Britons flying to Scandinavia risk being turned back over unclear rules

Some Britons flying to Scandinavia this summer risk being turned away at the gate if they are travelling on an older passport owing to the "inconsistent" application of Schengen travel rules, it has emerged.

- Zoe Wood

The Guardian was contacted by a British artist denied boarding by the airline Norwegian because her passport was issued "more than nine years and nine months ago". She was due to fly from London Gatwick to Copenhagen.

The official advice from the UK and Danish governments is that the country follows Schengen area rules. This means a passport must be within 10 years of its date of issue on the day you enter the EU, and must also be valid for at least three months after the end of your stay. However, the artist - who wants to remain anonymous - was denied boarding on 23 March despite holding a passport that satisfied both criteria. Its date of issue was 13 June 2015 and it is due to expire in August.