Our Tui holiday was RUINED after we were stranded at the boiling hot airport for 14 hours when our flight was delayed

A MUM is fuming at a holiday firm after her family were left stranded at an airport for 14 hours.

Lisa Mason, 47, and her four children were due to fly back to Manchester after enjoying a break in Larnaca, Cyprus.


But instead Lisa and her kids Holly, 21, Poppy, aged 16, Daisy, aged 11 and nine-year-old James ended up waiting at the boiling hot airport after a series of delays.

After arriving at Larnaca airport, they were told by travel firm Tui that it had been delayed, meaning they boarded an hour late, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live.

And things went from bad to worse as passengers were then left waiting for three hours on board the grounded plane before being herded back into the departure lounge.

The angry mum has branded the situation a "shambles" and says it has "completely taken the shine off" the family's first holiday since the pandemic.

Read More in Travel

Boy left in tears after Ryanair WRONGLY said his passport was invalid

TUI issues holiday warning for Brits heading abroad this summer

The problems started before the holiday, when Lisa's chosen return flight time was changed from 10.30pm to 1.30am the following morning.

Their outgoing flight from Manchester was then delayed by two hours due to "baggage handling problems".

Lisa said: "We had a lovely holiday but when we got to the airport to fly home there were people all around and nobody knew what was going on.

"A Jet2 flight to Glasgow had been cancelled so some people from that were booked onto our flight. That caused an hour's delay but that was fine, we understood that.

Most read in Travel

CHECK NOW

TUI issues holiday warning for Brits heading abroad this summer

COSTA LOT

Brits will be hit with fines AFTER they return home from Spanish holidays

HOLIDAY CHAOS

Passport warning for Brit holidaymakers as fresh issue sparks holiday chaos

HOT DEAL

Travelodge launch flash sale with rooms this June for £8pp a night

"We boarded the plane at 1.30am to leave at 2.30am, but we were left sitting there for three hours. Everyone was asking what was going on. We were told there were technical problems.

"My daughter doesn't like flying at she was getting distressed by it all. Other people were getting really upset.

"It was boiling hot on there. People were asking for water but they said they were low on stock. All they could offer was wine, tonic water and ginger beer. They didn't have any food except crisps.

"People were getting angry and the Tui staff were getting upset too."

Lisa says passengers were then told via a tannoy announcement that everyone needed to disembark and go back into the airport.

"We were then told that they we would have to stay another night and they would find us accommodation. They were trying to find somewhere to accommodate 200 people.

"They said the hotels were full. People were ringing the hotels they had stayed in and were told they could go back there, but Tui said if people made their own arrangements it would void their insurance.

"Then they told us they were flying another plane from Manchester to take us home. We were told different things – it was just ridiculous. Everyone was absolutely fuming.

"We were left waiting for hours, people were lying on the floor trying to get some sleep. There were elderly people, a lady with a six-month-old baby, two people in wheelchairs.

"We were just given a lot of misleading information, nobody knew what was happening. We were basically just stuck."

Passengers were eventually allowed to board another plane and took off at 3.18pm local time – almost 14 hours behind schedule.

Lisa added: "The pilot told us the crew that had been on the previous night had worked too long and needed 12 hours rest."

"It was an absolute shambles. We were supposed to go to Turkey two years ago but it was cancelled due to Covid and this was our first family holiday for a long time. It's completely and utterly taken the shine off the holiday."

Tui has since apologised to the affected holidaymakers. The firm said passengers were given vouchers to buy food and drink at the airport and its customer teams would be in touch with them regarding compensation.

Read More on The Sun

Keir Starmer WILL be investigated by cops over ‘beergate’ lockdown-breaking bash

Leigh-Anne Pinnock opens up on her twin baby names for the first time

A spokesman said: "We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to our customers on flight TOM2367 from Larnaca to Manchester, which was delayed due to operational issues.

"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always our highest priority, and we would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding at this time."

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post 20 casualties of Queen's Platinum Jubilee balcony ban
    Next post First look at Disney World's huge new attraction opening at the theme park