L1: One Trip Too Many

A friend's extra weekend in Paris results in her being denied permission to enter the EU later in the year

Alison and Barbara have been friends for years. Each lives their own life but they spend the summer months travelling together. Barbara leaves Alison to sort out the trips, and this arrangement has worked very well for years.

Alison works out their 2021 summer trip to Portugal to comply with the Schengen 90/180-day rule. Barbara is not really very aware of the new rules and does not tell Alison about a trip to Paris which she took with other friends in May.

Alison and Barbara have a great time during the summer. On leaving Portugal, Barbara is told that she has exceeded the Schengen limit. They worry about this for a while but they lead busy lives and so forget about it. Barbara was never one to worry about admin!

Barbara and her friend Christine go on a skiing trip in January. Christine breezes through Border Control ahead of Barbara. Disaster, Barbara is denied entry on arrival but Christine cannot be seen. Barbara is made to return on the next flight to the UK which is to Manchester - she lives in London. She later gets a bill for her flight home. Christine meanwhile tries to make the most of things but she is on her own. After a couple of days she abandons her holiday and gets a cheap flight home.

They vent their anger on social media and quickly learn that quite a few people have been tripped up like this. They ask themselves how the Government could have let this happen.

Unless the government negotiates win-win 180/360 travel arrangements this could happen to you or your friends.