A TEENAGER’S passport mistake cost his family £1,000 of their dream holiday after Ryanair refused to let him on the plane.
Jake Burton, 19, was due to take his first flight to Benidorm for New Year’s Eve with his parents.
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Jake Burton and his family were about to take off on their first international holiday – until they stopped. Credits: Submitted
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Parents Chris and Rachael say a small mistake meant they were forced to ditch a trip to Benidorm – which cost more than £1,000 Credit: Supplied
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Family says one centimeter tear saw teenager Jake turn Credit: Submitted
The family were ready to take off from East Midlands Airport and were about to get on the plane before it failed its final check.
Parents Rachael and Chris Burton say it was a one-centimeter crack in the teenager’s passport that caused him to turn around.
But the family says the tear is on the opposite side of the page from the main photo information – so nothing is missing from the months-old passport.
Jake says he probably damaged it during a night out.
Rachael and Chris, 47 and 51, say they were still allowed to fly but refused to leave their son at home while they went on his first holiday abroad.
The mum, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said: “We went through all the checks but at the very end Ryanair turned us down.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking. It would be one thing if they turned him down in the first instance, but once you get to the door, you start going into rest mode and it’s just horrible.
“The worst thing is that this woman didn’t even want to look him in the eye when she told us no.
“We had to go back through the airport, even down the runway, to leave. It was just awful.”
The family was supposed to leave for the eight-day trip on December 28.
They say they lost out on £1,067.64 spent on flights and £167 on taxis and transfers.
Luckily the hotel was to be paid on arrival – £392 per room, so just under £800 in total.
Rachael added: “It was his first time flying, his first time going abroad. We were all devastated.
“We went with friends and they tried to bring us to Benidorm for years.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to get our money back, because they told us we can fly, but hopefully we can at least get something back for Jake.
“He thinks it’s his fault. He is so sorry. He didn’t come out of his bedroom.
“I think this has put him off flying for life.”
Ryanair told The Sun: “This passenger was correctly refused travel from the East Midlands to Alicante as his passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.”
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The family says they now fear Jake will ever delay the trip again. Credits: Submitted
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Source: HIS Education