Small Laude criticizes local airline for non-acceptance of daughter's temporary passport. Here's what to know about the travel document
Content creator Small Laude adds to the slew of celebrities who have slammed Philippine Airlines (PAL) after her daughter Allison was left behind on their trip to Japan due to non-acceptance of her temporary passport.
The issue started when Small uploaded a video on her Instagram stories detailing her mishap with the local airline as they were bound for a trip to Japan's capital Tokyo.
According to the socialite, while she and her friend were able to arrive to the country with ease through their US temporary passport, Allison was denied entry in the plane with her Canadian temporary passport.
"Look, we're here in Japan now, and my friend got into Japan with a temporary passport ng US. Why si Allison hindi na-allow [using a] Canadian [passport]? We were telling them kanina to get her on board, to put her on board, pero hindi daw. Bakit ito, 'yung daughter ng friend ko na-allow," Small said in the video.
She further detailed the incident in the text below, writing, "My daughter got left behind because of PAL’s wrong decision! It has ruined our family vacation and it caused us so much stress. Allison was in tears leaving the airport going back to the house."
Her anger was even more fueled when the check-in manager told her that they had called the Japanese Embassy and said that her daughter’s Canadian temporary passport will not be allowed entry into the country, only to find out that the manager did not call the embassy at all.
"We found out later it’s allowed! PAL should be responsible for their decisions," Small stressed.
Small Laude issue with Pal pic.twitter.com/7ouV438VAg
— Trending Topic (@TrendingTopic31) December 28, 2023
Allison has since been able to work her way around the issues with her passport as she has now reunited with her family as shown in an Instagram reel posted by Small, having arrived in Japan at around midnight of Dec. 27.
In a statement by PAL as per GMA News, the local airline has apologized to Allison for her non-acceptance in the flight "due to the initial assessment on her temporary Canadian passport as travel document."
They said that after they checked with Japanese immigration authorities, it was revealed that the temporary Canadian passport "was deemed acceptable for travel to Tokyo."
PAL assured that Allison "has been assured of the proper compensation for the inconvenience she experienced" and that "internal actions are being carried out to prevent such occurrences in the future."
What is a Canadian temporary passport?
In case you don't know about the Canadian temporary passport, the official website of the government of Canada details that this is an eight-page, machine-readable document that is issued by a Canadian mission, used for short-term situations, and is "meant for urgent, proven travel situations or residency requirements."
The site stressed that the temporary passport doesn’t replace a regular, diplomatic, or special passport and that you can only get one "for the length of your travel, for a maximum of one year, and can’t be extended for any reason."
Similarly, the US temporary passport is also limited to one year or less. The US Embassy and Consulates in India cautioned that some countries may not accept an emergency passport and that passengers can be denied entry by the airport's officials and personnel.
"We strongly recommend that you research the entry and exit requirements of your destination before you travel," they advised.
Such passports are only applicable to you if your regular passport was stolen, lost, damaged, or expired while you are in another country, or if you need to travel because of an emergency and do not have time to get a passport or renew your old one.