Ryanair delay forces ‘traumatised’ couple to sleep on conveyor belts

A couple claim they were left with no option but to attempt sleeping on airport conveyor belts after they and hundreds of other holidaymakers were left “deserted” by Ryanair.

Sam Johns, 31, and his partner Danielle Downing, 30, also claim passengers were left with no water and food, and were not provided with accommodation after their flight was delayed by more than 20 hours in Lanzarote.

Ryanair says overnight accomodation was offered but there was “limited hotel availability in Lanzarote”.

The couple were due to arrive at Bristol Airport on Sunday, March 12, but ended up touching down on Monday, March 13, just before 7pm.

The original flight was cancelled due to bad weather, Devon Live reports.

But Sam and Danielle, along with young children and elderly people, say they had to sleep on concrete floors and conveyor belts.

“It was horrible. I have never experienced anything before like it in my life. It was pretty traumatic. We are trying to get compensation but that is also proving to be an absolute nightmare,” Sam said.

“Hundreds of people were instead forced to sleep on the concrete floor or conveyor belts in the arrivals section. We had no water, blankets or anything a €4 euro voucher which was voided in certain places.

“As we had been deserted, many of us decided to take matters into our own hands and tried to ring around for accommodation but everything had been fully booked.

“As we booked through a third party we are having to go through them. It would appear they have tried closing my case without even contacting me to explain.”

Sam, a website and marketing manager, took Danielle to the Canary Island for a surprise for her birthday.

He continued: “It had all gone fine until we arrived at Lanzarote airport last Sunday about 3pm. Our flight was due to take off at 6.20pm. As we were waiting the boards said all flights were delayed.

“There was a lack of communication from Ryanair staff who said they were waiting to hear updates but didn’t tell us why the flight was delayed. At first, the flight was delayed for one hour.

“We were sent on a wild goose chase across the airport going from departure gate to departure gate a couple of times and it was getting later and later. At around 11.30pm it was officially confirmed our fight had been cancelled until the next day at 12.30pm due to bad weather which was fine.

“At around midnight we were given back our luggage and promised accommodation and transfers by Ryanair but it never came. When we got to the area of the airport we were told to meet all the Ryanair staff had disappeared. By then, other airlines had already got passengers out of the airport to take them to hotels.”

The couple, from near Cullompton, Devon, got little sleep at the airport. 

Sam continued: “I witnessed things you should never have to see such as children as young as six months old sleeping on concrete floors with their parents and elderly couples well into their 70s sleeping in wheelchairs and quite frankly anywhere they could find.”

Heavy fog on Sunday evening took some time to clear, Ryanair said. 

In a statement, a Ryanair spokesman told The Daily Mail: “A small number of flights to/ from Lanzarote (March 12) were delayed overnight due to heavy fog at Lanzarote Airport. Affected passengers were notified and subsequently updated via email, SMS and PUSH notification.

“Passengers were offered overnight accommodation, however, as there was limited hotel availability in Lanzarote, some passengers remained at the airport and any passengers who arranged their own accommodation were advised that they can claim reimbursement on Ryanair.com

“To minimise disruption to passengers, Ryanair arranged for rescue flights for the following morning (March 13) when the fog cleared. We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of these weather-related delays, which were entirely beyond our control.”