I had to sleep on airport floor for 2 nights because Ryanair delayed my flight
A WOMAN has slammed Ryanair for leaving her family stranded abroad for two days where they were forced to sleep on the airport floor.
Piyusha Hirani was one of the passengers onboard flight FR8157 which was meant to take off from Tenerife at 8pm on October 22, landing back in the UK at 12:15am.
Piyusha, 23, from East London, was trying to return to the UK with her two sisters after their holiday.
However, shortly after checking in their bags, their flight kept getting delayed.
By 11pm, they were told their gate number only for them to arrive and find no plane for them, as easyJet passengers before them were still boarding their flight.
She told Sun Online Travel: “We were told by the police at Border Force all flights to London Stansted were having technical issues due to air traffic control.
“Then Ryanair staff said due to the air strikes in Italy this was having an impact.”
They were then forced to sleep on the airport floor after being told the Ryanair crew had worked their hours so couldn’t fly, leaving all of the passengers stranded.
Despite being told they would take off the following morning at 10:10am, the flight was delayed again, leaving to chaos from fuming travellers when they were driven back to the terminal.
Piyusha said: “There was mothers with small kids crying and elderly couples having to stand as all the other chairs were given up for other elderly customers and kids.
“We weren’t told anything as usual and got driven back to the gate. At this point we all started causing chaos and started shouting.”
They were forced to sleep on the airport floor for a second night after more flights were delayed and cancelled.
Piyusha continued: “It got to the point where the floor was so cold and hurting our bones and the chairs provided were so uncomfy that we got a wheelchair and slept sitting upwards instead.
“We spoke to an elderly couple in their 70s who were in tears and frustrated [and they] had to sleep on the floor too.”
She said some passengers paid as much as €370 (£322) for hotels and transfers for the second night, while others were having to ration their medication due to the huge delays.
Piyusha said they eventually took off on the 24th at 10:20am – 38 hours later than planned.
She slammed Ryanair staff for being rude, claiming they refused to help them out and only gave them €16 (£14) for food and drink during the 38-hour ordeal.
She said it was “ridiculous” how badly they were treated, saying they had “no communication or reassurance”.
Piyusha added: “No one has apologised or even taken this issue into consideration. There was no sympathy given at all, it’s disgusting.”
Other passengers on social media hit out at their treatment as well.
Passenger Lisa Daniels wrote: “After a terrible 38 hour delay with Ryanair from Tenerife, we are finally home! The way we have all been treated this weekend is absolutely shambolic!”
Traveller Edward Piska said he was forced to book a flight with Jet2 due to the delays, adding he felt “sorry” for the people who were stuck at the terminal.
A Ryanair spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “This flight from Tenerife to London Stansted (22 Oct) was delayed due to a minor technical issue with the aircraft.
“Affected passengers received regular updates via their Ryanair app, SMS and email and were offered overnight accommodation. However, due to a lack of transfer availability, some passengers remained at the airport and were provided with food & drink vouchers.
“Any passengers who organised their own transport to their hotel can expense this back on Ryanair.com.
“Ryanair sincerely apologises to passengers for this unavoidable delay.”
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