Latest news with #HelenaBoshwick
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Popular money-saving travel ‘hack' backfires on frazzled plane passengers: ‘We were lied to at the gate'
A common hack to save money on Ryanair backfired on a couple. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport in the UK to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In an attempt to save money, the couple decided not to pay to reserve seats on the flight. '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,' McCormick, a gym owner, told Kennedy News. They were first in line to board when a staff member asked them to step aside as the rest of the passengers boarded. 'That moment was a red flag, I thought, 'there's something happening here,'' McCormick shared. 'I asked her to tell us what is going to happen, and she said no.' After everyone else was on the plane, the Ryanair staff member allegedly told them that the flight was full and there was only one seat left. McCormick admitted that the two of them had a 'meltdown' since they wanted to travel together — but they were told they were in this position because they 'hadn't reserved a seat.' 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth, we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours,' he said. After arguing with staff, the couple were reportedly told they could both get on the next flight and get refunded for both tickets. But when they went to the check-in desk again, they were informed they would still have to pay for one of the tickets — and they claimed a refund was never issued. 'We went down to ticket sales and they said we still have to pay for one ticket, only one is reimbursed. One of the seats was put down as a cancelled booking and the other was a missed flight so we'd still have to pay for one seat and be reimbursed for the other,' McCormick said. '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.'The couple reportedly had to spend even more money on the new ticket and waited for four hours for the next flight, and McCormick claimed it felt like 'discrimination.' 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats,' he said. '…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?' He said he will avoid flying Ryanair in the future due to a lack of care and empathy. 'You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're deadpan.' While some people on social media believed they were singled out for not reserving seats — debunking the so-called hack that doing so will result in lower airfare — Ryanair explained that it was because the plane itself was switched to one with fewer seats. '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),' the airline said. 'As a result, one passenger was unable to travel on this flight and was reaccommodated onto the next available flight to Palma de Mallorca,' said a Ryanair spokesperson. The airline's rep noted that McCormick is not eligible for a refund since he was reaccommodated onto the next available flight. '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 to be booked onto the next available flight.'
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why buying a plane ticket means you're NOT guaranteed a seat on your flight: Experts reveal the hidden catches that could curtail your best laid holiday plans
Flight passengers are not guaranteed a seat even when they book one - and can be legally 'bumped' onto another service, a travel expert confirmed today. Airlines will sometimes book more people onto a flight than there are seats on a plane because travellers do not always turn up even if they have booked a flight. Carriers are also sometimes unable to board all passengers if they switch to a smaller aircraft for operational reasons, meaning too many people will try to board. Some passengers are therefore asked to give up their place on the flight – known as being 'bumped' - although airlines can also do so without your permission. There was after one such case last month involving a Ryanair passenger who did not pay to reserve himself a seat before a flight from Birmingham to Mallorca. Gym coach Scott McCormick and his girlfriend Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly together on May 1 for a week-long break and gym mentorship event. The couple did not reserve seats - which typically cost from £4.50 to £33 each – before checking in because they did not mind sitting apart on the two-hour flight. Because of this, Mr McCormick and Miss Boshwick were each assigned a random seat free of charge upon checking in, which they did online before departure. But when they got to the airport gate, staff said that only one of them could board the plane - which they initially believed was because it had been overbooked. Ryanair has since confirmed that the flight was scheduled to operate on a Boeing 737-8200 with 197 seats, but had to be swapped to a 737-800 with only 189 seats. One passenger was left unable to board - and because the couple were the last two to check in, they were told one of them would be put onto the next flight. But because they did not wish to travel separately, only one of them could be moved onto the next flight - with the other having to pay a £100 missed departure fee, which was not refunded. Ryanair claimed Mr McCormick was entitled to claim back 'reasonable receipted expenses' under EU Regulation 261/2004, but he had yet to submit any receipts to the airline. Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer group Which?, told MailOnline: 'Unfortunately for travellers, it's not uncommon for flights to be overbooked. 'Sometimes a last minute change of aircraft might mean less seats available than planned for, in other cases some airlines actively overbook, betting on 'no shows' to balance things out, while maxing their profits by charging for more seats than the plane can actually accommodate. 'If an airline ends up with too many people at the gate, it can't just bump someone from the flight because they didn't pay extra to reserve a specific seat. 'So long as the flight is either departing the UK, or flying into the UK on a UK or EU based airline, the airline is legally obliged to ask for volunteers before resorting to forcibly denying boarding. 'If you volunteer then you surrender your right to statutory compensation, so you should make sure you're happy with the amount you negotiate - at a minimum be sure to get at least get the amount you would be owed if the flight was cancelled - which would be up to £520 each for a long-haul flight, or less for a short-haul journey. 