Airline Fine Lands Couple in Travel Trouble

Airport Mishap Results in Unexpected Fee

A couple’s romantic getaway to Mallorca took a turn when they were charged a penalty by Ryanair. The issue arose when Helena Boshwick chose to stay with her partner, Scott McCormick, after a flight complication.

The pair, both aged 33, were eager to enjoy a sunny vacation from Birmingham Airport. However, due to a plane swap, they were faced with a difficult decision at the boarding gate.

Unexpected Boarding Situation

After checking in online, the couple did not reserve specific seats, a practice that can save on costs. At the gate, they were informed there was only a single seat available. Helena decided to stay with Scott rather than board separately. They faced a financial penalty as a result.

They were told they needed to pay a missed departure fee, and one ticket was still charged, even though Scott insists he didn’t get a refund. This resulted in a £100 charge for a new ticket, plus a four-hour wait for the next flight.

A Ryanair representative stated that the flight was not overbooked. The original aircraft was switched for operational reasons. As a consequence, a passenger was unable to board the flight and was moved to the next available one.

The airline added that McCormick’s companion chose not to fly. She paid a missed departure fee of £100 to book a spot on the subsequent flight. The airline also noted that McCormick had been notified by email that he could claim expenses.

After sharing his experience online, many suggested that the couple’s choice not to reserve seats may have been a contributing factor in this situation.

The Couple’s Experience

Scott McCormick recalled the events. He explained that, after checking in the night before, he and his partner didn’t reserve seats. They thought it wouldn’t be a problem to not sit together on a two-hour flight.

“We arrived, everything proceeded as usual, went through security as normal, went to the gate after waiting a couple of hours and we were the first ones at the gate ready for boarding.”

—Scott McCormick

McCormick added, “The lady scanned our boarding passes and told us to step to the side for a second. That moment was a red flag, I thought, ‘there’s something happening here’.”

He continued by saying that the staff member said, “the plane is full, there’s only one seat remaining and we will have to reimburse you for the other seat or you’ll have to get on the next flight.” Despite Ryanair’s assertion of the flight not being overbooked, the couple experienced significant difficulties.

They had a difficult time and said they wanted to fly together. According to the airline, “they will fully reimburse both tickets and put you on the next flight for free.” According to a recent study, approximately 1% of flights are overbooked, potentially leading to passengers being denied boarding (Bureau of Transportation Statistics).