A couple claim they were barred from boarding a flight to Malta at 3.30am because the vaccine they were given was made in India.
The retired couple say they were sent home from Manchester Airport on Friday because of their AstraZeneca jabs.
Steve and Glenda Hardy, 64 and 63, from Hull, told The Telegraph they were devastated after being turned away from the trip to visit their son - who they had not seen in more than a year.
“We were just gutted,” Mrs Hardy said. “We thought we’d covered ourselves – we paid for PCR tests, downloaded the NHS app and printed off the letter – but we fell at the final hurdle. I feel like we’re in limbo.
“We haven’t seen our son since he moved there a year ago. We had our flights refunded by Tui, but that’s by-the-by. Our big fear is that we just don’t know when we’ll be able to go to Malta.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he would challenge the Maltese authorities about the incident, which was "not right and shouldn't be happening".
The claims come as Brits were told as many as 5million who had unwittingly received an Indian AstraZeneca jab may not be allowed to go on holidays abroad.
Panicked holidaymakers were checking their jab's batch number as claims emerged flights will not recognise the AstraZeneca doses made in India.
The problem centres on doses made by the Serum Institute of India being known as Covishield.
Despite it being the same as other AstraZeneca vaccines, it has not been authorised by Europe’s regulator and is therefore not recognised by the EU.
The Hull couple, who were given Indian manufactured doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in March, said they had to holiday in Llandudno, Wales, instead.
Mrs Hardy said she and her husband were "gutted" and thought they had done everything right - including paying for PCR tests and downloading the NHS app.
It was the couple's third attempt to see their son after earlier trips were postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic.
The government has denied travel would be affected and said all AstraZeneca doses given in the UK were the same and should be accepted by the European Medicines Agency.
A spokesperson told the Mirror : “All AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS Covid Pass as Vaxzevria.
"The European Medicines Agency has authorised this vaccine and we’re confident travel will not be affected.
“All doses used in the UK have been subject to rigorous safety and quality checks, including individual batch testing and physical site inspections, by the medicine’s regulator, the MHRA.
“The EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate is currently for EU citizens only, or third country nationals legally staying or resident in the EU."
