Mum and 2-year-old stranded in Mallorca

Mum and 2-year-old stranded in Mallorca describes how a British mother and her two-year-old daughter were left stranded in Spain after a passport-related rule blocked boarding for their return flight to the UK. The woman, 25-year-old Tegan van der Merwe, had been traveling on a South African passport despite living in Britain for more than 20 years. Reports say airline staff refused her boarding because the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system—rolled out for some non-visa travellers who are not British or Irish citizens—requires approval before travel. Without a valid ETA, airlines can deny boarding because they must verify entry requirements in advance. During the delay, the family faced the kind of disruption that can bring added hotel, meal, transport, and replacement flight costs. The incident underscores that travellers should confirm visas or electronic permits based on nationality, including for dual nationals, not only on passport validity or residency.