'If there are no volunteers, only then an airline can choose to deny a passenger boarding. Anyone who is bumped from a plane should have their flight rebooked as quickly as possible, and be paid cancellation compensation.' Those who volunteer to be bumped on a flight must agree compensation with the airline, which will often make an announcement at the gate offering cash or vouchers. Passengers in such cases are also entitled to an alternative flight or a refund. But if a passenger is bumped without their agreement, they can get compensation as long as they checked-in on time – with the level depending on the length of flight and disruption. This is set out in the following table from the Civil Aviation Authority: Length of flight Length of disruptions Compensation Short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) Arrive 2 hours or more later at final destination £220 Short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) Arrive less than 2 hours later at final destination £110 Medium-haul flight of 1,500km - 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) Arrive 3 hours or more later at final destination £350 Medium-haul flight of 1,500km - 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) Arrive less than 3 hours later at final destination £175 Long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) Arrive 4 hours or more later at final destination £520 Long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) Arrive less than 4 hours later at final destination £260 Regardless of whether a passenger volunteered or was forced to be bumped, the airline must also let them choose an alternative flight and provide 'care and assistance' while they wait. This means they must provide a reasonable amount of food and drink, which is often provided as vouchers; a means for them to communicate, often by refunding the cost of calls; and accommodation in a hotel, if they are move onto a flight the next day. Transport to and from the accommodation, or the passenger's home, if they are able to return there, must also be provided. For those who do not wish to fly, they can get a refund for all parts of the ticket which have not been used – which would include the full cost of the return ticket if they are bumped from the outbound leg. If a passenger is midway through a journey, the airline should also provide a flight back to the starting point. This all comes under UK law, which provides rights for passengers departing from an airport in the UK on any airline; arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline; or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline. Ryanair has a policy that it does not overbook flights, but it is understood that the airline does try to seek volunteers to be bumped if a seat is not available for a passenger with a confirmed reservation. If no one volunteers, the airline then chooses the passengers itself to bump, and is supposed to offer them compensation, reimbursement and 'care and assistance'. Mr McCormick, from Birmingham, explained what happened in his case in a TikTok video, saying: '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. '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'. 'When everyone boarded, she 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'.' He claimed that the couple then had a 'meltdown' because they had wanted to catch the same flight and arrive to their destination together. Mr McCormick continued: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours.' He claimed that they protested and were eventually told that they could both get on the next flight and receive a refund for both tickets. Mr McCormick added: 'I asked if we can have that in writing or an email for them to confirm it in some way. They said it's on the system, and when we go to ticket sales, they will reimburse us and we can get on the next flight.' But when the couple got back to the check-in desk, they claim to have been told that they still had to pay for one of the tickets. 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. They then spent a further £100 on the new ticket and claimed they were assured that a refund would be processed for this fee, but they have not received it. Ryanair has since claimed that the passenger was not entitled to a refund for the flight because they were reaccommodated onto the next available service. But Mr McCormick said the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and did not have children. He added that he would avoid flying with Ryanair in future due to the staff's 'lack of compassion'. Mr McCormick said: 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats. '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? 'There was so much of it that was really frustrating, and it's the lack of care, no empathy. You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're deadpan. We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday. '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. We just got caught in a big company's terms and conditions. I would avoid it [Ryanair] if I could now. Why am I being singled out?' But a Ryanair spokesman told MailOnline: 'This flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca (May 1) 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). 'As a result, 1 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.
Economic Times
18 hours ago
- Economic Times
Ryanair throws out couple for not reserving flight seats in advance
Ryanair removed Scott McCormick and Helena Boshwick from their Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca flight. 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 airline promised a refund and a later flight. However, the couple had to pay for a new ticket and faced delays. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads No compassion or care: couple slams Ryanair airline Experience felt discriminatory: Scott 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 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 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.'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 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 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 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 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 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.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Ryanair hits back at couple who failed with their money-saving tactic in hilarious post
Ryanair has hilariously hit back at a couple who vowed they will 'never fly with the airline again' after their money-saving tactic backfired and eventually cost them their seats. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport on May 1 to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a week-long break and gym mentorship event. The couple chose not to reserve seats - which typically costs between £4.50 and £33 per seat - prior to boarding as they 'didn't mind' sitting apart during the two-hour flight. This can be a gamble, as passengers might not get a seat next to their travel companions - or they could find themselves wedged in between two strangers if they've been assigned a less-desirable middle seat. But according to Scott, Ryanair gate staff told the couple the flight was full and there was only one available seat left once all passengers had boarded. The fitness mentor, from Birmingham, West Midlands, said: '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.' He added: '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". 