Brits struggle to check in for flights after NHS Covid pass goes down

BRITS were unable to check in for their flights for nearly seven hours yesterday after the NHS Covid pass went down.

While some countries have lifted Covid restrictions, many still require proof of vaccination via the app when entering the country.

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However, Brits trying to access proof of their vaccination status via the NHS App and website found that the service was unavailable from 3.50pm onwards yesterday.

Users trying to access their details were instead met with a message that read: “We are sorry the NHS Covid Pass is currently unavailable.

“At this time there is no alternative route for accessing this information via the NHS App or online.

“If you have already downloaded the information then your access should not be affected.”

While it was eventually fixed around 10pm, it left many travellers struggling to check in online – with some airlines even charging passengers who don’t do this before their flight.

Jon May, 32, was due to fly to Valencia from Bristol at 6am this morning, but found the app was down when trying to download his vaccination.

He said that while he was vaccinated, he had no other proof and was nervous that he would be detained at the Spanish border.

Jon said: “I have had all my vaccinations, I just can’t get the certification.

“I might get to Spain and be deported from Spain, and that would be really embarrassing.”

And Fi Bartlett, 24, from Bournemouth, said she couldn’t check in online for her flight to Malaga, so said she would have to risk going to the airport with a paper version.

NHS Digital tweeted at the time that they were investigating “urgently”, adding: “We apologise for any issues this may cause and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve it.”

Brits going abroad are urged to print out their documents in case this happens, having gone down twice already, both in October and December last year.

The requirement for people to show the NHS Covid pass to visit indoor and outdoor events and venues, such as cinemas and nightclubs in the UK, was scrapped earlier this year.

However, it is still used as a way for people to show their vaccination status when travelling abroad to certain countries.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned that Covid strains could still prevent us from flying this year.

Travel experts issued a warning over new passport rules for Brits heading abroad this summer.

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