A WEDDING planner has revealed the common passport mistake newlyweds make that ruins their honeymoons.
Honeymoons are sometimes the most luxurious holidays people ever get to go on, but the trips can be ruined before the happy couple even get to the airport.
The wedding planner urged brides not to change their name until after their honeymoonTiktok – @presleyplanning
Those setting off on their special post-wedding trips have been warned not to overlook a simple mistake when booking flights that could prevent them from getting on the plane.
Wedding planner Victoria Presley (@presleyplanning) said that brides will regularly book their trips under their new surnames, while their passports will still have their maiden names on them.
This will either have to be changed last minute and be very expensive, or could stop brides getting on planes with their new partners altogether.
Victoria warned never to change surnames until after the honeymoon and also said not changing surnames at all was an even easier way around the problem.
In a video on Tiktok, she said: “Do not, I repeat, do not, change your last name until after your honeymoon.
“You don’t have to change your name at all.”
One couple had to pay £5,000 and rebook their trip because the bride took her new husband’s name after the wedding.
Brendan and Julia Widdowson had been looking forward to their dream honeymoon, but were forced to cancel it right at the last minute.
The 28-year-old couple tied the knot at a winery and were set to take off on the trip of a lifetime through Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.
But because the airline insisted on a name change they was told their only option was to cancel the reservation and re-book.
Brendan said: “We thought it would be a simple process, and we may incur a small fee, to update the name on the ticket.”
But when he contacted Virgin Australia’s customer service name to change his new wife’s reservation from Wallis to Widdowson, he was told their only option was to cancel the reservation and book again.
Brendan said: “We were also told that the availability of flights could not be guaranteed and that if we were to re-book, we would need to do so at the current rate of £5,000.
“Furthermore, we were told that we would incur a cancellation fee.”
Brits are also being warned to apply for their new passports now – or risk being left out of pocket.
Passport applications are increasing in price next month – the first time in five years.
It currently costs £75.50 for a standard online application for an adult passport.
This is going up to £82.50 – an extra £7 per person.
Kids’ passport applications are going up by nearly £5, going from £49 to £53.50.
Postal applications – which are more expensive than online – are also going up in price.
The new costs will be enforced from February 2.
The government website said the new price was to contribute to “lost or stolen passports and the cost of processing British citizens and UK borders” although said the government makes no profit from passport fees.
Holidaymakers are also being warned of a ‘spring surge’ which could lead to huge passport application delays.
Last year, due to a boom in applications after Covid, the government advised leaving 10 weeks to get it back, with many waiting longer than this.
AlamyHaving the wrong name on your passport could leave you out of pocket on your honeymoon[/caption] Read More