'When everyone boarded, she 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".' The news led to Scott and his girlfriend having a 'meltdown' as they had wanted to catch the same flight and arrive to their destination together. He explained: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours.' The gym owner claims they protested and were finally told that they could both get on the next flight and receive a refund for both tickets. Scott added: 'I asked if we can have that in writing or an email for them to confirm it in some way. They said it's on the system, and when we go to ticket sales, they will reimburse us and we can get on the next flight.' But when the couple went to the check-in desk again, they were reportedly told they still had to pay for one of the tickets - while Scott claims 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 - meaning the pair would be reimbursed for one while the other had to be paid for. The couple reportedly shelled out a further £100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma. The couple reportedly shelled out a further £100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma (Pictured: Scott in Palma de Mallorca after arriving hours later) 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 claims the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and childfree. The fitness fanatic said he will now avoid flying with the airline due to the staff members' 'lack of compassion.' Scott said: 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats. '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. 'There was so much of it that was really frustrating, and it's the lack of care, no empathy. You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're dead pan.' 'We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday. '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. More than 37,000 people have liked the post, and over 1,000 have commented in appreciation for the airline's audacity. 'I don't think they did, I definitely haven't got the money back. We just got caught in a big company's terms and conditions. I would avoid it [Ryanair] if I could now. Why am I being singled out?' Ryanair has now shared a response to Scott and Helena's complaints, simply saying: 'Today is a good day to separate couples onboard.' More than 37,000 people have liked the post, and over 1,000 have commented in appreciation for the airline's audacity. One cheeky person commented: 'Next time we want to break up, we'll just book with you.' Another knowingly added: 'Why stop there, put em on different planes.' And a third joked: 'You are the reason I only fly with you when I travel with my wife!' One person even revealed someone had once offered to swap seats on a Ryanair flight, so she could sit next to her husband. 'I politely declined!' she quickly added. It comes as Ryanair is at the centre of a 'wild' Simpsons conspiracy on social media in the wake of the Air India crash that that killed all but one of the 242 passengers onboard. The doomed Gatwick-bound Air India flight AI-171, which had been carrying 53 British nationals, crashed just moments after take-off on Thursday, 12 June. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, from Leicester, miraculously survived the disaster that saw all the other passengers perish in the fireball explosion. His seat, 11A, was near the Boeing's left engine. Eerily, exactly one month before the crash occurred, Ryanair posted a tongue-in-cheek video to its TikTok account poking fun at its infamous 11A seat - which has no window.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Common Ryanair cost-saving tactic backfires as furious holidaymaker booted off flight
A furious Ryanair passenger vowed he will 'never fly with the airline again' after what a common money-saving plan eventually cost him his seat on the flight. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport on May 1 to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a week-long break and gym mentorship event. The couple chose not to reserve seats - which typically costs between £4.50 and £33 per seat - prior to boarding as they 'didn't mind' sitting apart during the two-hour flight. A common tactic among Ryanair and low-cost carrier customers is to skip seat selection and rely on random allocation during check-in to save money on seat fees. This can be a gamble, as passengers might not get a seat next to their travel companions - or they could find themselves wedged in between two strangers if they've been assigned a less-desirable middle seat. However, by checking in as late as possible within the 24-hour window, customers might increase their chances of getting a better seat. But according to Scott, Ryanair gate staff told the couple the flight was full and there was only one available seat left once all passengers had boarded. The fitness mentor, from Birmingham, West Midlands, said: 'We checked in the night before and we didn't reserve a seat but you normally just get a random one. Ryanair gate staff reportedly told the couple - who did not reserve seats during check-in - that there was only one available seat left once all other passengers had boarded '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. He added: '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".' 'When everyone boarded, she 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".' The news led to Scott and his girlfriend having a 'meltdown' as they had wanted to catch the same flight and arrive to their destination together. He explained: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours.' The gym owner claims they protested and were finally told that they could both get on the next flight and receive a refund for both tickets. Scott added: 'I asked if we can have that in writing or an email for them to confirm it in some way. They said it's on the system, and when we go to ticket sales, they will reimburse us and we can get on the next flight.' But when the couple went to the check-in desk again, they were reportedly told they still had to pay for one of the tickets - while Scott claims he never received a refund. The couple reportedly shelled out a further £100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma (Pictured: Scott in Palma de Mallorca after arriving hours later) 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 - meaning the pair would be reimbursed for one while the other had to be paid for. The couple reportedly shelled out a further £100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma. 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 claims the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and childfree. The fitness fanatic said he will now avoid flying with the airline due to the staff members' 'lack of compassion.' Scott said: 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats. '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. 'There was so much of it that was really frustrating, and it's the lack of care, no empathy. You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're dead pan.' 'We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday. 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. We just got caught in a big company's terms and conditions. I would avoid it [Ryanair] if I could now. Why am I being singled out?' When Scott shared his ordeal on social media, many were shocked to hear that airlines might overbook a flight - though some suggested reserving a seat can help avoid being 'singled out' for not getting aboard. One person said: "Prepay for a seat, then problem solved. ALL airlines do this." When someone suggested queuing early to ensure you get a seat, another swiped: 'Or just book your seat.' A third wrote: 'This is crazy! Surely if you pay and don't reserve a seat, you still paid with the intention of getting on a flight how can they not allow you on?' A fourth echoed the opinion of many commenters and said: 'Why do people still fly with Ryanair? It blows my mind! It's the most awful airline.'
