“Grounded and Forgotten: Ryanair’s Crisis Leaves Disabled Passengers Stranded in Austria”

A Scottish family’s Christmas holiday was thrown into chaos after they were “abandoned” at an Austrian airport by Ryanair.

Katie Brown, 25, who uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, found herself alongside her father Graeme and his wife Vikki left stranded at Vienna International Airport on Friday after their flight departed without letting disabled passengers onboard. Katie, who relies on her medication to manage her condition, was left without her vital medication and luggage, including her Christmas presents.

The family had been enjoying a Christmas break in Vienna when they were initially told their flight was delayed by two hours due to technical issues. They were escorted to their gate by airport assistance staff alongside an 84-year-old solo passenger who also used a wheelchair. However, when the assistance staff failed to return to help them board, they were incorrectly informed that the flight had been cancelled.

Disaster struck when the family discovered that the flight had actually departed without them, taking their luggage and Katie’s medication with it. The flight eventually landed in Edinburgh almost two hours and 40 minutes behind schedule, leaving the Brown family feeling frustrated and stranded.

The family was offered seats on the next available Ryanair flight, but this would have meant waiting until New Year’s Day, causing Katie to miss her 26th birthday celebrations on Hogmanay. Instead, they booked a Jet2 flight home on Sunday, incurring significant additional expenses.

Katie described the incident as “disgraceful” and “dehumanising”, stating that it seemed like Ryanair had made a cost-cutting decision at the expense of disabled passengers. She added that the airline’s policy states that passengers could be entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed by three or more hours, but in this case, they were left without any explanation or apology.

Ryanair has denied any responsibility for the incident, blaming the airport’s special assistance staff instead. The family has yet to receive a formal explanation or apology from the airline.

FAQs:

Q: What happened to the Brown family’s flight?
A: The family’s Ryanair flight from Vienna to Edinburgh departed without them, leaving them stranded at the airport.

Q: Why did the flight leave without the Brown family?
A: It is unclear why the flight departed without the Brown family, but they were told that they were incorrectly informed that the flight had been cancelled.

Q: What did Ryanair do to compensate the Brown family?
A: Ryanair offered the family seats on the next available flight, which would have meant waiting until New Year’s Day. The family instead booked a Jet2 flight home on Sunday, incurring additional expenses.

Q: Has Ryanair apologized to the Brown family?
A: No, the family has yet to receive a formal explanation or apology from Ryanair regarding the incident.

Conclusion:

The Brown family’s experience on Ryanair is a shocking example of how airlines can fail to prioritize the needs of disabled passengers. As a result, Katie and her family were left stranded at an airport without their medication, luggage, or a clear explanation for what had happened. This incident highlights the importance of airlines taking responsibility for their actions and providing adequate support to passengers with disabilities.