A group of young women’s much-anticipated holiday in Magaluf turned into a nightmare when they were refused boarding by Ryanair on their way back home.
Louise Mckernan and her friends had enjoyed a week of sun and partying before heading to Palma de Mallorca Airport on July 16 for their return flight.
However, things took a drastic turn when their boarding passes failed to work, and they were denied access to the plane.
Refusal at the Gate and Allegations of Overbooking
Louise and her friends explained that they scanned their boarding passes at security without any issues and proceeded to the gate as usual.
However, when the flight was called for boarding, one member of their group encountered difficulties with her pass.
To their dismay, the rest of the group was then informed that all their boarding passes were invalid.
Despite seeking assistance from a Ryanair staff member, they were asked to step aside while boarding continued for other passengers.
The gate was eventually closed, leaving Louise and her friends stranded.
Disputes Over Checked-In Status and Unexpected Charges
Ryanair contends that the group had ‘un-checked themselves’ from the flight, suggesting that they failed to check back in and generate new boarding passes for the next day’s journey.
This accusation was vehemently denied by Louise, who argued that they had not received any notifications indicating that they had checked out.
Additionally, she questioned how they could have successfully passed through security if their passes were indeed invalid.
A Desperate Situation at the Customer Support Desk
The situation worsened for the group when they sought assistance from Ryanair’s customer support desk.
They were informed that in order to book the next available flight back to Manchester, which was at 10 pm that night, they would need to pay a €100 missed flight fee.
One member of the group, who was unwell, decided to take the flight and reluctantly paid the fee, which was later raised to €180 without prior warning.
Dispute and Unpleasant Treatment
Louise claims that the customer service representative at the desk displayed unprofessional behavior, laughing at their predicament and threatening to call the police on them.
The ordeal left the group deeply dissatisfied with the way they were treated.
Unexpected Costs and Dampened Spirits
In an attempt to find an alternative solution, the group decided to stay in Magaluf for two extra nights and booked a €50 flight home the following Tuesday.
The additional expenses for the new flight, extended hotel stay, and food costs amounted to approximately £350 for each member of the group.
This unexpected financial burden put a dampener on what was meant to be an exciting and memorable holiday abroad with friends.
Seeking Compensation and Resolution
Louise has since lodged a formal complaint with Ryanair, hoping to receive compensation for the missed flight, the new flight expenses, and the additional costs incurred during the ordeal.
The airline maintains that the passengers were correctly refused boarding due to their alleged online check-out and failure to generate new boarding passes.
A Disheartening End to a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
Louise expressed her disappointment, not only over the missed flight and unexpected charges but also about the way they were treated by the airline’s staff.
This unfortunate incident marred what should have been a joyous and carefree holiday, leaving the group with mixed emotions and a bitter memory of their first holiday abroad together.
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