Ryanair throws out couple for not reserving flight seats in advance
Irish airline
Ryanair
kicked off a couple from the flight after it refused to pay extra money to reserve seats. The incident occurred on May 1, 2025, when Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a week-long break and gym mentorship event.
The couple opted not to reserve seats prior to boarding as they 'didn't mind' sitting apart during the two-hour flight to their destination. The seat reservations cost between £4.50 and £33 per seat, according to the Daily Mail. Not reserving a seat on the flight in advance can leave the passenger with issues like not getting the seat next to their travel companions, or they can also find themselves stuck between two passengers.
For Scott and his girlfriend, the matters got worse as the couple were forced to take separate flights altogether. 'We checked in the night before, and we didn't reserve a seat, but you normally just get a random one. Me and my partner thought it's not that much of a problem if we're not sitting together for a two-hour flight; we're adults here,' the fitness mentor from Birmingham, West Midlands, said, the Daily Mail reported.
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'We were the first ones at the gate ready for boarding. 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 further stated.
The couple claimed that when everyone boarded the flight, the lady said that the flight was full and there was only one seat remaining. They further said that the lady assured reimbursement for the other seat and asked them to get on the next flight. The announcement led to the couple having a 'meltdown' as they wished to catch the same flight and arrive at their destination together.
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No compassion or care: couple slams Ryanair airline
The couple further claimed that there was no compassion or care whatsoever, and after going back and forth, they said that they were not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours. The gym owner further said that they protested and were finally told that they could both get on the next flight and receive a refund for both tickets. But as the couple reached the check-in desk again, the two were reportedly told they still had to pay for one of the tickets. Scott claimed that he never received a refund.
According to the holidaymaker, one of the seats had been marked in the system as a cancelled booking, while the other was put down as a missed flight, the Daily Mail reported. This meant that the two would be reimbursed for one while the other had to be paid for. The couple reportedly paid a further £100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma.
Experience felt discriminatory: Scott
Though the pair were assured that a refund would be processed for one of the tickets, Scott claims he has still not received it or heard from Ryanair.
He further stated that the experience with the airline felt discriminatory and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and childfree. The gym owner said he will now avoid flying with the airline due to the staff members' 'lack of compassion'.
Responding to Scott and Helena's complaints, Ryanair simply said, 'Today is a good day to separate couples onboard.'
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