A British couple, Andrew and Victoria Gore, had a travel mishap when they were mistakenly flown to Lithuania instead of Spain. The couple, both 47, was planning to celebrate Mr. Gore’s birthday in Costa Brava on May 25. However, they ended up in Kaunas, Lithuania, after boarding the wrong Ryanair flight at Bristol Airport in England.
Mr. Gore, who is an amputee, and Mrs. Gore, who is autistic, had booked special assistance at the airport. Passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility are entitled to special assistance at airports, but in this case, the couple was led to the wrong aircraft. This incident left them feeling distraught and disoriented.
Both Bristol Airport and Ryanair are investigating the mixup to prevent similar incidents in the future. The airline attributed the error to the airport’s special assistance provider, who boarded the couple onto the wrong flight despite clear signage. The couple was eventually rebooked on a flight to Barcelona from Riga, Latvia, the next morning.
Although the couple eventually made it to their destination and their bags arrived two days later, the experience was described as surreal and exhausting. The Gores’ family was worried about their whereabouts, and the couple felt the damage had already been done by the incident. They hope to never go through a similar ordeal again.
Travel mishaps like this highlight the importance of clear communication and proper assistance for passengers with special needs. It serves as a reminder for airports and airlines to double-check boarding procedures to avoid confusion and distress for travelers. The couple’s ordeal sheds light on the challenges that individuals with disabilities may face while traveling and the need for improved services to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey for all passengers.