“Birthdays Ruined: A Holiday Shattered by Unforeseen Circumstances”

**Ryanair Refuses to Let Disabled Passenger Board Flight Due to “Slight Rip” in Husband’s Passport**

A disabled woman and her husband were left devastated after Ryanair refused to let them board their flight from Manchester Airport due to a “slight rip” in his passport. Abriella Monroe, 32, who is paraplegic, and her husband Sebastien, 36, were meant to be flying to Tenerife for a two-week birthday celebration holiday on Wednesday morning.

The couple, from Wythenshawe, had to watch their flight depart without them despite successfully using the passport earlier at check-in and for duty-free purchases. Sebastien, who is also Abriella’s carer, was turned away at the boarding gate by airline staff.

The issue arose when glue appeared to have worked loose on a page of Sebastien’s passport, resulting in a small tear along its spine. Ryanair said he was “correctly refused travel” as the passport was ripped on the identification page at the seam and across the page.

The couple insisted the passport should have been accepted, noting that all details and his photograph were clearly visible. The passport was fully in date, and Abriella said it had been kept safely in a folder alongside other important documents like birth certificates and medical notes.

The couple arrived at Manchester Airport at 3.45am for their 5.50am Ryanair flight FR1249. They had checked in at special assistance check-in and showed their boarding passes and passports without any issues. Sebastien even used his passport to exchange money at Travelex and purchase duty-free items.

However, at the boarding gate, while Abriella was cleared to travel, a staff member took “a two-second look” at Sebastien’s passport before refusing him entry. “We tried to reason with him and asked to speak to someone higher up, but it was no use,” Abriella said.

After being denied boarding, the couple had to go through Border Force to exit the airport. Border Force officers told them Sebastien’s passport was perfectly valid for travel, according to Abriella. The couple then faced an hour-long wait to retrieve their checked luggage and Abriella’s wheelchair, which had been removed from the plane.

“We will definitely be complaining to Ryanair as soon as we get home. The passport is just slightly torn. We can fully see his details, passport number and his photograph,” Abriella said. They now face a trip to HM Passport Office in Liverpool to try to salvage their holiday.

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “The UK Passport Office defines what constitutes as a damaged passport, not Ryanair. This passenger was correctly refused travel from Manchester to Tenerife (8 January) as his passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.”

**FAQ**

Q: What was the issue with the couple’s passport?
A: The issue was a small tear along the spine of Sebastien’s passport, which Ryanair staff deemed as damaged and not valid for travel.

Q: Had the couple experienced any issues with their passport before the flight?
A: No, the couple had successfully used the passport earlier at check-in and for duty-free purchases.

Q: Did the couple try to reason with the Ryanair staff?
A: Yes, Abriella said they tried to reason with the staff and asked to speak to someone higher up, but it was unsuccessful.

Q: What did the Border Force officers say about the passport?
A: According to Abriella, the Border Force officers told them Sebastien’s passport was perfectly valid for travel.

**Conclusion**

The incident highlights the importance of clear communication and understanding between airlines and passengers. While Ryanair’s policy may state that a damaged passport is not valid for travel, it is unclear why the staff did not consider the tear to be minor and acceptable. The couple’s experience was not only frustrating but also stressful, especially for Abriella who relies on her husband for assistance. The couple will be filing a complaint with Ryanair and will have to visit the HM Passport Office to try to salvage their holiday.