Senior Citizen Denied Boarding to Indonesia Due to Damaged Passport
SENIOR CITIZEN – A senior citizen was barred from boarding a flight to Indonesia after airline staff discovered a tear in his passport.
A senior citizen was recently denied boarding a Cebu Pacific flight to Bali, Indonesia after airline staff discovered a tear in his passport. The incident, which went viral on social media, has prompted the airline to issue a firm reminder to international passengers to ensure their travel documents are free from any form of damage.
In a public statement, Cebu Pacific emphasized that even a minor tear, scratch, water damage, or unauthorized marking can lead to a passport being considered invalid by foreign immigration authorities. “Even a minor tear or any unauthorized marking may be considered a damaged passport,” the airline stressed.
According to reports, Cebu Pacific ground staff photographed the damaged passport and sent the images to Bali’s immigration office for verification. After reviewing the case, Bali immigration authorities declined to accept the document, resulting in the passenger being barred from boarding.
Carmina Romero, spokesperson for Cebu Pacific, clarified during an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo that the airline had no choice but to follow strict international travel regulations. She explained that even if the passenger had boarded the plane, they would have been denied entry upon arrival in Bali.
“Dahil na flag na sila at naitawag na yon sa immigration ng Bali, pagdating nila sa boarding gate, identified na sila,” Romero explained.
Addressing criticisms online, Romero strongly denied accusations of power-tripping, stating, “Wala po kami intensyon manira ng bakasyon. Hindi po kami basag-trip. Ang kaligayahan namin ay mailipad ang aming pasahero kung saan man nila gusto pumunta,”
Romero reiterated Cebu Pacific’s duty to verify the integrity of travel documents, adding that even small damages can pose serious issues during international travel.
With this incident, Cebu Pacific reminds all travelers to carefully inspect their passports before flying abroad to avoid potential disruptions. Having a pristine and undamaged passport remains crucial for smooth boarding and seamless entry to one’s international destination.
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