A Leeds woman was left fuming after Leeds Bradford Airport “kicked her out” after her flight was cancelled.
Anna Wynd, 35, claims she and the other disgruntled passengers were told to leave the airport at the boarding gate on June 10. The Morley woman was angry that she wasn’t allowed to return to the lounge to book another flight.
The 35-year-old would have had to go all the way back to check-in after booking again, where queues had already piled up. So Anna decided to cancel the trip, which was an important one as it was for her godson’s first birthday - she’s even more upset about missing out on that.
Read more: Leeds Bradford Airport rules for cancelled flights
Anna, who works in HR, was waiting for hours for her flight to Belfast which was due out at 11.30am, only for Flybe to cancel it at about 1pm. She'd been waiting for hours in the airport lounge with only a glass of wine as a comfort.
Anna said: “I am fuming but I have no energy to argue with anyone. I felt like I was treated worse by the airport than the airline. I’m so disappointed with them because they kicked us out. I wish I didn’t have to return to them but I have no choice.
“I’m more fuming with the fact that they did not let me go back to the lounge so I could book another flight with another provider without going through the check-in again.”
She went onto the whole situation had been confusing even before she was told to leave, with the departure board erratically changing between cancelled to delayed in one instance. The 35-year-old claims it directed passengers to Gate 1.
Anna said: “Earlier you could see on the screen it said ‘cancelled’ but then suddenly it said ‘Go to Gate 1’. We thought maybe there was just a glitch.
“Everyone just ran to Gate 1 and then we were queuing and eventually when we got to the gate, they only then told me the flight was cancelled. They said ‘Sorry, your flight is cancelled, and you need to leave the airport’.
“I asked if I could go back to the lounge but they said ‘No, please just leave’. Then they just let us out to arrivals.”
Anna managed to get a refund from Flybe but also wants her travel fare to the airport paid for. She’s also mortified she wasted a day of her annual leave just travelling to the airport and back home.
A Flybe spokesperson said: “Flybe Ltd confirms that unfortunately flight BE734 Leeds Bradford-Belfast City was cancelled on 10th June.
"Flybe has made every effort to re-accommodate customers and alternative flights were offered for same-day travel. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or difficulties this cancellation caused.”
Leeds Bradford Airport has also been asked for a comment.
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