A Leeds bride-to-be “cried her eyes out” after her wedding in paradise was turned to hell by TUI cancelling the guests’ flights and losing luggage with the the wedding gear.
Melissa Robinson and Michael Waite invested £20k in their dream ceremony in Cyprus next Tuesday (June 7) but may now have to call it off after only they and a few friends and family made it over.
TUI Flights have been cancelled across the country over the school holidays, with hundreds more cancellations expected in the coming months.
Read more: TUI and Jet2 Leeds Bradford Airport rules on what to do if your flight gets cancelled
Beauty therapist Melissa, 39, sobbed: “It is a disaster. I have been crying my eyes out. I just want to go home.” The couple have been planning the wedding since March 2021 after scaffolder and truck driver Michael, 32, popped the question on Boxing Day 2020.
Melissa wanted to say “I do” at the paradise destination of the exclusive Nissi Beach Resort in Ayia Napa. After arriving there, she'd been looking forward to sitting down with the wedding planner to discuss the finishing touches to their magical Big Day.
Instead, she spent the day crying in the hotel room after learning that most of her and Michael’s family were stranded in the UK. The wedding dream had startled on sour note when the Leeds couple’s 7am TUI flight from Manchester Airport was delayed until 11am and there was a mix up over seating.
They then arrived in Larnaca to be told the airline had lost the baggage containing all Melissa three kids’ clothes and wedding gear. Michael's brother Duane, 28, the groomsman, daughter Minnie, 4, the flower girl, and the rest of his family had their TUI flights cancelled twice.
Melissa’s new mother in law, Michael's two sons, his two sisters, their kids, his two brothers, his auntie, and Melissa’s two bridesmaids were due to fly out yesterday (Weds). But they were on their way to the airport when TUI emailed them saying their flights had been cancelled.
Melissa said: “I was so happy about the wedding. Now I am absolutely in bits. The flights were cancelled out of the blue. We are just seeing if we can get them on alternate flights. Otherwise, we will have to cancel it.”
Only 15 out of 64 guests having made it so far for the wedding and they have had to shell out hundreds of pounds on clothing that was in the lost luggage. Melissa added: “My witness for the wedding day has no clothes. All he has is a pair of shorts which has mum had to go to the shops to buy.
“We keep ringing up TUI and they just keep saying they have not heard anything yet. It is all down to airport disruption and to TUI cancelling flights out of the blue.
“I am very angry at the airline. It has caused me stress upset and tears. It is all TUI’s fault. It is nightmare.”
Michael said: “Obviously, I am furious with the airline. I was so angry how badly the trip started that I was all ready to cancel everything and book a flight home there and then.
“I only stayed to comfort Melissa because she was so upset. It has been a nightmare from start to finish. We have been here for two days and TUI are just not interested.”
TUI has been asked for comment.
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