They wanted to go to Mallorca - holidaymakers are not allowed on the plane despite having a ticket
A couple from Great Britain bought a plane ticket to Mallorca for around 450 euros. However, when they arrived at the gate, they were not allowed to fly.
Scott McCormick and Helena Borthwick paid £384.55 (€449.52) for a return Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Mallorca . It was to be their first trip abroad in over two years. However, when they arrived at the gate, they discovered that their seats were not guaranteed because they hadn't paid the additional fee to reserve their own seats. The airline had swapped the plane, resulting in fewer seats available.
"We were shocked," the couple told the Daily Mail. "When you book a flight, you assume you'll get a seat."
Borthwick said she "freaked out a little and cried" because the flight was at 7 a.m., which meant they had to get up at 2 a.m. "We had already spent a lot of money, maybe £2,000 (€2,300) on a hotel, excursions, and a dog sitter, and this just felt like the worst-case scenario." The couple decided to switch to the next flight, which incurred additional costs.
An expert told the Daily Mail that it's not uncommon for flights to be overbooked or aircraft to be replaced. Affected travelers are entitled to compensation. Ryanair stated that the aircraft was changed for operational reasons, which resulted in the seat shortage.
However, due to a card error, she was unable to pay the 7 pounds (8.23 euros). "I tried to type, but the card reader didn't work. They got another one. When that still didn't work, I offered to get cash upon landing, but they told me that wasn't possible," Murray recounted the incident to the Mirror . Upon her arrival, Murray was met by police.
Air travel is part of everyday life for many people – but how much do we really know about what's happening above our heads? Here are some astonishing facts that might surprise even frequent flyers.
- Nearly five billion passengers worldwide: In 2024, around 4.9 billion people traveled by plane—a new post-pandemic record. In Germany, the number also rose to around 199.5 million passengers.
- The world's largest aircraft: With a wingspan of 117 meters, the "Stratolaunch" (nicknamed "Roc") is the world's largest aircraft. It was built to enable rocket launches from the air.
- Turbulence is usually harmless – but unpleasant: It's caused by weather patterns, jet streams, or mountain ranges. Even though it's a stomach ache, airplanes are designed to fly through it safely.
- Aviation and the climate: The industry is under pressure: Air transport accounts for approximately two to three percent of global CO₂ emissions. Airbus plans to launch a hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft by 2035.
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