Ryanair couldn’t resist making a dig after a couple complained about being separated onto two different flights – and the cheeky jibe has really divided opinion
Ryanair seems to have poked fun at a couple who complained about being separated on a flight. The airline took to Facebook to throw a little shade – and the response has really divided people.
The dispute broke out after a couple booked a flight with the budget airline. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend Helena Boshwick, both 33, hoped to save some money by not reserving seats. They weren’t fussed about spending the short two-hour flight apart, so declined to pay around £4.50 each to book seats together.
Everything felt normal initially – and the couple were first in the boarding queue at Birmingham Airport on May 1. But things took a turn when an employee asked them to step aside. The staff member reportedly told the couple the flight was full and that there was only one available seat left.
The pair had a “meltdown” as they didn’t want to be separated on two different flights – but the Ryanair worker apparently said it was all because they “hadn’t reserved a seat”. They were refunded on the tickets and told they could board the next flight.
The only catch? They had to pay a £100 missed departure fee for the seat they had declined to use.
Scott, from Birmingham, West Midlands, said they felt “no compassion or care” during the ordeal. He also believes the airline should have handled the situation differently.
The holidaymaker said: “Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats. It felt like discrimination, how do they pick out these people, is it because we’re young and we have no kids so there’s just two of us, is it to do with something we don’t see or understand.
“There was so much of it that was really frustrating, and it’s the lack of care, no empathy. You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don’t care, they’re deadpan. We had to go through check-in again and we had another four and a half hours until the next flight. We paid around £100.
“We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday. They said at ticket sales they would be doing this themselves and get everything over and start the process so I haven’t formally complained. I don’t think they did, I definitely haven’t got the money back.
“We just got caught in a big company’s terms and conditions. The biggest stress was at the gate when they said we aren’t going on this flight.”
But even after complaining about the incident, Ryanair seems to be unfazed. On its official Facebook page, it shared a post mocking the situation. A sassy status update read: “Today is a good day to separate couples on board.”
This mischievous comment garnered a mixed response – with some saying they’d love to be separated from their partners for a more relaxing journey.
One joked: “You don’t even realise how many marriages you’ll save.” Another said: “Don’t worry, I love it. A couple of hours away from the other half? Grand.”
Meanwhile, a third praised Ryanair’s no-nonsense response to social media. They said: “In twenty years time, this will be taught on marketing courses.”
However, others didn’t appreciate Ryanair’s response and said they’d be picking other airlines. One wrote: “Another day that most of us are choosing Wizz Air.”
Another said: “Shame on you Ryanair.” And a third added: “Today is a good day to buy a flight… but not with you.”
A spokesperson from Ryanair added: “This flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca (1 May) was not ‘overbooked’ – it was scheduled to operate on a 737-8200 (197 seats) but for operational reasons had to be swapped to a 737-800 aircraft (189 seats). As a result, 1 passenger was unable to travel on this flight, and was reaccommodated onto the next available flight to Palma de Mallorca.
“Mr. McCormick’s travel companion was not refused boarding but chose not to board and travel on this flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca and was required to pay a Missed Departure fee (£100) to be booked onto the next available flight.
“Mr. McCormick was notified by email on the day of travel (1 May) that he was entitled to claim back reasonable receipted expenses, however Mr. McCormick has yet to submit any expense receipts to Ryanair.”