A cancer patient has slammed an airport's "ridiculous queues" after she missed a flight to Germany for treatment. Jennifer Richardson was also visiting Nuremberg to see her mum, who has cancer as well, but she didn't get through security in time.
She is now in a row with Birmingham Airport, which said it was sympathetic but that Ms Richardson should have arrived earlier for her plane. Mum-of-four Ms Richardson, 38, maintains that she arrived in good time for her 6.15am flight on Thursday, reports BirminghamLive.
Ms Richardson also paid extra for Express Lane tickets. However, she said she was made to wait in long queues that stretched from security on the upper level of the terminal right the way down to the check-in areas.
The Kings Norton resident told BirminghamLive: "I paid extra for priority but had to queue up with everyone else. I was there 90 minutes before. Everyone, regardless of priority, or even business class, were forced to wait in the same, long queue.
"I'm an emotional mess after all of this. I needed to go to Germany for cancer treatment and to see my parents.
"My mum was diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks ago, and I found out I had breast cancer this year. My plan was to have treatment with my mum."
Ms Richardson has also lodged a complaint with Air France over its service. She claims the airline was unsympathetic by only offering a flight to Germany later the same day - but for an eye-watering £380 extra.
She added: "I couldn't rebook because it was too much. I have a family of six, with two special needs children, so our money is tight.
"The worst thing about all this was having to say goodbye to my kids and partner. I was going one-way to Germany for at least eight months. It was incredibly emotional, and now we have to do it all over again."
Ms Richardson, who moved to the UK from Germany ten years ago, claims Air France staff also "allowed people to cut in front of others" at check-in. "They said they would get back to me ASAP on this, but I'm still waiting," she said.
The airline confirmed it has launched an investigation over the matter.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “It’s never nice to miss a flight, so we have huge sympathy for Jennifer. We also wish her well with her treatment. But had she arrived at BHX two hours before her flight, as recommended by her airline, she would not have missed it.”
