Ryanair forced couple to take 2,800-mile, four-day detour
IT should have taken them less than three hours to get home.
But after a couple’s flight from Majorca was cancelled by Ryanair, it took them four days – and a 2,800mile detour – to get back to Britain.
Samantha Breen and her partner Alexander Rutherford had been due to fly home on October 10.
But upon arriving at Palma airport, they were told their flight to Newcastle had been cancelled due to a French air traffic control strike.
After six hours in a queue with other passengers, they were told the next available Ryanair flight was on October 13.
And instead of going direct, they would have to fly to Madrid, then Lanzarote – just off the coast of West Africa – before finally heading back to Britain on October 14. Unable to afford the £600 per flight cost of a quicker trip home, they agreed.
Miss Breen, of Thornaby, Yorkshire, said: ‘We asked for food vouchers but they said we weren’t allowed any. We were given a replacement hotel and were told we would have breakfast there. We were told everything would be included.’
However, she claims this turned out not to be the case.
After three days in the hotel, she and her 43-year-old partner flew to Madrid and then on to Lanzarote.
But she said: ‘The airport was closed, so we slept outside. The kids were missing us and asking when we were coming home.
‘I’m just disgusted with Ryanair. If they are going to put us in a hotel, surely there should be food included. I asked if we could have some refreshments and we got one bottle of water each.’
A Ryanair spokesman said: ‘Customers were sent text messages and emails... over 16 hours before departure, advising them of (the) cancellation and of their options.
‘The customers were advised to keep and submit vouched receipted expenses and a cheque of €124.17 (£111.51) has been authorised.
‘We apologise sincerely for this flight cancellation which was caused by a French ATC strike.’