Knowing that we were taking our holiday in late September of this year, i checked our childrens passports and found them to expire in April 2010.
That gave us approx' 6 months of use still on them.
To be sure i emailed East Mids airport who passed me on to my Airline. I emailed them explaining the above and was told they wasnt sure so i should email the Spanish Embassy.
This i did, but received no reply.
I wrote them a letter too, but again got no reply.

I did however look on the FCO website, and on there it states " there is no minimum validity period for a passport used to travel to Spain, providing it is still in date when we are due to return".

I notified the airline, and they said i still really needed written confirmation that the passports are ok.

I have printed off what the FCO website states and i will take that along with our passports when we travel in case there are any probs, but does anyone on here actually know once and for all whether we will be ok or not.

Your help would be very appreciated.
Thanks,

Baz

If it says April 2010 then you are free to use it until the date specified.

No need for checking it up.

Your passport is valid for your holidays and up to April 2010. The reason the airline has not told you your passport IS valid, is the person dealing with your request does not know the answer.

Just turn up for your flight and you will not have any problems with the airline or Spanish Immigration. "PROMISE"

Enjoy your hols,

Regards
Albert.

There are some circumstances where extended validity of a passport is required.

Luckily is is very rare but the airlines have their own rules which may vary from the strictly legal requirements and they can refuse to allow you to fly.

The reason for this is that if you are refused entry the airline has to fly you back at their cost.

There is unlikely to be any problem within the EU but you never know what some jobsworth is going to throw at you at the check-in.

There is some info here on the British Expats site

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Passports-Six_Month_Rule

I fully agree with the above comment, but if you do get a JOBSWORTH on check in, then ask for their boss.

As fred said, you are very unlikely to have any problem within the EU.

I travelled to Spain with a passport that was due to expire 2 weeks after my return flight with no problems at all.

Regards
Albert.

I travelled with a passport that was due to expire about 2 months after my return, all that happened was that the customs officer drew my attention to the fact that it would soon need renewal.

Many many thanks to all that have answered.
To be honest i guessed that i should be ok, but as i said, i have printed the FCO website statement, and i'll be taking it along with our passports.
Thanks for the help friends.

Baz

I travelled to Spain with only 6 days left on my passport and renewed it once in Spain. The girl at the airlines check in mentioned the date but I expained I lived in spain and would renew it once home. No probelms.
The passport expires on the date shown, not 6 months, 6 six weeks or 6 days before.
Anyone who tells you different is WRONG.

Baz, I doubt if that'll make the slightest difference. If the minimum-wage functionaries at the airline desk decide you're not going to fly - that's it. If you argue with them all that will happen is .... nothing, though you might get arrested . There is frequently no-one with any higher authority, or the ability to make a decision available (esp. for non-spanish airlines at spanish airports), so there's no-one to appeal the decision to.
They really are a law unto themselves and if their single neuron hasn't already died of loneliness and randomly fires, to decide Niet! then you have no recourse to any further action.
However, the good news is (as Mikelincs) says, you can travel right up to the limit of the date - certainly within the EU. Though the yanks won't let you in if your passport is due to expire within 90 days, which might be where you heard the story. Like Mike, I've traveled near the end of a passport, and like Mike all that has happened is that the bored border guard has made a comment.

Please!!!!!!

This only complicates matters.

A 2 week holiday in the EU with passports that end in 6 months are not an issue in any shape or form.