Aussie Woman Barred from Bali Flight Over Minuscule Passport Flaw –
Australian Passport Damage Guidelines and Enforcement
The Australian Passport Office clearly states that serious passport damage can prevent travelers from boarding flights. However, the guidelines mention that “normal wear and tear should not be a problem.” Aussie travelers are advised to keep their passports “intact and in good condition.”
Since 2019, Balinese authorities have been strictly enforcing a $7,000 fine on airlines carrying passengers with damaged passports. Some travelers have even been forced to return to Australia due to this policy. Consequently, many Australian airports have turned away holidaymakers unable to meet the stringent passport condition requirements.
Sydneysider’s Bali Dream Shattered at Check-in
25-year-old Elyse Elmer from Sydney faced a nightmarish situation at the Virgin Airlines counter on Tuesday. Despite having recently traveled to Thailand and Hong Kong with her passport bearing a tiny tear, she was informed she couldn’t board her flight to Bali, a popular Indonesian tourist destination.
“I was absolutely shocked at the counter when she was like ‘I don’t think you can fly because Indonesia is super strict’,” Elmer recounted to Yahoo News Australia. The airline staff promptly rebooked her flight for the next day without additional charges.
Race Against Time for Emergency Passport
With less than 24 hours to obtain a new passport, Elmer swiftly took action. She visited Officeworks first thing Wednesday morning for new passport photos. Then, at 9 am sharp when the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) office in Surry Hills opened, she filled out the required paperwork for an emergency passport renewal.
“They told me they would do the best they could to get it done for me the same day, but they did say to me that they weren’t connected with the airlines and couldn’t promise [anything],” Elmer explained.
Travel Insurance Proves Invaluable
Fortunately, DFAT managed to fast-track Elmer’s emergency passport within 90 minutes. Although the renewal cost her $598, her travel insurance covered the entire expense, including reimbursement for the missed hotel night and transportation costs.
“This is why I get travel insurance — in case anything rogue happens,” Elmer, who is now vacationing in Bali, told Yahoo.