A Ryanair customer was recently left outraged after his money-saving travel 'hack' backfired, costing him a holiday.
Scott McCormick had planned a trip from Birmingham Airport to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for both a week-long holiday with his girlfriend Helena Boshwick, and gym-mentorship event overseas.
The couple were due to fly on 1 May, arriving at the departure gate bang on time and boasting a front place position.
Whilst waiting to board with fellow holiday-makers, however, both McCormick and Boshwick were unexpectedly asked to step away from the line.
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After all other passengers had clambered their way onto the jet, the pair were informed that one of them would have to sacrifice their seat.
According to McCormick, they were informed that there was only one seat left on the flight. When asked why they'd been chosen, however, the couple were told it was because they hadn't reserved a seat.
Weeks earlier, whilst booking the trip, 33-year-old McCormick had skipped right past the online seat reservation system, where selecting a specific seat can cost customers between £4.50 and £33.
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The gym owner and Boshwick, also 33, had agreed that, due to the short duration of the flight, they didn't feel the need to reserve seats beside one another, and would sit apart if they had to.
"We checked in the night before and we didn't reserve a seat but you normally just get a random one," he later told press.
This failure to secure a particular seat meant that only one of them would be able to fly on the plane they'd queued for, whilst the other would be placed onto another flight.
"The lady scanned our boarding passes and told us to step to the side for a second," McCormick continued.
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"That moment was a red flag, I thought, 'there's something happening here.'
"We stepped to the side and watched all the people board the flight. I asked her to tell us what is going to happen and she said no."
A representative for the budget airline also told the couple that, if they wish, they could both fly on the next available flight, and would receive a full refund for their original ticket.
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The decision triggered a 'meltdown' between the pair, who returned to the check-in desk to refuse their options.
It was there that McCormick and Boshwick were reportedly told that they'd been misinformed, and that one of them would have to pay for the new ticket. The couple also claim they were not refunded for the original flight.
"That's the biggest part of the [issue], we were just lied to at the gate but then we still sold us a seat and we still have seen no sign of reimbursement," West Midlands local McCormick explained.
After sharing their predicament on social media to hear their followers' thoughts, many agreed that they should have reserved a seat, pointing out that their attempt at saving money has cost them even more.
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The couple went on to raise their issue higher, however, after which Ryanair explained that they'd been held back because the crew had switched planes at the last minute, and were now scheduled to fly on a jet with less seats.
McCormick believes, however, that the money-saving airline singled them out for their ages, and for not having children.
"Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats," he went on.
"It felt like discrimination, how do they pick out these people, is it because we're young and we have no kids so there's just two of us, is it to do with something we don't see or understand."
Eventually, after waiting several hours for a new flight and forking out another £100, the pair arrived in Mallorca.
"We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday," McCormick continued.
"They said at ticket sales they would be doing this themselves and get everything over and start the process so I haven't formally complained.
"I don't think they did, I definitely haven't got the money back."
Responding to McCormick's claims, Ryanair issued a statement, claiming the couple aren't entitled for a refund.
"This flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca (1 May) was not 'overbooked' - it was scheduled to operate on a 737-8200 (197 seats) but for operational reasons had to be swapped to a 737-800 aircraft (189 seats)," a spokesperson explained.
"As a result, one passenger was unable to travel on this flight, and was reaccommodated onto the next available flight to Palma de Mallorca.
"Mr McCormick's travel companion was not refused boarding but chose not to board and travel on this flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca and was required to pay a Missed Departure fee (£100) to be booked onto the next available flight.
"Mr McCormick was notified by email on the day of travel (1 May) that he was entitled to claim back reasonable receipted expenses, however Mr. McCormick has yet to submit any expense receipts to Ryanair."
Topics: Flight attendant, Holiday, Money, Ryanair, Travel, Sex and Relationships, Plane Etiquette
Rhianna Benson