Student nurse refused Ryanair flight from Alicante

SHANNON WOTHERSPOON, from Kirkcaldy in Fife was stopped from flying back to Edinburgh airport from Alicante after check in staff refused to admit after rejecting her passport.

Whilst on holiday she had suffered an allergic reaction which meant her face had swollen up slightly.This difference in her appearance caused check in officials to examine her passport closer, noticing slight water damage to the outside edges.

Due to the damage they refused her past the desk, leaving her with a three hour wait at the terminal. She managed to find a flight and was permitted entry by British Airways who accepted her passport.

The 24-year-old nurse was left out of pocket by £200 and arrived home over 10 hours later than planned after being transferred in Gatwick for six hours.Ms Wotherspoon told reporters “ Idefinitely won’t ever fly with them again; I’d rather just pay th eextra.”

“The Ryanair check-in staff only phoned her manager about the situation at the desk and they never saw the passport,whereas the manager for British Airways at the airport,she came down to look at everything.”

A spokesperson for Ryanair explained “It is each passenger’s individual responsibility to ensure that he/she is travelling on a valid passport (not expired and not damaged), in compliance with Ryanair’s terms and conditions.”