A traumatized mother said her family was treated like criminals and lost a $7,900 holiday due to issues with her son’s passport.
A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for Amber Maherloughnan and her family after a simple oversight regarding her son’s passport.
What was supposed to be a luxurious $7,890 holiday in Turkey ended in distress and discomfort.
A disastrous start due to mum’s oversight of son’s passport
Amber Maherloughnan, 28, and her family departed from London Gatwick on August 5 for a week-long holiday in Antalya, Turkey.
However, upon arrival, Amber discovered that her six-year-old son Reuben’s passport had expired months earlier.
This lapse led to immediate complications
Turkish officials confiscated their passports and placed Amber and Reuben in a detention room with 13 other individuals.
The conditions were harsh: inadequate food and water, with only a rotten tomato and an egg provided.
The room lacked basic amenities, and the toilet facilities were described as “disgusting.”
Amber recounted the ordeal, stating, “They treated me like a criminal. They snatched my passport, locked me in a room, and left me with minimal food and a single bottle of water. The conditions were appalling, and I felt terrified by some of the guards.”
After the incident, Amber shared her experience on social media
The following day, Amber and her family had to return to the UK, having missed their holiday.
Amber shared her experience on Facebook, urging other parents to check their children’s passports to avoid similar issues.
Amber admitted that the responsibility to check her child’s passport lay with her.
However, she criticized the system for allowing her to board the flight in the first place.
She expressed disappointment in the way her family was treated and vowed to be more cautious in the future.
“It was an honest mistake, but the treatment we received was not deserved,” she said.
Social media reaction
In the comment selection, many viewers shared their thought about Amber Maherloughnan’s holiday disaster.
One person said: Life lesson there, check the date of passports of all that are trying to leave the country… not really hard is it
A second wrote: This is her fault not Turkish border police. They’ve done their job.
While a third commented: That’s not trauma, that is consequences for your actions. Human trafficking and kidnapping is trauma. Be a better parent! Be a better person!
Another added: Yes it’s an honest mistake, doesn’t mean you get let off. You, yourself as a British citizen need to take responsibility for your own actions.
Amber’s fiancé, Will Land-smith, attempted to secure a temporary travel document from the Turkish embassy but had to leave the airport with Reuben.
Amber concluded that she would avoid flying with that airline again due to their rude service and lack of support.
Gatwick Airport clarified that it is the airline’s responsibility to ensure that passengers’ passports are valid before boarding.
Both the British and Turkish governments require passports to be valid for at least 150 days from the date of arrival in Turkey.
Amber Maherloughnan’s holiday disaster underscores the importance of thorough travel preparations. This is especially crucial regarding passport validity.
Despite the unfortunate experience, the incident serves as a crucial reminder for all travelers to verify travel documents well in advance.