‘So Stressed’: Aussie traveller refused entry onto Bali bound plane over ‘tiny red smudge’ on passport
The 26-year-old was warned she would be turned around if she boarded the plane.
An Aussie traveller says she was not allowed to board her flight to Bali after a Jetstar employee noticed a tiny detail on her passport.
Emmison Caddy was set to jet to the Indonesian island from the Gold Coast, for her best friend’s 30th birthday, but was stopped at the check-in counter by an employee, who had noticed a faint red smudge in the corner of her passport.
The 26-year-old was told that if she boarded the plane with the “damaged” passport, she would likely be sent back to Australia as soon as she landed in Bali.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Documenting her experience on TikTok last month, the traveller explained her ordeal and urged other Aussies to check their passports before travelling abroad — particularly if they’re heading to Bali.
“Jetstar didn’t let me on the plane because I have a tiny red dot in the corner of my passport. It is so small it’s not covering my face or any documentation – like it’s literally just in the corner,” she began in her first video.
Ms Caddy says the staff member explained to her that had she been turned around in Bali, the aviation company would have copped a heavy fine.
“I was willing to risk it but Jetstar wouldn’t even let me on the plane,” she continued.
“So stressed. I’ve blocked all my friends on Instagram so I don’t see their f****** posts. But I need to get there for my best friend’s 30th or else she’ll be so angry at me.”
The traveller was faced with no other choice but to try and arrange an emergency passport, which would cost an eye-watering $700.
As her friends prepared to board the plane, Ms Caddy rushed to the Australian Passport Office in Brisbane after rebooking her flight for the following night.
“I got to the passport office before 7:00am — it doesn’t even open until 8:30 — but I just want to be first in line. I have to be on this flight at 6pm,” she explained in a follow-up video the next day.
Ms Caddy went on to praise the help of one of the office workers, who quickly looked over her paperwork before they’d even opened to see if she had everything required to get the emergency passport.
“She’s like ‘Don’t stress, we’ll sort you out it’s all okay,’” Ms Caddy continued.
In a third video instalment of her plane ordeal saga, the Gold Coast local shared that she had been successful in getting her new passport, meaning she would make her evening flight and join her friends.
“They were absolutely incredible in Brisbane. That was a turnaround of less than two hours. I am protecting this at all costs,” she beamed at the camera, clutching onto her new passport
Jetstar refused to comment when approached by PerthNow.
Originally published on PerthNow
