BRITS have been warned about renewing their passports this summer, with chaos set to threaten holiday plans.
Anyone who needs a new passport before trips abroad this year will need to get it sorted sooner rather than later, with further delays expected.
AlamyDelays with passport processing have been caused by strikes[/caption]
Passport office workers have already staged workouts this year, but more could follow.
A vote held by members of the biggest civil service union has extended their mandate for walkouts for six more months.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said on Wednesday that 88 per cent of their members voted in favour, which looks likely to cause more strike action throughout the rest of the year.
Passport office workers are included in PCS members who have voted to strike, as well as the Home Office and DVLA.
The union claimed that their strikes caused disruption to passport offices, and said the number of appointments for renewals had been “slashed” because of their action.
Nearly 1,800 staff members at the office staged the walkouts that started last month.
The disruption means that Brits needing a new passport have been advised to give themselves 10 weeks to get it sorted.
However, some applicants have said it has taken even longer than that.
The usual waiting time is around five weeks, but due to the circumstances, holidaymakers have been warned to allow double that just to be safe.
One mum said she had waited more than 12 weeks for two passports for her kids, and faced having to cancel her £2,400 holiday this month.
Another woman complained on Twitter: “I have allowed 10 weeks and my daughter’s passport still has not come back! We fly in a week.”
Passport renewals aren’t the only things that could affect holidays this year, with more strikes set to go ahead at Heathrow.
Around 1,400 airport security staff staged eight days of industrial action earlier this month and have plans for more over a pay dispute.
Signs were put up in the airport terminals, warning: “There may be some security delays due to industrial action.”
The security staff will stage further walkouts on 25–27 May.
The union has warned that the strikes will cause “inevitable delays” although the airport has said that it is putting plans in place to avoid disruption as much as possible.
However, the airport has said that all passengers should expect to travel as normal.
A spokesperson for Heathrow told the Independent: “Passengers can be reassured that they will travel as normal. This is an important time for the country, and we will not let these unnecessary strikes disrupt journeys.
“We have activated our contingency plans and deployed 750 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be on-hand in the terminals providing assistance to passengers.”
Meanwhile, here’s how much you’re owed for cancelled or delayed flights – and what to do if airlines won’t pay up.
And these are the two flights you should book to avoid airport delays.
AlamyBrits have been warned to allow ten weeks for their passport renewals[/caption] Read More