As a physician, I was involved in a medical emergency with an elderly passenger but the airline won’t drop the £100 rebooking fee
My journey from London Stansted to Pescara, Italy, took an unexpected turn. Just as I was approaching the boarding area, an elderly lady suffered a fall on an escalator. Being a medical professional, I immediately rushed to her aid. She had incurred a fractured wrist, severe lacerations, and a concerning head trauma, requiring me to control the bleeding until airport staff and emergency medical teams could take over.
I requested that the boarding staff be informed of my delay due to this medical crisis, yet despite arriving at the gate 15 minutes before the flight’s departure, it was already closed.
Consequently, I had to secure a booking on the next flight to Rome and endured a nearly six-hour wait at the airport with my infant child. Despite these circumstances, Ryanair has declined to waive the £100 fee for changing my booking.
FB, Haslemere, Surrey
Your altruistic actions unfortunately resulted in significant financial loss.
You forfeited your car rental reservation in Pescara and incurred an additional £211 to secure another rental at Rome. Furthermore, you paid £127 for a hotel in Rome and then faced a 150-mile drive to Pescara.
I had hoped that Ryanair would recognize your community service and refund the £100 charge as a token of goodwill. That hope proved to be misplaced. The airline’s stance was clear: “It is the responsibility of each passenger to arrive at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. This passenger did not arrive before the gate closure. Had they arrived on time, they would have been allowed to board with the other 154 passengers who did.”
I reached out to the airline to ensure they fully grasped the situation, but my inquiries were ignored. In Ryanair’s view, passengers must prioritize their own schedules over helping others, or bear the consequences themselves. I can only express my gratitude to you and all those who prioritize the welfare of others above their own interests.
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