We’d heard that border controls are getting increasingly lax across Europe, not least at Arrecife airport where one of our number recently strolled past a particularly sleepy border control booth without being challenged on arrival.
But the recent story about a pensioner travelling from Lanzarote to Liverpool really takes the tortilla, as he was able to complete his entire return journey using a photocopy of his local Bus Pass for ID!
Retired teacher John Williams was able to board the Ryanair flight at Arrecife airport brandishing no more paperwork than a black and white copy of his MerseyTravel Bus Pass last month for the four hour flight back to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
This bueracratic anomaly only arose as he found that he had lost his passport, or possibly had it stolen, when it came to packing his bags for his return journey home. Mr Williams informed the Ryanair check in desk of his predicament on arrival at Arrecife airport and was initially advised that he would need to contact the British Consulate and secure a replacement passport in order to travel.
But after inquiring if they would be prepared to accept alternative documentation he was able to phone his niece back in the UK who then emailed the bus pass document direct to the check in team. Amazingly this was accepted and Mr Williams was allowed to fly. But found on his arrival that UK Border Control staff were not quite so welcoming, as they angrily demanded how he was able to get away with using a photocopied document that wouldn’t even be accepted on local bus services!
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