Love’s lost dream as airline’s luggage blunder wrecks Daniel’s proposal plan
A DAD was forced to pull the plug on proposing to his girlfriend at Lake Garda - after Ryanair lost his hand luggage containing the precious ring.
Daniel McGaughey, 27, had booked a table at a romantic rooftop restaurant to pop the question to girlfriend Amy Pinder, 26, a teaching assistant.
It was primed to be a perfect moment – and a surprise to Amy, who is mum to their one-year-old son Zachary.
Daniel had carefully chosen the white gold ring set with three diamonds. So when Ryanair gate staff at Manchester Airport told him his hand luggage needed to go in the hold, he was reluctant.
Given no choice but to hand over the bag, he left the ring in it so as not to ruin the surprise.
He said: “I told them I didn’t want to but they said it would be fine. When I got there, the bag had gone - I kept complaining throughout the week’s holiday but it never turned up - no ring, no clothes.”
Daniel, a joiner, who met Amy at college, added: “Amy kept saying ‘it’s only a bag with clothes in,’ so in the end I had to tell her as she couldn’t understand why I was so upset. It ruined the holiday and the proposal. It’s underwhelming for both of us.”
Since Daniel and Amy have returned home to Heaton Norris, they have battled for compensation.
Daniel added: “The staff at the Ryanair desk at Manchester said I had to deal with Ryanair direct even though they were wearing Ryanair uniform and standing beneath a Ryanair banner.”
Daniel went on to contact them by email and sent two letters - but only got a reply when he publicly Tweeted at them.
When Daniel did get a reply, he says the Twitter conversation ‘went round in circles.’ He also attempted to fight his corner on the phone - but fell foul of Ryanair’s premium number, which he says set him back £3.80 a minute.
And when a claims form was finally sent, it stated Daniel could only seek compensation for clothing - and only with receipts.
He added: “All together that bag was worth £1,500 and I don’t have receipts for any of my clothes.”
In the end, Daniel proposed to Amy at home - without a ring.
“It’s embarrassing for her that she has to tell her friends without a ring. I think Ryanair should take responsibility,” he added.
A Ryanair spokesman said: “Our customer service team has advised the customer in question to provide receipts for the lost items. While we regret any inconvenience caused, Ryanair does not accept any liability for valuables including jewellery carried either in customers’ hand baggage or checkedin baggage, as stated in our terms and conditions of travel.”