Fitness star ‘rejected’ from boarding flight from Sydney to Bali

A fitness star flying from Sydney to Bali was barred from boarding the flight over what she described to be the “tiniest” issue with her passport.

Fitness star ‘rejected’ from flight to Bali. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

A British fitness star has been “rejected” from boarding a flight from Sydney to Bali due to a “tiny” issue with her passport.

Emma Doherty, who recently moved to Australia, was due to fly to the Indonesian hotspot on June 21 for a 10-day getaway and “digital detox”.

But instead the influencer found herself “stranded” at Sydney Airport after she was denied boarding over water damage to her passport.

“[I] have no idea what to do or where to go,” she said while filming herself sat on the floor of the airport last week.

“I literally just got told that if they’d let me into Bali, the military and the security in the airport would have put me into a cell,” she claimed.

Ms Doherty said there was a “tiny bit of water damage” at the bottom of her passport — something she has never noticed before.

“I travel all the time and it’s never been mentioned to me before,” she said. “But apparently Bali airport are really, really strict and they are known for putting people into a cell if they don’t like your passport.

British fitness star Emma Doherty was due to fly from Sydney to Bali on June 21. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

But she was ‘rejected’ from boarding her flight over a ‘tiny’ issue with her passport. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

“Obviously, I’m really upset like I’m literally guttered. I’ve just been sat here crying for the last 15 minutes. But I’m just going to tell myself that everything happens for a reason, and I wasn’t meant to go on that flight today.”

Ms Doherty warned others heading to the island to triple check their passports for any damage and marks.

The fitness trainer’s clip has since gone viral, attracting more than 1.3 million views and hundreds of comments from those who too have had similar experiences heading form Australia to Bali.

“My partner’s passport page was a little bit ripped and they also didn’t let him board the flight to Bali,” one person wrote.

Emma said due to water damage on her passport, officials didn’t allow her to board the flight. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

She warned Aussies travelling to Bali to triple check their passports fro any damage. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

“I had the same. Landed in Bali, had to wait in a cell until I could get a flight out,” another added.

In a separate clip on the morning of her flight, Ms Doherty explained she was heading to popular tourist destination on her own for a “digital detox” and to “recharge”.

“I’ve decided that I am going to be taking a full social media detox and I feel no one talks about this, but being a social media content creator, whatever you want to call it, can be so all consuming and overwhelming at times and just draining.”

Emma was heading to the hotspot for a ‘social media detox’. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

“I film every part of my day and it just gets a little bit too much sometimes,” Ms Doherty said.

She has been posting on social media for the past four years and in that time she said she’s taken just a full day off from creating content.

“When I go on holiday I still post and create content. I feel like I need a break and I feel my anxiety is getting bad.

But due to the issue with her passport, she never got to go on her 10-day getaway. Picture: TikTok/emmafituk_

“Normally I push through and keep going but I just feel I need to take a full digital detox.

“I am actually flying to Bali tonight and it will be the perfect place to have some alone time without being on social media or creating content 24/7.”

But unfortunately due to the issue with her passport, Ms Doherty never got the much-needed break she was hoping for.

“Still can’t believe this happened. RIDICULOUS,” she said in another clip.

“If you’re heading to Bali just make sure your passport is in PRISTINE CONDITION or I quote ‘you will get put into a cell, have your possessions taken off you and detained until they decide to send you back’.”

And it can happen, according to an Aussie’s recent experience.

Sydneysider Matt Vandenberg was detained at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport over a ‘tiny tear’ in his passport. Picture: news.com.au

he had to get another flight back home to Sydney. Picture: news.com.au

Sydneysider Matt Vandenberg was detained as soon as he arrived at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport over a “tiny tear” in his passport.

The 29-year-old passed Australia’s security checks with zero issues and boarded a routine Jetstar flight earlier this month.

But things took an unexpected turn when he landed in Bali.

“So I arrived at DPS, paid my visa, presented my passport, and get brought over to the immigration office who alerted me I have a 1cm tear on my passport page,” Mr Vandenberg tweeted at the time.

“To be fair, he is correct. I had no idea until he bent it all the way back, and it stood out. You couldn’t see it any other way.”

The young Aussie was then brought into an office and told that because of the tiny tear, he wouldn’t be accepted into the country, and his passport was confiscated until he was put on a flight back to Australia.

Her then applied for an emergency passport and flew out that week.