggled to learn when he arrived in Barcelona last summer, and his passport zipped perfectly into the expensive Briggs and Riley carry-on.
“Within minutes of arriving in downtown, a thief grabbed a carry-on and disappeared into the Rambla before he welcomed the taxi,” the traveler wrote.
Police report, emergency passport application, Q Days for the second theft – this time, the phone.
Golden Rules: Keep it to you – Always
Veteran travelers know drills. Your passport Should Never leave your side. That doesn’t mean you need to tie it down to a neon money belt like in 1998. There are a lot of understated things these days, Stylish options – Crossbody bag, zipper pocket, trip Pants designed to keep your documents safe but Accessible.
And at least? Keep it in you Personal item – A bag that lives under your seat in front of you and never leaves your sight. Passport is required for check-in, security, boarding and arrival. Losing it at any of those points, it’s game over.
Conclusion: Passport in your bag = bin holidays
With record numbers of travellers and airlines becoming stricter with baggage rules, it’s not risky to shove your passport on board. One misguided bag, one gate check request, one sticky thief – and your relaxed holiday will be a bureaucratic nightmare.
So repeat after us: wallet, phone, passport, on my body.
And what if you are suspicious? Remember this simple rule:
If it can ruin your life, don’t put it in the overhead bin.
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