Family’s £1,000 holiday ruined after Ryanair staff refused to let teenager board plane – due to tiny 1cm tear in his passport
- 19-year-old Jake Burton was unable to board a plane during his first New Year’s holiday abroad
A Ryanair passenger was unable to board a flight for a £1,000 dream holiday due to a small tear in his passport, it has been claimed.
Jake Burton, 19, was due to take his first ever flight to Benidorm with his parents to celebrate the New Year.
But the discount airline told him he couldn’t board after failing the final check.
His parents Rachael, 47, and Chris, 51, said there was a 1cm tear in their son’s passport so they were turned away at the gate.
Jake Burton, 19, (pictured) was due to take his first ever flight to Benidorm with his parents
The family, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, were due to leave on December 28 for an eight-day trip. In the photo the tear that prevented the family from boarding
They were forced to walk back across the runway and through East Midlands Airport to leave.
The family claims the tear is on the opposite side of the main photo information page and may have happened during a night out.
Although Jake’s parents were allowed to fly, they said they refused to leave their son at home on what would be his first holiday abroad.
Speaking to The Sun, Rachael said: ‘We went through all the checks but at the very end Ryanair rejected us.
‘It was absolutely heartbreaking. It would have been one thing if he had been rejected initially, but when you get to the gate you start to get into vacation mode and it’s just awful.
The family claims the tear is on the other side of the main photo information page and may have happened during a night out
Although Jake’s (pictured) parents were allowed to fly, they said they refused to leave their son at home on what would have been his first holiday abroad
‘The worst part was that this woman wouldn’t even look him in the eye when she said no.
‘It was the first time he flew, the first time he went abroad. We were all devastated.
‘We went with friends and they had been trying to get us to Benidorm for years.’
The family, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, were due to leave on December 28 for an eight-day trip.
Now they claim they have lost £1,067.64 they spent over the holidays.
Fortunately, the hotel they were going to stay at had to be paid for on arrival, which would have cost them £800.
“I don’t think we can get our money back because they told us we could fly, but we’re hoping we can at least get something back for Jake,” Rachael continued.
‘He thinks it’s his fault. He’s so sorry. He didn’t come out of his bedroom.
“I think this is what kept him from flying for life.”
MailOnline contacted Ryanair for comment.